Heated driveways to melt snow

Jason_7

We have a concrete driveway. Is there a system to install a heated driveway under the concrete as it is now? This is a not a new driveway, and I'm not tearing it up. We had our sprinkle system put in a few years after we built our house and they had a special machine that put the piping under the ground without tearing it up. I was told to ask on this forum if there was anything that can be done to heat an "existing" driveway or anything to lay overtop?

Uni R

Snow melt

Without touching the concrete you have two options. If the water table is low enough, you could rent a tunnel boring machine and then install a small nuclear reactor under your driveway and heat your property from underneath. Decommissioned or just simply forgotten Russian nuclear subs are probably your best source for reactors. Getting fuel might be tough but you'd only need to replenish it every 22 years.


The other option is to install a laser grid snow melt system on your roof. The lasers could either be aimed to scan above your driveway so that the snow is vapourized before touching the concrete or do surface scans melting it on the surface. Either way, have the controls set so that all of the lasers can do a focused spot vaporization so that you have instant trash removal or suspect vaporization if you hook it up to your security system. At 3.3*10^5J/KG, this system would really drive up your electrical costs. How big is your driveway and how much snow do you get? Hey wait... microwaves would be a far better way to excite water molecules. Focused microwaves would be far cheaper... and you could cook enough veggies for the neighborhood if you set it on high.


Either buying a snow blower or redoing the concrete with a snow melt system would be cheaper.

Jason_7

Jason_7

Hehe, very good options there. That was great.

So, it looks like this isn't an options. I did a few internet searches and did read about retro-fitting systems to existing driveways, but couldn't find much info?

Jason_7

Dave Meers

You could tunnel under the driveway and install a retrofit staple-up system. You'll probably need some special staples and you will certainly need to use aluminum plates to obtain maximun heat transfer. Good luck!

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Is that your driveway?

Erie, PA; Buffalo, NY or thereabouts?

I kind of like to shovel snow, but my back aches just looking at that...

Earthfire

Snow melt

You could try saw cutting the driveway slab and installing electric heating cables and grouting them in. Would need at least a 1/2" wide grove to cement grout successfully. But the operating cost without insulation under the slab would astronomical and performance poor.as the ground would suck the heat out of the slab. best bet is to break out the existing slab, insulate, install the tubing. and pour a new slab. Don't forget to make provision for the melt water to drain away.

scrook_2

snow like...

we had *every* winter in Boston when I was a kid! (and I had to walk 10 miles to school in it, barefoot, uphill, both ways, all while fighting off the indians and carrying my brother on my back, too -- but for some reason, my kids don't believe any of this!)

There was Winter/Feb of '69 and THE Blizzard of '78 though.

Guess the snowmelt boiler went down?

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Spent Christmas in Erie, PA one year

BIG snowstorm--well big to me at least. Looked out window, car looked fine and thought, "at least it's not that bad." After I finally made it to the OTHER side of the car and couldn't find it anymore...I understood the concept of "snow country."

At least they understand how to drive on it there and apply a bit of courtesy!!!!

Did though have to follow my father-in-law to a completely unfamiliar place on a country road during a near white-out. He was doing 60 in places--I was cussing and praying at the same time--sorry! Felt like belting the man when we arrived and I pried my hands off the wheel. First time we'd met though (married at Justice of Peace) so I held my temper. Guess he was either testing me or hoping his "problem" daughter and I would get lost or worse...

Mad Dog

NO! ain't happenion'

now. Mad Dog

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Mad Dog

u funny man!!

Liked that Mad Dog

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Mad Dog

C'mon guys!!!!!! The poor guy just wanted an honest answer

and you narcisstic contractors have to beat up on him. What is this place coming to???? hee hee...Mad Dog

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kevin_5

You're Outrageous

And I love you for it! Hilarious
Kevin O. Pulver

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hr

Can't see a good retro fit in your future

To demo an old driveway isn't that big of a deal. Around here contractors show up with a dump truck, Bobcat with a breaker on front, and by days end the old drive is gone and a new one is poured.

With a Bobcat or backhoe mounted breaker, concrete demo is an easy task.

Just depends on how bad you want a heated drive

I think you really want the tube in the slab, not tunneled below. How much would that process cost? Would it compromise the integrity of the drive?

hot rod

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Uni R

Good retro

That driveway is just too new looking. In a few years and after a few stray cracks, Jason can get it redone with underslab insulation and radiant if he wants and not feel bad about it.

Jack_23

Nukes

Having worked on several (I now have a half-life of my own)I wuld suggest that drilling the sides of the concrete and inserting some spent fuel pellets might achieve the desired result. Again from an economic standpoint, we know that the rods will last forever...or close to it. The down side is taht you would have to run the sprinklers on it whenever there isn't snow.

Perhaps it is better to start fresh!

Tony_8

added benefit

EZ FIND DRIVEWAY ! Day or night, just follow the light! Down side is it would probably be hard on tires. Thump, thump, thump Errant heat seeking missiles from a nearby military range could make things "rocky".

Really, if that snowfall is normal, what would it cost to operate a conventional snowmelt system ?

Uni R

Never thought about the missile magnet aspect... LOL


The cost was going to be busting up a nice new driveway and we were thinking of workarounds.

Jason_7

Yea, the house/driveways were built in 1990. There are in perfect shape, but just didn't think of doing the heat at the time. There is also a circular driveway.

hr

Yet another thought

I have done some long steep drives with just tire track areas. Cut a couple two foot wide paths around the steep area.

That could be done with a large walk behind concrete road saw, insert the tube then replace that section with a stamped colored concrete patch. Maybe a cobblestone pattern. Make it look like it wasn't an after thought.

Tire track melt zones consume a lot less BTU's than an entire drive job.

Trying to get you a sale and the customer a snowmelt

hot rod

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Tony_8

missiles

if armed, would do it !

New term : Raydiant