Snow melt water temps

Don Walsh

There seems to be a shortage of reliable information on snow melt systems. I am in need of knowing what would be a maximum water temp that could possibly be safely sent into a snow melt concrete slab. System is Class I - total cold start every time it will be used. One source is saying 150°F and another is saying never higher than 100°F. What do those of you doing snow melt suggest as a safe maximum?

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bigugh_4

\"possibly be safely sent\"

Your parameter! If the system was ever "on" when it should not be. the 150*F could present problems. I.e. to hot to walk on!
The rest is calculation, and your particular Design, return temp. to the boiler must be such that extream condensing does not occur. Useing a condensing boiler or piping a normal one correctly would be neccessary.

Tim Doran

Snow Melt Water Temps

Our guidlines are not to exceed 150 degrees. This figure is based on information from the engineering community and has to do with the concrete and its ability to expand and contract. It is also a good bit higher than what the typical snow melt system would need. For example: A system requiring 149 BTU/SQFT at 0 degrees with a 10 MPH wind and a 38 surface would need 123 degree water @ 6" oc spacing. I would be happy to help you calculate the requirements of your system. You can call me on Monday if you wish.
952-997-5334

Tim D.

Don Walsh

Thanks for the offer!

Tim, my design criteria is almost exactly as those that you enumerated in your reply. I had set the system up for 125° supply water temp, but was getting a ration of flak from the architect about being too cold a supply temp. He insists on 150° supply. I told him to issue a letter assuming responsibility for concrete damage at that temp, and I have not heard another word from him. Like wise the HO says "he has been told" that the maximum should be 100°F, I finally told him that if we set it at that point, for him not to call me when the snow piled up to his elbows. Short of sitting them down at my computer or teaching them how to read the print out of the design, I was hoping for exactly the comments that were posted here. A copy of which have been faxed to both of these parties. Thanks guys for the helping hand!!

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heatboy

I have found......

that reidential snow melt with 5/8" tube, 135°F is about the maximum temperature I feel comfortable with. I like using counterflow tube lay-outs and keep temp drops as narrow as possible with out using huge pumps. Loop lengths in the 200' to 225' will help with that.

You won't melt much, if any, snow at 100°F water temperature.

hb

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