Tag Archives: Heated driveway

HOTNEWS

When to Install a Heated Driveway

Time for a Radiant Snow Melting System

According to radiant heat experts, the most popular time to install a heated driveway is during the summer and fall. However, early spring may be the best time to purchase a radiant heat system because that is when there is less demand, which may translate to discounts or slightly lower prices for you.

If you are remodeling or building a new home in a cold climate region, plan for the winters by exploring the options of installing a radiant heated driveway. These electric snow melting systems are fully automated and virtually maintenance free, providing reliable, energy-efficient performance and eliminating the need for manual snow removal or the use of harmful snow melting chemicals.

Heated driveway

Installing a heated driveway during spring or summer – before cold weather hits – is ideal for several reasons. The optimum temperature for curing concrete is between 65 and 85 degree Fahrenheit. This is crucial in order for the concrete to cure correctly and maintain its maximum compression strength rating, ensuring the cement’s durability and enhancing its life span. So, if you are considering installing an automated heated driveway system, don’t wait until winter hits to to begin construction. And believe it or not, installing a heated driveway is surprisingly easy, and one sure way to take the chill out of the arrival of winter.

With energy costs continuing to soar, consumers are searching for the most efficient ways to take the “sting” out of their heating bills. Consequently, homeowners and commercial property owners have not only discovered the appeal of energy efficient, indoor electric radiant floor heating options, but also of outdoor snowmelt systems, such as heated driveways, walkways, staircases and more.

Given the benefits of maintenance-free operation, reliable performance and affordability, it’s no wonder that heated driveways are becoming more commonplace among residential and commercial properties. Heated driveways are fully automated and provide labor-free snow removal without the need for salt and other snowmelt chemicals.

The cost to maintain an electric heated driveway is typically much less than hiring someone to manually remove the snow. Your concrete lasts longer because salt or harsh chemicals (or snow plows) are not being used to melt or remove ice and snow. Electric radiant snow melting systems are also simple to install, extremely durable, and require no maintenance.

Heated driveways not only enhance safety and increase the value of your property, but offer convenience and peace of mind. Driving your car out of the driveway doesn’t have to be an adventure every morning, and you shouldn’t have to put on your snow shoes to retrieve the morning newspaper. Check out the driveway heating and snowmelt options for your home today.

Portable Snow Melting Solutions

WarmTrax Heated Traction Mats and Stair Treads
Are you looking for a way to keep your porch, steps or sidewalks clear of snow and ice this winter but don’t have the resources to install an embedded snow melting system? Then look no further than Warmzone’s portable snow melting solutions. WarmTrax portable heated traction mats and stair tread snowmelt products are a great alternative to embedded snow removal systems for heating outdoor walkways, ramps and stairs.etc. The mats are extremely durable, and the stair treads are available in aluminum or rubber, so they can handle heavily trafficked areas. These convenient snow melting solutions are a popular means of enhancing safety, and the systems are very easy to use.

Heated traction mats for outdoor steps

The heated traction mat features an electrically operated heating element sandwiched between two protective surfaces of non-slip rubber, making them as durable as automobile tires. WarmTrax mats are a popular solution for enhancing safety during the winter by providing a reliable solution for slip prevention. Potentially dangerous areas for pedestrians are kept safe and free from slick ice. The mats are designed with a continuous chevron pattern to provide extra traction.

WarmTrax mats and stair treads are a popular alternative to embedded systems because of their ease of use and unmatched performance. If you want to heat outdoor steps, both the rubber and aluminum stair treads can be easily daisy-chained together to cover as many steps as you need. These reliable snow melting mats eliminate the need for harsh snowmelt chemicals and snow shoveling.

When cold weather hits, simply unroll the WarmTrax heating mat across the area that you want to keep clear of snow or ice and plug the cord into a standard 120V or 240V outlet. The heating mats and stair treads also feature their own equipment leakage circuit interrupter (ELCI). When it comes to keeping your walks clear and enhancing safety during the cold winter months, nothing could be easier than the WarmTrax portable snow and ice melting mats.

The WarmTrax portable snow melting traction mat is a popular solution for melting snow on disability ramps, steps, sidewalks, and porches, etc. The traction mats are also handy even in times when there is no snow. The durable mats increase safety during wet, rainy weather and also serve to minimize dirt and mud from being tracked inside your home or business.

WarmTrax products are made of the highest quality materials so they can withstand harsh weather and repeated use. The convenient portable snow melting mats are very easy to use and can be plugged in directly into any standard 120V or 240V outlet using its own equipment leakage circuit interrupter (ELCI).

Articles

A Heated Driveway is a Wise Investment

Make Every Dollar Count with Radiant Heated Driveways

You might be like many of us and are afraid to even say the word recession. If we say it then we’ll have to admit it’s really here and our spending choices have to be even more prudent. Economic downturns such as the one we find ourselves elbow deep in, dictate wiser, well-researched and more cost-effective purchases. The weak dollar and tighter credit allowances no longer allow the penny-pinching consumer the luxury of frivolous spending sprees. Each purchase needs to count and provide an investment for the future.

A cost-effective investment and smart way to add value to your home is by installing a heated driveway (radiant snow melting system). Once installed, an affordable radiant heated driveway provides low operation costs in the long run, helping you lower your bottom line on home expenses. A heated driveway with an area of 300 square feet operates for under 50-cents per continuous hour of operation. Snow melting generally only takes a few hours to clear your driveway when a storm hits.

Driveway heating is an investment that has demonstrated and visible results. Not only does it allow you some free time with your family – not to mention saving your back from shoveling duties – but it is a proven way to protect the life of grass and surrounding vegetation by eliminating the use of salt and harsh snow melting chemicals. It also extends the life of your driveway by defending it from chemicals and other traditional abrasive snow removal methods.

Radiant heated driveways are fully automated so you can stay inside where it’s warm and count the dollars you are saving as you watch the snow fall. An automatic snow sensor signals the snowmelt system’s controller when precipitation is detected and temperatures are below 39° Fahrenheit. The controller then sends power to the embedded heat cable, rapidly warming the driveway and keeping it clear of snow and ice. The system shuts off automatically after the storm. Electric radiant snow melting systems have an extremely fast response time, operate silently, and are maintenance free – and there are several options to choose from when considering a radiant snow melting system. There’s really no better, or easier way to keep your driveway clear of snow and ice during the winter than with a radiant heated snow melting system.

So, instead of shoveling for hours after a Nor’easter or powerful lake effect storm, you can spend time relaxing inside with your family. The peace of mind that comes with making a smart purchase is invaluable right now. We are all looking for ways to ride out this (shhh, whisper) recession and worrisome economic climate, but you can still enjoy some of the finer things in life, and invest in wise products.

HOTNEWS

The Latest Trends in Home Improvement

Radiant Heated Floors – Home Remodeling Trends You can Really Warm up to

CBS Moneywatch.com recently identified twelve trends in home remodeling for 2011. The hottest projects—bathrooms, must-do remodeling and warmer interior design projects made the top three, with green living coming in at number nine. With growing concerns over rising fuel prices and carbon footprints, it’s not surprising that more and more homeowners are investing in their homes to cut fuel consumption. Installing Warmzone radiant heated floors is a great way to keep up with remodeling trends and recoup on home improvement costs.

How does radiant heat work? Heated floors radiate heat from the floor up to keep you warm and comfortable when cold weather sets in. Two types of systems—electric heat cable and hydronic (water-based) tubing systems—when installed in the subfloor of your home act as heating elements to warm the surface above. These heating cables/tubing coordinate with a thermostat and sensors, as do traditional forced air systems, to provide heat to your home.

Radiant heated tile floor

Warmzone radiant heat is green heat. Powered by electricity, electric radiant heat cables can heat a surface in 30 to 60 minutes. Unlike forced air systems, they are room specific. With the help of sensors and a programmable thermostat you can heat one room, or heat them all quickly and efficiently, saving money on your monthly gas bill. And unlike forced air systems, they do not belch out the dust and dirt that compromises air quality in your home.

A radiant heated floor installation equals cheap equity. Heated floors give your home an impressive level of comfort and customization with minimal investment. Not sure you want to install heated floors throughout you home just yet? Warmzone offers a variety of heat cable products that can be easily installed under the subfloor of any room in your home, whether it be bathroom tile, wood or even carpet.

If, as CBS Moneywatch.com suggests, the over-arching remodeling trend for 2011 is to tackle small projects while you wait to do the really big remodeling project that’s on your list, why not start by installing heated floors in your home?  Unlike other “one-size-fits-all” radiant heat providers, Warmzone offers an array of radiant floor heating solutions designed to better match your individual project, and your budget. The good news—many of these floor heating products can be installed by do-it-yourself homeowners.

Heated Driveways and Roof Deicing

The Hottest New Trends in Home Remodeling
Among the hottest types of projects listed in the 2011 CBS Moneywatch.com twelve trends in home remodeling are the “must do” and green remodeling projects. If you are finally replacing your roof or pouring a new driveway, consider incorporating a snow melting system into your project list. Radiant heat is green heating technology that actually enhances the life of your roof or driveway without impacting your overall fuel consumption.

Warmzone roof deicing systems are designed to prevent the buildup of snow, ice and large icicles around roof eaves, drains and valleys, preventing damage to your roof and the potential for injury from falling icicles. And you have several roof heating options to choose from.

How it works
Warmzone RoofHeat heating element is polypropylene fused during fabrication to achieve water proofing and protection from UV rays, alkaline or salt damage. Lightweight, flexible and easy to install, these panels can be placed under new or existing asphalt, shake or tile shingles, making roof heating a low-cost, viable home remodeling project.

Installing a heated driveway is another way to add safety, convenience and efficiency to your household while building equity. Warmzone cable is available in pre-configured mats, making easy to roll out under newly poured driveways or pavers. The cable generates heat with the help of an automatic sensor that detects inclement weather and activates the system. It immediately detects changes in temperature and moisture associated with snow and similar weather conditions to warm up your driveway so it’s clear before your boots (or tires) ever see the pavement.

Asphalt driveway with heated tire tracks

Whether you choose an electric snow melting system for your roof or your driveway, you’ll also have the peace of mind that comes with green living. Protecting your roof from inclement weather and damage keeps heat in, so your furnace doesn’t have to work as hard, saving you in fossil fuel costs. A Warmzone radiant heated driveway system also saves your driveway from damage caused by harsh snow melting chemicals or the scraping of snow removal equipment, plus the energy you expend clearing them, whether you’re pushing a gas-burning snow blower, or shoveling.

Snow and ice melt systems provided by Warmzone deliver first class performance, efficiency, ease of installation and energy conservation. Partnering with Warmzone to complete your home improvement project means you’ll get the valuable input from radiant heat professionals needed to find a perfect solution for your heating requirements that’s within your budget, so you can save some green!

Request a FREE quote or call 888.488.9276 today.

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.