Driveway heating
Posted on November 1, 2017 • 2 min read • 370 words
With the harsh winters of recent years, the demand for driveway heating is increasing. All kinds of dangerous situations can occur due to freezing snow or water on the driveway. This makes slipping and breaking something a real danger.
Driveway heating prevents snow or ice from accumulating on the driveway or sidewalk. In other words, the path to the front door or garage remains free of ice and snow in winter.
This means you can use your driveway or sidewalk safely in the winter and the driveway heating saves you a lot of snow-ploughing time and salt contamination.
How does it work?
Your driveway will be equipped with a system that makes it warmer than 0 degrees, so snow and ice have no chance. There are two versions. There are liquid-based systems and electrical systems.
Liquid filled driveway heater
With liquid-filled driveway heating, the driveway is fitted with flexible plastic pipes, filled with relatively warm water with anti-freeze. This keeps your driveway and associated path free of snow and ice.
It is not necessary in all cases to heat the entire driveway. It is often sufficient to just heat the wheel tracks. This means that the entire installation does not have to be too expensive and it also saves energy.
For a properly functioning system, the pipes must be made of good heat-conducting material, such as concrete, sand-cement mortar and asphalt.
Electric driveway heating
With electric driveway heating, special cables or heating mats are laid in asphalt, concrete or under the tiles that are connected to the electricity supply. In combination with sensors, an electric current is sent through the cables or mats as soon as necessary, so that they become warm and thus heat the driveway. If necessary, you could generate this electricity again with solar panels.
Demo
Take a look at this (English) demo and be surprised.
Is driveway heating expensive?
That in itself is not so bad. Ultimately, all things cost money, including driveway heating. On the other hand: Not being able to go to work due to a broken leg or being in the hospital for a hip operation is not everything. You already have driveway heating from 190 euros .
