All posts by Warmzone Editor

HOTNEWS

Researching Radiant Heat and Finding the Right Provider

The Services and Resources to Look for When Considering the Installation of Radiant Heat

From the initial idea of adding radiant heat to your new or existing home to the actual purchase and installation can be somewhat intimidating for homeowners. Where do you start? What should you be looking for, and what are the options?

Judging from past customers, radiant heat is a proven, worthwhile investment that provides very efficient and luxurious warmth using clean renewable energy. Radiant heated floors continue to gain popularity because of their efficiency as well as the rich, comfortable heat that they produce.

Find a provider that includes complete system design services and a large selection of products and services – from different manufacturers. Warmzone is one provider that offers a dynamic range of radiant floor heating systems. Because of the diverse selection, Warmzone can evaluate your specific needs and recommend the system that will best meet your budget and heating demands. So, if you’re considering installing a heated floor, view Warmzone’s Floor Heating Overview web page to gain some general information about the different systems. Then call a Warmzone representative to discuss the various possibilities and the advantages of each system (888.488.9276). Our staff features experienced professionals who are happy to consult with prospective customers without any pushy sales pressure.

Heated driveway and radiant heat installation support

Warmzone includes professional installation support services.

And when it comes to customer service, you won’t find a provider that offers better customer services. Warmzone services include FREE installation training for installers, detailed system design and layout services, technical support, free consulting, and a wealth of online documentation, videos and information resources. We take pride in our unparalleled personal services as well as our industry leading products.

Warmzone snow melting systems are also among the very best available. Warmzone continues to be a leader in offering the latest technology with the most trusted and proven systems. Warmzone heated driveways and snow melting systems are easy to customize to match the budget and performance requirements of each customer.

ClearZone heat cable is the longstanding backbone of Warmzone’s exceptional snow melting systems. In addition to the heating element, Warmzone driveway heating systems also feature a contactor panel/controller and either a ground-mount snow sensor or an aerial mount sensor. These advanced activation devices detect precipitation and temperature, so when conditions warrant, the sensor triggers the system and the driveway begins to heat. The system continues to operate for a short time after the storm to ensure that the driveway is dry, eliminating slick, dangerous ice.

Fully automated, energy efficient, and featuring quiet, clean operation, Warmzone snow melting systems continue to be a favorite among contractors and professional installers.

For more information, call us at 888.488.9276 and speak with a radiant heat consultant. Also take advantage of our online information resources and view radiant heat installation videos, monthly newsletters, product literature and more. We think that the more you research and compare radiant heat companies, the more impressed you’ll be with Warmzone. Call or email us today for a free quote.

HOTNEWS

The Benefits and Custom Options of Heated Driveways and Snow Melting Systems

Radiant Heat Can be Tailored to Your Specific Needs and Budget

Heated driveway systems are surefire ways to enhance safety for businesses located in cold weather climates. From grocery stores to restaurants and car washes, business owners are turning to radiant heat to ensure safety and protect themselves from liability claims.

Warmzone radiant heat systems are fully automated, so there’s no need for business owners to show up at the workplace early to shovel snow. The automated systems activate when an aerial or ground-mount snow sensor detects precipitation and temperatures are below a set point (typically 39°F). The energy efficient snow melting systems operate only when needed, and are also maintenance free – another favorite feature among business owners.

Easy to Customize

Radiant snow melting systems are easy to customize. Electric snowmelt systems can be installed to heat unique shapes and areas, and can be tailored to best meet the client’s budget needs. In addition to heating entire driveways and sidewalks, some other popular layout options for heating driveways include:

Heating tire tracks: Rather than heating an entire driveway, install two 24-inch wide heated tire tracks.

Heated driveway with two heated tire tracks

Heating the Center Strip or High Traffic Areas: Heat only an 8 or 10-foot wide strip up the middle of the driveway. Or install heat cable only in the most trafficked area of your driveway. Heat trouble spots such as inclines or where shade often causes ice buildup. Instead of heating an entire sidewalk, just warm a 3-foot wide strip in the middle; or heat the steps and heavily trafficked areas of entry points and porches. Businesses often install radiant heat to melt snow and ice in parking areas and walkways near the store front as well as in loading docks and ramps.

Custom heated driveways and sidewalks

Heating specific/custom areas: Many consumers install radiant heat only for specific needs. For example, heat dog runs or kennels to keep outdoor pets comfortable, or only heat the sloped areas of a sidewalk or just the steps. The options are virtually limitless when it comes to installing heated driveways.

Heated cement steps

Visit Warmzone’s heated driveway web page for more detailed information. The information includes sections on how heated driveways work, determining the operating cost, how heated driveways work and more.

From small, custom snow melting projects to large commercial applications, radiant snow melting systems have proven to be the reliable, cost effective solution for homeowners and business owners alike.

Heated driveway and walks

Unlike other providers of radiant heat systems, Warmzone offers free installation training courses for installers, as well as complete system design and layout services and installation support. Dealing with Warmzone makes the process of finding and installing the best system easy for customers.

Information Resources:

HOTNEWS

Radiant Heat Online Information Resources

Illustrations, How-to Videos and More

Installing a radiant snow melting system is not especially complicated, but there are some important steps to remember to ensure that the system is installed and performing correctly. In addition to Warmzone offering technical support for installers as well as free installation training, Warmzone provides a wealth of information online. Some resources include helpful illustrations as well as informative installation “how-to” videos that are posted online. Below are samples of snow melting system illustrations and radiant heat videos.

Sectional view of CZ snow melting systems.

Click on image to enlarge.

Another helpful illustration for heated driveway installations outlines how to embed the cable splice for the heating cable. The example below shows a snow melting system installed to heat a concrete driveway.

Embedding the cable splice

Click on the image to enlarge.

The illustration below provides a general overview of an electric radiant snow melting system and its components.

ClearZone snow melting system and components overview.

View the ClearZone Snow Melting System Overview (above). Click on the image to enlarge.

Also, check out Warmzone’s online instructional installation videos. Topics range from reviewing and filling out warranty information to proper cable installation techniques and wiring of the system components.

Instructional radiant heat installation videos.

View additional radiant heat documents and illustrations.

View our Installation Overviews web pages.

HOTNEWS

Power Requirements and Operating Costs of a Heated Driveway

Understanding the Power Requirements for a Heated Driveway

Are you looking to install a radiant heated driveway for your home or business? If so, one of the first questions you need to answer is whether you have the necessary power requirements. In most cases, having the power needed to run an efficient radiant snow melting system is not a problem. However, prior to any installation, customers must ensure that they do meet the power requirements for heating their driveways and or walks.

Heated driveway with four heated tire tracks

So, just how does one go about determining the power requirements for heating a specific area and how does one know whether the necessary power is available? First of all, you don’t have to figure this out by yourself. Warmzone’s experienced reps are happy to work with you to not only help you determine the necessary power requirements, but to design a system that best meets your specific snow melting and budget needs.

But homeowners should be aware of some basic guidelines when shopping for radiant heat. For example, one 30-amp breaker supplies enough power to heat a 170-square foot area. To heat a driveway of 350-square feet, two 30-amp breakers (or one 60-amp breaker) would be needed. Homeowners can check their home’s main breaker panel to see the power coming into the house. (Typical homes feature either two 100 amp panels or two 200 amp breakers. These are located at the top of the main breaker box, above the main breaker panel.) But the bottom line, in terms of power requirements, is that an electrician is ultimately the one to address all power issues. If you have questions about available power, talk with Warmzone as well as a qualified electrician to make certain there are no issues should you choose to move forward with the installation.

If you’re unsure of the square footage of your driveway, no worries; Warmzone can calculate that for you too. In most areas, using a special state-of-the-art technology, Warmzone can measure the area of your driveway while talking on the phone with you. Our helpful staff will work closely with you to ensure that the square footage of the area is measured correctly and the power requirements are therefore calculated properly.

Zoning Your Driveway Heating System

On rare occasions when there is insufficient power available to operate a large driveway heating system, the radiant heat system can be laid out in zones. Each zone is powered separately. As a storm first hits, zone 1 would power up and melt the snow in that area of the driveway. After zone 1, zone 2 would then activate to melt the snow in that area of the driveway. Click here for more detailed information about zoning your heated driveway.

Determining the Operating Cost of an Electric Heated Driveway

Homeowners are also keen to know the general operating costs of a heated driveway. Because radiant snow melting systems are specially designed for the specific demands of the average temperature and snowfall of their location, no two radiant heat systems are exactly alike. However, there is a formula that can be used to help you determine the approximate operating cost of a snow melting system.

General Guidelines to Determine a Heated Driveway’s Operating Cost

  1. Determine the total square footage of the area that will be heated. (The average American home has an 800 square foot driveway.)
  2. Multiply the square footage by the heat required (37 watts per sq. ft. for residential). This will give you a total for the watts per square footage required.
  3. Divide this number by 1,000 to convert to kilowatts.
  4. Look up the kilowatts-per-hour rate from the local power utility company.
  5. Multiply the kilowatts by the kilowatt rate. This gives you the cost-per-hour of usage for the snow melting system.

EXAMPLE for heating an 800 square foot driveway:
800 (sq.ft.) x 37 (watts) = 29,600 (total watts).

29,600 divided by 1,000 = 29.6 kw per hour. (This is what the power company will charge you per one hour of operation.) The average utility rate is .12 cents, therefore: 29.6 x .12 = $3.55. The cost of operation would be $3.55 per hour.

The operating cost of an automated snow melting system is typically less than that of hiring a professional snow removal service. And radiant heat can help to extend the life of concrete driveways and keeps them from being subjected to abrasive snow removal methods or harsh snowmelt chemicals or salt. Safety is particularly important for business owners who wish to avoid costly litigation due to personal injuries caused by slick ice. For more information on driveway heating systems, call Warmzone today at 888.488.9276.

Other helpful, informative web pages:

  1. ClearZone snow melting
  2. Heated Driveways
  3. Installing a Heated Driveway
  4. Snow Melting System Installation Tips
HOTNEWS

Timing is Everything

Don’t get Caught Holding the Shovel next Winter — Install a Radiant Snow Melting System and Beat the Rush!

With summer just around the corner, it’s a good time to spring for a new radiant heated driveway or walkway. Buying and installing your radiant heated snow melting system early in the summer puts you at a distinct advantage. In the fall, contractors generally rush to get their projects done before winter, and their availability is limited. Hiring someone now could save you the heartache of putting off that heated driveway or walkway project for another season. Shopping contractors before the fall rush also allows you to take your time interviewing and selecting a professional.

Whether you’re pouring a new concrete or repairing existing pavement, radiant heat installation is an excellent way to enhance, preserve and protect your driveway or walkway from harsh snow melting chemicals or damage from snow removal equipment. It’s a smart home investment that not only preserves and protects your property, but can also prevent slip and fall accidents, as well as injury from shoveling. Snow melting systems can also save you the time, and over time, the added expense of hiring a contractor to plow your driveway. With radiant heated driveways and walkways, you get “on-demand” snow removal, and the opportunity to experience dry pavement all year round. And the systems operate silently on renewable energy and are fully automated.

Heated paver driveway

As you shop, be leery of the contractor who offers limited solutions that come with a high price tag. Radiant heat applications are extremely flexible and adaptable, offering homeowners many options to achieve their goals. You don’t have to tear up your entire driveway to enjoy the benefits of radiant heat. Rolling out pre-configured mats on top of an asphalt driveway and applying a new layer of asphalt over the cable, or cutting grooves in concrete for the heat cable (which are then filled with an epoxy) are just some of the ways to get around a new heated driveway installation.

To help you sort out your options you may also want to consider contacting Warmzone for a free snow melting system estimate. They have the knowledge and the know-how to put together a snow melting solution that will meet or even beat your performance and budgetary requirements.  Partnering with professional installers across the country, Warmzone works diligently to come up with solutions for the most discriminating customers. As they say, knowledge is power, and getting initial estimates from Warmzone before you shop can help you identify all of your options, and the right person for the job, to avoid the “sticker shock” that comes with choosing the wrong one. And remember, a radiant heat system is only as good as its installation, and Warmzone can recommend experienced, reputable installers in your area.

Among the many home improvement projects on your to-do list, a radiant heated snow melting system is the gift that just keeps on giving from the moment you see that first snowflake fall. Winter may seem a long way off, but the window for hiring a contractor to install your snow melting system is small. Whether you lack the motivation or need more information, it’s always a good idea to give Warmzone a call at 888.488.9276 for free professional advice and support.

Testimonials

So Happy We Invested in Radiant Heated Floors

Solution: RetroHeat Floor Heating System

I just wanted to let you know how our living room/dining room retrofit with radiant under floor heat went.  The RetroHeat system has been wonderful.  Of course, we are out of the cold season now, but it totally changed the ambiance in our living room/dining room.  The floor was warm and  the room was warmer and we are so happy we made the investment in doing this.  And it is not even our main source of heat, but it has been so inexpensive to operate and makes the living space so comfortable.

RetroHeat floor heating systems can be installed to heat existing floors

I want to thank you so much for hanging in there with us thru the design and all the little things that are bound to happen with an installation like this.  You were always so quick to get back to me/us, and so helpful in getting the glitches get worked out when they happened.

I cannot recommend you, Warmzone and the product too highly.  We would do it again in a heartbeat.  Thanks so much!

Your very satisfied and grateful customer,

Betsy W.

HOTNEWS

An Easy, Affordable Solution for Ground Fault Protection Requirements

Warmzone Continues to Listen to Contractors and Serve the Needs of Homeowners

Electric snow melting, roof deicing and outdoor pipe heating systems installed in the United States and Canada require ground fault protection for safe operation. In many cases, when installing a snow melting system, these breakers can be expensive and difficult to find. However, thanks to Warmzone, this is no longer an issue.

In addition to offering contactor panels with ground fault protection, Warmzone also offers separate ground fault protection units with snow melting systems and activation devices. These units provide an inexpensive, easy-to-integrate solution to meet the NEC requirements for ground fault protection equipment.

The GF-1 unit provides single circuit protection and the GF-2 provides dual circuit protection (for 120/208/240VAC circuits up to 60A). Unlike highly sensitive GFCI breakers, Warmzone’s GF unit maintains a 30mA fault trip point to reduce nuisance tripping. The unit’s unique design allows installation of standard, off-the-shelf overload breakers into the customer load center. Size the breaker and wiring for the system (15A to 60A), then install the GF unit between the load center branch circuit and the sensor/controller and heat cable. The overload breaker protects the wiring while the GF unit provides the ground fault protection.

The unit is housed in a rugged, NEMA 4X/IP65 rated enclosure, suitable for indoor or outdoor installation. The enclosure features a gasket-sealed front access door for easy testing and reset. All internal electronic components are specified for -40°C to +60°C operation. The enclosure can be easily surface mounted near the load center or near the snow melting system, depending on the installer’s preference. Numerous knockout locations on the enclosure provide flexibility for installation and wiring. The enclosure base can accommodate standard ½ and ¾-inch conduit hubs. Four mounting holes outside the enclosure gasket make mounting a breeze while assuring weather-tight performance.

Ground fault protection unit enclosure
Enclosure for ground fault protection equipment

Features

  • Easy installation; convenient access for wiring
  • Works together with inexpensive, off-the-shelf overload circuit breakers
  • Provides true 30mA trip point GFPE protection
  • Meets NEC Article 426.28, 427.22, and CEC 62-300 requirements
  • Protects 120/208/240VAC systems up to 60A (#14-#6 CU-only conductor capacity)
  • Not Compatible With 277VAC or L-N-L 240VAC
  • UL listed (U.S. and Canada) NEMA 4X enclosure for indoor or outdoor installation
  • Latching, sealed, hinged front cover for easy testing and reset access
  • No overload rating means just two part numbers for simple stocking
  • Weatherproof and corrosion resistant enclosure
  • Operating temperature range of -40°F/C to +140°F/+60°C

The GF-1 and GF-2 can be used directly with Warmzone’s WS-2C, WS-5C and WS-8C aerial mount snow sensors. They can also be used with contactor panels, switches, and any system up to 60A. Since the overload protection is provided by the load center breaker, only two GF models are required to cover the full range of 15A to 60A, one or two circuits. This allows ground fault protection with kitted systems without the requirement of identifying the customer’s load center type or need to research if a combined overload/GFPE breaker is available and how long it will take to receive.

Including a GF unit completes the snow melting system and makes it ready to install. And the GF unit provides a ready-made solution when installing or retrofitting a snow melting system in an older facility that was wired well before the term “GFPE” was coined. It’s an easy upgrade to help bring an existing system into compliance with modern code requirements.

Including a GF unit completes the snow melting system and makes it ready to install. And the GF unit provides a ready-made solution when installing or retrofitting a snow melting system in an older facility that was wired well before the term “GFPE” was coined. It’s an easy upgrade to help bring an existing system into compliance with modern code requirements.

As your radiant heat partner, Warmzone makes the process of installing a snowmelt system as easy as possible. For more information, call 888.488.9276 today.

Finding the Right Roof Heating System

Keeping your roof free and clear of ice and snow comes down to proven radiant heating elements, proper system design, and proper installation. A good radiant heat solution is one that addresses all of the potential problem areas of your roof.  Warmzone offers a variety of roof heating solutions designed to not only melt snow and ice, but to keep the runoff flowing from your roof before it has a chance to freeze. Warmzone products are specifically designed to target all aspects of a roof, including gutters, downspouts, roof lines, roof eaves and edges—the places icicles, ice dams, and snow build-up are most likely to occur. To keep your roof free of ice and snow, it’s important to target the typical problem spots.

Heating Gutters, Edges and Problem Areas

Warmzone self-regulating heat cable is an extremely effective and energy efficient way to prevent ice dams and keep water flowing through gutters and downspouts. Comprised of a rugged, durable outer construction and an irradiated conductive core that responds to variations in temperature, this durable cable is the affordable choice for heating problem areas of your roof.

Heating Roof Edges

The single greatest snow and ice problem for roofs is due to ice dams. Snow and ice buildup occurs when runoff reaches the colder roof eaves and refreezes. Over time, the buildup increases, resulting in large dams of ice near the roof’s edge, causing water to pool behind it. As that water seeps under the shingles and refreezes, damage can occur, and may eventually lead to costly water damage inside the home.

Low-voltage roof heating element

Low-voltage RoofHeat STEP systems can be installed discreetly under the shingles to keep roof edges completely free of snow and ice. This advanced system utilizes a thin, semi-conductive polymer heating element that can be nailed or stapled through to make installation quick and easy. The self-regulating heating element is polypropylene fused during fabrication to achieve water proofing and protection from alkaline or salt damage.

A 24-inch roof heating panel for heating roof edges.             An 18-inch roof heating panel

Attractive roof deicing panels can also be installed to eliminate the possibility of ice dams. Available in a variety of sizes, these aluminum panels feature channels of self-regulating heat cable that effectively heats the aluminum to keep roof edges free of snow and ice. The panels have an attractive Kynar finish and can be used in new construction and on existing roofs with most types of roofing materials, including asphalt, wood shake shingles, tile, slate or standing seam metal. Visit our roof deicing panel documents page to learn more.

Heating Roof Valleys

Four and six-inch RoofHeat deicing panels are also available to heat roof valleys. Keeping these channels free of snow and ice facilitates runoff and helps to protect your roof by eliminating potential trouble spots. The Valley Panel system will create an open area (up to 10 inches) for water to safely flow from the roof through the valleys without the possibility of water refreezing over unheated portions of the roof. The Valley Panel roof heating system provides an aesthetic look to any structure while keeping a more efficient and cleaner method of eliminating ice dam issues in a valley or dormer.

Eliminating Icicles

For areas of your roof where gutters are not present heated roof edges can be used to channel water away from the structure. Heated Drip Edge systems are extremely effective in battling icicle build-up while maintaining the aesthetic look of the original roof. This is a common, reliable solution for businesses to ensure the safety and convenience of pedestrian traffic. These Kylar-finished edge lines are offered in a wide variety of materials, including steel, copper, aluminum and more, so they’re great for concealing wiring along the drip line to create a more attractive, polished appearance.  An existing metal roof can also be retrofitted with roof heating panels, which can be laid on top of the old metal roof, in direct contact with the self-regulating heat cable to prevent icicle formation.

Still not sure what you need for your roof? Our radiant heat experts work with customers to evaluate project challenges and determine an affordable roof deicing system that is best for your unique circumstances. Warmzone roof heating experts are also available to walk you through the process, from system selection to installation. Call 888.488.9276 for more information today.