Heated Driveway: Radiant heating driveway systems
If you live in a snowy area, a heated driveway can be of great use. Heated driveways will melt the snow and prevent you and you vehicles from sliding. Heating driveway systems are especially of use to people with a slope on the surface. It is a safety precaution worth considering and also cuts down on the effort of removing the snow manually.
The best heating driveway systems are ‘radiant‘ which is similar to under floor heating systems. They are efficient and low maintenance. Some people find that they can turn on the system before going out to work, the snow melts before you drive out, and if conditions are mild it maybe safe to drive on the surface when returning home for the day. It is also possible that a heated driveway system can protect your home from damp in some cases.
HOW MUCH DOES A HEATED DRIVEWAY SYSTEM COST?
Prices vary with area and different contractors, but a rough guide is $25 per square foot plus electrician costs. This is not a small amount of money, but the safety and convenience can make it worthwhile.
It will also add value to the property when you come to sell. There is of course the cost of using a heated driveway system which will be dependant on the size of the area. It is best to get 3 estimates and ask for realistic electric costs at the same time.
Amen! Thanks for promoting heated driveways using radiant heating in your article. I am a contractor in Northeastern PA and have been working with electric heated driveways from http://www.warmzone.com
I received two calls last week from happy customers after our big storm.
Stay safe! –Bill