Canada experiences some of the harshest winters in the world. Canadian residents deal with anywhere from 21.7 inches to 11 inches every year when it comes to snowfall. A lot of time and money is spent removing snow and ice from the walkways and driveways. This has seen many people deal with all manner of injuries that are incurred when removing snow/ice.

While the snowblower has been around for some time now and is preferred over shovelling, it still puts you at a high risk of getting frostbites and getting into accidents. You also have to think about the initial purchase cost of the machine and the required storage space. Snow blowing thus tends to cause more problems than it solves.

Another alternative is hiring a snow plow contractor. With this option, you don’t need to leave the comfort of your home. The drawback, however, is that you have to foot the high price that comes with hiring a snow plow contractor. There is also the issue of snow piling up within no time on your driveway or walkway.

All the aforementioned issues have led to the rise in the popularity of heated driveways. But what are these, and how do they work?

Heated Driveways

With heated driveways, a heating element is installed under the driveway. The element uses radiant heat to melt the snow and ice from the surface of the driveway. There are two distinct systems available on the market: hydronic and electric.

Hydronic systems use water or another liquid such as glycol, which is heated in a boiler then circulated through a network of pipes. This heats the surface of the driveway and subsequently melts the snow/ice. Hydronic systems are pretty durable and work better in larger areas. The downside is they can be very costly.

Electric radiant heating systems, on the other hand, are modern options and ideal for exterior heating. They use electrical cables and mats to heat the driveway. They don’t require a huge investment to install. The low initial cost is, without a doubt, the main reason why they are gaining a lot of popularity in Canada.

Whether you go with hydronic or electric radiant heating, these systems are a worthy investment, especially when renovating your walkway or driveway. Although the installation cost is a tad high, they will save you a lot of money in the long run. Moreover, depending on your home’s electrical setup, you may not have to upgrade your electrical panels when installing an electric radiant heating system.

Safety First

Radiant heating systems offer myriad benefits. In addition to keeping you from shovelling now and then, the system will also keep your pets safe. The system will also reduce the wear and tear that comes with shovelling the driveways and using toxic chemicals to remove snow.

Are you interested in finding more about radiant heating systems? Our team at Heavenly Heat is happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact us now to learn more.