How much do snow melting driveway mats cost?
DIY snow melting driveway mats cost $1,600. A radiant electric or hydronic system is installed beneath the new driveway's surface to melt snow. Installing a hydronic system requires removing the existing driveway, laying insulation and tubing, and paving with new concrete or asphalt.
How much does it cost to retrofit a snow melt system?
Retrofitting a snow melt system costs $7 to $17 per square foot. Get free estimates from driveway contractors near you or view our cost guide below. How much will your heated driveway cost? Reviewed and approved on February 22, 2021, by Tom Grupa and 12 expert asphalt companies on HomeGuide.
How are snow melting systems installed?
How are Snow Melting Systems Installed? The best way to install a snow melting system is when you are constructing the premises. However, you can install it on an already constructed walkway and other surfaces. Here, you would have to open up some parts of the surface to insert the cables or tubes in them.
How often does a snow melting system need to run?
This is because a snow melting system does not need to run continually, or even every day. In fact, a system only really needs to run long enough to melt the fallen snow and evaporate the leftover water. Find out how much a snow melting system would cost to run in your area by using our calculator tool below!
How to schedule an appointment for snow melt?
To schedule an appointment for your new Snow and Ice Melt System just call the office at 973-728-5745. Or fill out the site survey form which will take less than 5 minutes. When you submit the survey form we will review the survey form and call you to discuss the installation and answer any questions you may have.
How much does a kilowatt cost?
An average kW cost of 0.06 cents to 0.13 cents per kilowatt is charged by the utilities. If you're unsure, use the default amount of 0.09 cents as an estimated average. If you want to input your own number it must be in the format of 0.00. Example: if you believe your utility is charging you 9 cents per kW the input is 0.09, if you believe it is 7 cents per kW then the input must be 0.07, if your kW rate is 7 and one half cents (7.5 cents) round up the input to 0.08.
Why is the kW rate at the lowest?
In the winter when your new Snow and Ice Melt system is waiting to activate, your utility kW price is at the lowest of the year because there are no summer time premium fees. Additionally in most areas we can get you approved for a year round lower electrical kW (kilowatt) rate.
Is each project unique as are the costs?
each project is unique as are the costs.
How much snow does a snow melt system melt?
That depends on a number of variables (like the temperature outside) but generally speaking these snow melting systems are designed to melt 1" - 3" of snow per hour. Anything above 3" per hour is typically considered blizzard conditions.
How does a snow melt system work?
Our snow melting systems work by incorporating embedded heating elements into an outdoor surface to not only melt any accumulating snow and ice but the system can also be ran after the snow stops to help evaporate the leftover water . A snow melting system not only makes your life much easier in the wintertime, it also helps protect you ...
How many watts does a snowmelt cable need?
Power requirements are measured in Amps and based on three factors: the watts per sq. ft. of the snow melting cable or mat, the area powered and the voltage used for the application. Our product is rated at 50 watts per sq. ft., so that is a constant factor. Most snowmelt projects are powered with 240V AC – not all, but most. The one factor that is always variable is the area to be heated/powered. That is based on your project. For a point of reference, let’s use the example above of a 350 sq. ft. concrete patio.
How thick should snow melting elements be?
To ensure optimal performance, snow melting heating elements should be installed so that they are consistently 2"-3" from the finished surface. For installations using pavers, the maximum thickness for pavers installed over heating elements is 2.5".
How many watts does a snow melter system produce?
The mats are designed to deliver 50 watts of heat per square foot and allow for quick and easy installation. The cable system allows for maximum flexibility and generates 12 watts per linear foot. Our systems are available with a selection of different controls, each with different specifications to sense things like air temperature or moisture on the pavement.
Why is snow melting important?
A snow melting system not only makes your life much easier in the wintertime, it also helps protect you and your loved ones. And while that peace of mind is certainly priceless, you'll be pleasantly surprised to learn just how affordable our snow melting systems actually are!
Can you retrofit a snow melter?
Yes, you can retrofit a snow melting system into a preexisting driveway made of concrete or asphalt. You can do this by using an appropriate tool to cut properly spaced lines (or trenches for tire tracks heating) in the surface.
How much does it cost to install a snowmelting system?
For example, if the total square footage of your driveway were 1,000 feet, your up-front cost to have a snow-melting system installed under the whole driveway would be $10,000 to $15,000. Again, though, that assumes that the installer can start from scratch.
What is the water system used to melt snow?
Heated water is pumped through the tubing. This is known as a "hydronic" snow-melting system. The water in heated driveway systems is mixed with an anti-freeze (glycol). Heat radiates up from the tubing to the surface of your driveway and melts away snow and ice while drains catch the liquid run-off thereby produced, channeling the water away from your driveway.
What Runs a Radiant Snow-Melting System?
A boiler heats the water in most built-in snow-melting systems and pumps circulate it through the tubing. This is a form of radiant heating, which is well-known for indoor use, but this happens to be an example of its use outdoors. The whole process is regulated by controls, so that heat won't be wasted. Control schemes vary in sophistication. At the low end are manually operated "on/off" controls, while the more sophisticated control schemes are automated.
Why is it important to have a hot surface waiting for snowflakes?
Just as important is preventing ice build-up on your driveway or nearby walking surfaces, since slipping on ice can cause serious injury.
What is the least efficient snow removal system?
Manually operated control schemes (or “on/off” systems) are the least efficient for snow removal, although they do a pretty good job of melting ice. These systems rely on you to say to yourself, " Gee, I heard it's going to snow—I'd better turn the system on! "
Does a radiant heat system work on a driveway?
While most radiant heated driveway systems run this way, not all do. An expert from Heatizon Systems wrote in to call attention to a type of system that's not based on heated water. His company deals in radiant units that are based, instead, on "low voltage electric radiant heat technology". The technology is different, but the end result is similar. You end up with a grid (of wires, in this case) beneath your driveway that heats up the driveway surface to combat snow and ice.
Can hydronic snow melters run on propane?
You are stuck paying the electric company whatever it bills you when you have an electric snow-melting system but, by contrast, hydronic systems can run on a number of power sources including propane or natural gas. While the concept of a built-in snow-melting system has its appeal, the cost can be prohibitive.
How does hydronic snow melt work?
Hydronic heated driveways use a boiler to heat a mixture of water and glycol and a pump to circulate the hot liquid through PEX tubing beneath the driveway's surface. Hydronic snow melt systems cost more to install and repair but typically cost less to run, depending on the fuel source.
How much does it cost to heat an asphalt driveway?
A heated asphalt driveway costs $12 to $27 per square foot or $6,000 to $16,000 total on average for a 2-car driveway. In comparison, a standard asphalt driveway costs $3 to $7 per square foot without a snow melt system. Retrofitting asphalt driveway with electric coil heating system.
How does electric driveway heating work?
Electric heated driveways use a grid of heating cables beneath the surface to radiate heat upward and melt the snow. Electric heating systems require less warm-up time and are cheaper to install and maintain but may cost more to run, depending on local utility rates.
How much does a heated driveway cost?
A heated concrete driveway costs $13 to $28 per square foot or $6,500 to $17,000 total on average for a 2-car driveway. This price does not include removing an existing driveway. In comparison, a standard concrete driveway costs $4 to $8 per square foot without heating.
Why is solar power not enough for driveway heating?
Solar heated driveway – Solar power is not adequate for heating a driveway because the sunshine needed to generate power is not available during snowstorms. Heated driveway systems use enough power to quickly deplete a solar battery bank before the snow fully melts.
Why do you need a heated driveway?
Heated driveways add value to a home and increase its appeal to potential buyers. Heated driveway systems are a significant selling point in regions with heavy snowfall.
What are the two types of heated driveways?
The two types of heated driveway systems are electric and hydronic:
