Radiant Snow Melting Systems

What are the Options for Installing a Driveway Heating System?

When it comes to radiant heat installations, there are many custom options that are available to your customers. While many homeowners may express a desire to have a radiant heated driveway, many assume that the systems are financially out of reach, and leave it at that. Intimidated by the imagined cost, they abandon any thoughts of learning more about the systems; and instead, they upgrade their old plastic snow shovel with a new, poly blade shovel with double ergonomic grip.

What many potential customers don’t realize is that radiant snow melting systems can be easily customized to accommodate everything from performance and layout to the customers’ budget. Instead of being discouraged by the perceived cost of an automated snow melting system, homeowners can work with you (and ProLine), and be matched with the system that is ideal for their needs.

Radiant snow melting systems can be installed in all the common mediums, including concrete, asphalt, and pavers. (A heat cable with a special outer jacket is available for hot asphalt installations.) Existing driveways can even be retrofitted with a radiant heat system.

Heated paver walkway with cutaway showing heat cable and paver sand.

So, while homeowners dream about having an automated heated driveway, they don’t have to give up on that dream because of preconceived notions regarding cost. Driveway heating systems can be easily customized according to the customer’s budget needs.

Some of the general layout options for driveway heating systems are listed below:

Heat entire areas – Many homeowners prefer heating the entire driveway. Heat cable can be installed to keep driveways, sidewalks, steps, ramps and other outdoor areas completely free of snow and ice. Radiant snow melting systems can be tailored to meet the customer’s specific demands, and are designed to be installed in a wide variety of applications, including concrete, asphalt, and pavers.

Heat only the trafficked areas – Another popular option for homeowners is to install radiant heat only in the commonly trafficked areas. For example, rather than heating the entire driveway, two 24-inch-wide tire tracks can be installed, or an 8-foot strip in the middle of the driveway can be heated. Heated tire tracks are especially popular for homeowners looking to heat a long driveway, have power restrictions, or are looking to keep within a tight budget. These options can save customers installation costs as well as operational costs because less surface area is being heated.

Heat only small, select areas – Radiant heat systems are easy to customize, and can be installed to heat just about any layout. Small footpaths can be heated as well as odd shaped areas. Heating cable can be installed to heat disability ramps, outdoor steps, patios, sidewalks, and even dog kennels, dog runs, and more. The applications are virtually limitless. In addition to electric radiant heat systems, ProLine also offers customers hydronic radiant heat solutions. 

Heated tire tracks in driveway
Heated tire tracks, installed in a residential driveway in Canada.

A great advantage of working with ProLine is that customers not only receive radiant heat solutions at wholesale prices, but that the systems are backed by preeminent customer support services. ProLine includes free installation training, professional system design, and technical support for installers.

These services have helped to establish ProLine as an industry leader, and resulted in so much repeat business from contractors and professional builders throughout the country. When contractors install ProLine radiant heat solutions, they know that they’ll receive dedicated, personal support throughout the installation process.

In addition to heated driveways and snow melting systems, ProLine also offers a variety of industry-leading roof de-icing, floor heating, and pipe trace products and solutions. For more information about ProLine’s radiant heat solutions and services, contact a radiant heat professional at 866-676-9276 today.