It spreads the heat evenly across the pavement, effectively melting snow and ice.
Living near the northern border, the winter weather is always a challenge. We deal with approximately eight months of chilly conditions and snowfall. The temperature often drops well below zero, with a nasty windchill, and we accumulate approximately fifteen feet of snow annually. My house is equipped with a boiler system that is able to handle the brutal winter weather. The boiler is installed in the basement and connects to a series of pipes concealed beneath the floor. Hot water passes through these pipes, radiating heat across the floor and maintaining a very even indoor comfort. The radiant floor heating system takes up no living space, operates silently and requires no maintenance. Because the heat originates at floor level and rises very slowly, we’re able to live with a lower thermostat setting than with a forced air heating system. There are no drafts, cold spots and only limited stratification. One of the best features of the boiler is the versatility. Along with heating the inside of the house, it also powers and outdoor snowmelt system. Very much like tha radiant floor heating system, there is a network of pipes buried under the concrete of the driveway, sidewalks and front steps. The snowmelt system automatically activates in response to temperature drop and moisture. It spreads the heat evenly across the pavement, effectively melting snow and ice. We don’t need to shovel or plow or deal with harsh snowmelt chemicals. We don’t get wet feet walking to the car or worry about slipping and falling on the ice. The boiler, radiant floors and snowmelt system make the long winters tolerable.