By Glenda Taylor and Bob Vila | Updated Oct 5, 2020 8:38 PM
Shoveling snow is a pesky chore that can literally be a pain in the back, but, for many folks, it’s necessary just to get the car out on the road. No wonder an increasingly popular perk in cold climates is a radiant heating system, installed just beneath a driveway’s surface, to melt snow and ice. If you’re intrigued by the idea of keeping your driveway clear throughout the winter months, read on to learn how these systems work, what’s involved with the installation, and how much they cost.
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Keeping your driveway clear of snow and ice is essential for wintertime a safety. A proper shovel or snow blower can help you handle the task, but if you don’t tackle it immediately after a snowfall, folks will tend to walk and drive on the white stuff—compacting it and making it harder to remove. A slippery snow-packed surface increases the risk of slips and falls.
Installing radiant heat in outdoor slabs has been popular in commercial settings, such as restaurant walkways and mall parking lots, for more than 25 years; for residential applications, it started trending about 15 years ago. Heated driveways are advantageous for homeowners who don’t have the time or physical ability to remove snow by other means. If you live in a region that receives more than just a few light snowfalls during a typical winter, a heated driveway will save hours of shoveling, while keeping your driveway clear and safe for pedestrians.
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Choosing whether or not to install a heated driveway requires analyzing your needs and budget, and considering the type of winter you typically experience. Residential contractors in northern regions of the U.S. are beginning to install heated driveways in newly constructed houses as standard features. The trend is likely to grow in cold climates for homeowners with busy lifestyles and as an age-in-place option.
Homeowners can either install an electric system or a water-based (hydronic) system. An electric system costs less to install, because there’s no need to purchase a boiler to heat the water. Operating costs for an electric system are often higher, however, because a hydroponic system doesn’t use as much electricity to maintain a consistent temperature.
Like all construction projects, installing a heated driveway comes with both benefits and drawbacks, and it makes sense to understand what they are before investing in a radiant system.
Once a radiant system is installed, your driveway should require no special maintenance. Treat it as you would any other driveway. You can drive and park consumer vehicles (including pickups) on all driveways, but it’s a good idea not allow heavy trucks, such as concrete mixing vehicles, to pull onto the driveway to reduce the risk of cracking. However, if you get a hydronic system, have the boiler inspected once a year (or as specified in the warranty), typically in the fall. No special maintenance is required for electrical elements.
When installed correctly, a heated driveway will give you 15 to 20 years, or more, of dependable service, but like any mechanical element, it won’t last forever. Small repairs, such as replacing an electrical control board, can run as little as $200, but replacing a hydronic boiler could cost as much as $5,000. If the tubing in a hydronic system ruptures beneath the driveway, technicians can use a thermal imaging device to locate the leak, but a section of the driveway will have to be torn out to make repairs, which could cost over $1,000. Your warranty details which repairs are covered and which ones you’d be on the hook for.
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