Heated Driveways are Fully Automated and Easy to Customize

Heated driveway systems continue to gain popularity among homeowners and commercial property owners alike in areas with cold winter climates. Installing a heated driveway is a wise investment in your home that can raise the value of your property. Fortunately, radiant snow melting systems aren’t limited to new construction jobs. Asphalt driveways are particularly easy to retrofit with radiant heat, buy using saw cut technology, concrete driveways can also be retrofitted with radiant heat. Each project varies, so call a radiant heat expert and discuss the different solutions for heating your driveway or sidewalks. In addition to the benefits and affordability of heated driveway systems, Warmzone offers a wide variety of options to choose from, so homeowners can find the ideal system that not only meets their snow melting needs, but also fits within their budget.

Some Heated Driveway Layout Options Include:

• Heat the center strip of the driveway – Heat only the most trafficked area, such as an 8-foot wide strip in the middle of the driveway.
• Heat tire tracks – Install heated tire tracks. This involves installing heat cable to melt snow in two 24-inch-wide tire tracks, resulting in a considerable savings when compared to heating entire surface areas.
• Heat paths for foot traffic – Heat walkways and areas that receive foot traffic so that you can enhance your safety when walking to and from your vehicle during the winter months.
• Heat the entire surface area – Many homeowners opt to heat entire driveway surfaces and parking areas.



Radiant Driveway Heating Systems

In addition to electric driveway heating systems, hydronic snow melting systems are also available. These systems utilize specially treated liquid that is heated by a boiler and then a series of pumps circulates the warm liquid through the PEX tubing embedded in the driveway. Hydronic systems are much more complex and require a mechanical room for the pumps, boilers and manifolds; however, hydronic systems are also very effective for keeping driveways clear of snow and ice. Hydronic systems can use whatever fuel source that is available in the area, including: propane, natural gas, fuel oil, wood, etc. Therefore, you can choose the least expensive option to help reduce operating costs. This can be especially advantageous if you are heating a large driveway or parking area.

Both electric and hydronic heated driveways boast a variety of benefits and advantages, so make sure you contact a trusted radiant heat expert to discuss your project and learn more about the various options available. Be sure to call a reputable provider that carries the top products from a variety of manufacturers. Some smaller companies are biased because of their limited inventory and may try to convince you that the products from their limited offering are ideal for you.



The ClearZone Heating Element

Automated radiant snowmelt systems feature three main components: a snow sensor (an aerial or pavement mounted activation device), master control unit, and the heating element. Warmzone's heating element is one of the industry’s premier electric radiant heating cable. The rugged ClearZone heat cable is designed to withstand the extreme temperature of hot asphalt installations, and can also be embedded in fresh concrete pours, under brick and stone pavers and other outdoor applications.

Most heated driveway systems utilize an aerial mount snow sensor that is typically mounted at the roof's edge. The sensor detects temperature and precipitation, so when the temperature is below a set point (which is usually set at 39° Fahrenheit) and moisture is present, it signals the contactor panel (typically mounted on a wall in the garage) to send power to the embedded heat cable. The cable warms the driveway surface quickly and efficiently, providing fully automated, maintenance-free snow melting for your driveway or sidewalks.

Learn more about how heated driveways work.