Driveway and walkway automatic snow melt system by Mirek Walus Ideal Heating LLC

Home » Categories » Do it Yourself (DIY) » Home Improvement » Driveway and walkway automatic snow melt system » Printer Friendly

Driveway and walkway automatic snow melt system
No Reader Ratings Available ?	Rate It / View Comments / View All Articles submitted by Mirek Walus
Submitted Monday, February 27, 2006
Mirek Walus ⁽¹¹⁶⁾ Ideal Heating LLC Log in to become a member of Mirek Walus's Fan Club!

The key to the installation of the automatic snowmelting system is quite simple: to know about it BEFORE the walkway and driveway is to be installed!

To save on the energy and installation cost, only half of the driveway will be heated. Insulation will help to retain the heat. The moist ground below could needlessly take a lot of heat away from the surface where it will be needed.

Four 462 ft. long Elektra VCD25/3550 cables. Each cable is 3550Watts @ 240V, 15.5 Amps good for near 125 sq.ft. of the coverage when installed as 28 Watts per sq. ft.

At NJ electric energy prices of 12¢ per kWh if the whole contraption is ON for as much as 10-12 hours a day it will cost under $20 to use.

The ground moisture and temperature sensor is installed for full automation and energy savings.

When it is cold and dry, nothing happens.
When it is wet and not cold, nothing happens.
When it is cold and wet, the system will turn itself ON and stay ON until the surface of the sensor is dry.

IT IS ALWAYS ON STANDBY UNTIL NEEDED!

Each cable with its own contactor and breaker.

Ready for the winter weather.

Six months later...

To save on energy and installation cost only half of the driveway is heated.

Sometime later...

The next day:

More info: www.Ideal-Heating.com

tweet this!

►Reprint Rights◄

» left by Anonymous (2 years 91 days ago.)

I would not have designed or installed the system as described.

Morgan Audetat
Badger Radiatiant Floors and Snowmelting
Badger Boiler Service Mpls, MN
Respond to this comment

» left by Anonymous (2 years 68 days ago.)

Not many people have experience with snowmelting systems.
Respond to this comment

» left by Anonymous (279 days 7 hours ago.)

This was just the information I was interested in, as some initial research into the subject. Great photo-documentation; and excellent comment on insulating below to prevent ground-heat leakage!

Respond to this comment

Was this article helpful to you? Leave a Public Comment or Question:


	This Article has been viewed 3,046 times. Article added to SearchWarp.com on 2/27/2006 12:58:46 PM. View other articles written by Mirek Walus ⁽¹¹⁶⁾

If you found this article interesting, you may want to check out:

Shopping for Materials for Your Ceramic Tile Installation Project
Self-Install a Sump Pump
Creative Curtains and Window Coverings
Replacing Wood Sash Windows with Vinyl Windows.
Maintenance is Every Sump Pump Owner’s Responsibility
Using Landscaping Bridges In Your Designs
Choosing a Pond Liner – EPDM Liners Are the Optimal Choice

Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional or organization.