Electric Floor Heat... For Your Driveway?

Most people have heard of electric floor heat for inside the home. It's a great way to keep cold floors, such as tiled bathroom and kitchen floors, nice and toasty warm all year round. But did you know that you can get infloor heating for the outdoors too?

More and more people are discovering radiant floor heat systems that are designed to work for their driveways. Not only does a heated driveway take the dread out of winter and reduce (or eliminate) the need to shovel heavy snow, it makes getting out of the driveway much safer, whether you are heading out in the car or simply trying to walk down and get your morning paper.

As our lives get busier, often finding time to snow-blow or shovel the driveway and the walk is difficult. And after an overnight snowfall, the plows go through and clear the road... leaving you with a tough job the next morning.  More and more people are installing radiant heating systems under their driveways and walkways, so that they no longer have to slip and slide their way out the door in the mornings. Seniors especially are using these systems, as it eliminated the need for them to hire someone to shovel.. and having to stay inside on days when they can't get their walks cleared.

The best time to install electric floor heat for your driveway and walkway is, of course, in the summer or the fall so you can be prepared for the upcoming winter season. When you think about how harsh the winters have been over the last few years, it just makes sense to have a system in place before you get hit with that first winter ice storm.

The best type of system to use are heating cables that have been designed to be used outdoors. Generally, these systems will give you between 30 and 50 watts per square foot and will be programmable just like your indoor systems, so you can set them to defrost and melt the snow and ice when you need it done... before you get up in the morning, or before you get home from work.

Outdoor infloor heating will actually have other benefits as well. It will increase the value of your home, so if you plan to re-sell then installing radiant heating is a great way to add value for buyers. Also, the cost to keep your heated driveway maintained is less than the cost to hire someone to shovel or plow for you. Since you don't have to use salt or chemicals to melt ice and snow, your concrete will last much longer and your driveway will stay looking nicer all year round. It's simple, and requires no maintenance on your part.

So if you want to find a way to make your winters safer, easier and more convenient, electric floor heat used outdoors for your driveway and for your walkways will fit the bill perfectly. No more shoveling, no more slipping and sliding, and more time to just enjoy the winter instead of working your way through it.