Snowfall in New Jersey can be pretty unforgiving. 16 inches of snow is common on bad winter days. Good or bad weather, going out of your home is inevitable, and you cannot do that with all the snow on the ground.

Shoveling is a solution, but it is not the best or the most convenient. Why do the shoveling if having a clear driveway every winter morning is possible without lifting a finger? That’s possible with heated driveways.

What Are Radiant Floors Or Heated Driveways?

A heated driveway is an example of a radiant floor system. It is one of the types of snow melting systems commonly installed in areas with snow problems, like New Jersey.

Driveway heating is done by a system composed of a heating element, a sensor, a power source, and a controller. When the system is turned on, the heating element will start melting the snow, clearing the way, and revealing what we call the radiant floor. There is more than just one way to do this, depending on the type and the kind of system installed.

Types Of Snow Melting Systems

Snow melting systems come in various types. They can be hydronic or electric. Hydronic driveway heating uses hot water to “flush” the snow. The water is delivered via pipes that are sitting beneath the driveway. Electric, on the other hand, uses radiant heating cables installed underneath the driveway. The set of wires heat up, causing the driveway to heat up and then melt the snow.

The snowmelt system can also be automated or manual. The good thing about a manual system is that you have total control over it. Simply turn it on or off when you see fit. This will also pose the risk of forgetting to turn it on or off. That’s when an automated system becomes a better choice.

An automatic system uses a sensor that detects if the surface or surrounding is cold enough. Once the desired temperature is reached, it will be cold enough to automatically turn on the system and then turn it off when it has detected the job is done.