How exactly does a heated driveway work?
As the name suggests, a heated driveway can essentially keep its concrete surface at just the right temperature to melt any ice or falling snow. There are actually two variations of heating systems that are used for this type of driveway. One uses an electrical current, which works in a similar way to underfloor heating, to generate heat. The other method involves the use of tubes, which pump antifreeze water under the surface of the driveway.So, what are the benefits of a heated driveway?
- Your driveway will be much safer to walk on in winter, and the risk of you or someone else slipping and falling on any ice will be eliminated.
- You’ll be able to avoid accidentally chipping or scraping the surface of your driveway, because you won’t need to use a shovel or ice pick.
- You won’t need to use any salt or de-icer on particularly icy or snow covered areas of your driveway. Since these can have damaging effects to the surface and to any nearby vegetation, minimising their use is very beneficial.
- You’ll be able to prevent further long-term damage to the surface, as there will be less moisture left on the driveway to seep through any cracks.
- You won’t have to spend a lot on maintenance costs, as typically once a heated driveway is installed, there’ll be nothing else required to run it for many years.
