Category Archives: Radiant Heat News

Radiant Heat News

Snow Removal Bliss On-the-Go

Warmzone’s Portable Snow Removal Systems Bring Snow Removal to you, no Matter Where you are.

You’ve heard of radiant heated driveways and they’re stellar snow melting power. You’ve seen the magnificently snow-free driveways they produce and the overjoyed customers they please, but did you know that all of this also comes in a portable version? It’s true—radiant heat that goes with you is finally possible.

Warmzone’s WarmTrax portable snow melting mats are the miniature, pocket version of a radiant heated driveway. Designed to be as durable as a tire, these rubber traction mats will melt snow wherever you want whenever you want. All you have to do is roll the mat out on an existing surface, plug it in, and let it melt the snow—no shovels, ice melter, or harsh chemicals required.

The WarmTrax portable snow melting mats allow you to reap the benefits of a radiant heated driveway without having to install anything. You can place your WarmTrax mats over stairways, handicap ramps, entryways, or even rooftops and then move it and take it to the next snow-riddled area. Radiant heat has never been so flexible.

WarmTrax snowmelt traction mats have a continuous chevron pattern and heat continually, obliterating snow and ice before it has a chance to accumulate and leave you on your buttocks. What’s more, the WarmTrax heated mats eliminate the need for salt or ice melter, which not only leaves a mess on your shoes, but also wreaks havoc on your concrete.

Radiant Heat News

Increase the Value of Your Home With a Heated Driveway

Installing a heated driveway when you build or re-pour a driveway is a great way to increase the value of your home, and make it more sellable.  Even if you don’t want to activate the heated driveway, installing the components when you pour can still add value and allow a future owner to finish the project with minimal expense.  Start by installing the bare necessities. A popular option we have with our driveway heating systems is to “rough-in” the basic components for the heated driveway. Roughing-in a snow melting system consists of installing only the materials needed at the time of pouring a new concrete driveway.

Installing heating cable in mats for heated driveway and sidewalk

Components Needed for Rough-in:

1) Driveway Rough-in Kit – The “rough-in” kit contains a backplate, cold lead, and splices. The backplate is installed between studs on a wall and the control unit for the driveway heating system is mounted to the backplate. The cold lead is a non-hot wire that is used to run power from the control unit to the low-voltage heating cable. Splices are used to connect the cold lead to the cable.

2) Driveway Heating Element – A heat resistant cable is the electric heating element used for all driveway snow melting applications. The cable is secured to the remesh, spaced at 6 inches and raised with the remesh (using MeshUps, dobies or chairs) to be within 2 inches of the surface. The concrete is then poured over the cable.

Preparing a Driveway Heating System
The materials for your “heat ready driveway” can be purchased for only a couple of dollars – or less – per square foot. You can then purchase the remainder of your snowmelt system at a later time. Even if you never activate your heated driveway, “roughing-in” a driveway heating system will increase the resale value of your home.

Radiant Heat News

Home Heating Options that are Both Efficient and Affordable

Raise your hand if your list of home improvements including upgrading the heating system for a small space in your home. You’ve probably been putting that project off, thinking that a traditional heating system may cost you far more than it’s worth. This is almost always the case for those who may live in small or older homes and apartments. Older homes often times don’t have the necessary heating ducts needed to install a traditional forced air system, and installing these ducts is very expensive. Due to the cost associated with installing these systems, many people choose not to heat smaller rooms and instead suffer through the winter, chilly and miserable. However, there is a very cost-effective and efficient solution to this problem: electric radiant heat.

Electric radiant heat systems are very cost-effective solutions for smaller spaces (1-5 rooms) because they are easy to install and have a very low start-up cost. An electric thermostat is all that is required and costs only about $100-$200.

Another advantage of electric radiant floor heating over a warm-water system is the floor build up or height. Floor build up can be from as little as 2mm. The electric cables are usually installed onto an insulation board or directly onto the subfloor or padding (under carpet or laminate), then the floor covering is placed directly over the heating system or thinset.

Electric Radiant Heat Tip: Your electric radiant heat system could use 30% less fuel than the average new forced air heating system.