Snowmelt

Waylon Lowery

to install the tubing in the sand for two reasons.

1) We are always worried about the tubes getting damaged.
2) I once heard, at an RPA show, of a contractor who had the sand adhere to the tubing and form a type of glazing that provided additional thermal resistance that ended up downgrading the performance of the system.

For these reasons, we always install our tubing in a thin rough concrete slab (rat slab).

Wayco Wayne_2

Looking at a

snowmelt job under pavers. Where does the tubing go? in the sand on top of the gravel. I will be reseaqrching it through my manufacturer but if you have done it let me know how you like to do it. Thanks in advance. WW

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BillW@honeywell

Hey, Wayne!

Give MadDog a call...he did one recently that looks and works great. Good seeing you at Wetstock.

Wayco Wayne_2

Hey Bill

It was a pleasure seeing you again. I'm considering Providence. How about you. Thank you for Dinner. You were very generous. WW

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Mad Dog

My snowmlet job was over pavers

we buried the tubing in a cement slab, 1" of dry pack on top of that, then the pavers. Mad Dog

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Mad Dog

I heard that too

I'll give you the run down, but I highly suggest you use Mr Mark Eatherton - Colorado Madman as a consultant. Woth every penny. Mad Dog

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Tim Doran_2

Sand

The conductivity of sand is fairly poor as compared to concrete but is often used with snow and ice melting applications.

The theory of the sand fusing to the pipe and causing an insulative effect is interesting. The surface temperature of the pipe would have to reach a point at which it could melt the silica in the sand and there would also have to be significant pressure applied to make it take a shape around the pipe. If this were to happen it is possible that the conductivity may increase due to the decrease in air pockets. It seems more likely to me that there may be cases where mineral deposits cause the sand to clump and this should not be a big deal. One of the potential benefits of having the tubing in the sand is that as the snow melts and the sand allows water to flow through it there becomes a direct conduit to the surface which could increase performance.

Tim D.