If you live in a region that experiences chilly temperatures and frequent snowstorms, you understand the pain of shovelling snow in freezing temperatures. You may also be familiar with the cost of snow plowing services or snow blowers. On average, it will cost you about $40 to get a professional plowing service to clear your driveway. If you opt to buy a snowblower, expect to spend about $875 on a new model and $10 for gas, and an additional $100 per year on maintenance. What most homeowners don’t realize is that there is another great alternative – installing a heated driveway.
What is the real cost of a snow-melting system?
Every year Canada experiences an average of 79 days of snowfall. In New York, the average number of snowfall is 66 days. Assuming every day of snowfall requires plowing, it will cost you about $2,640 a year to hire professional plowing services. If you use a snowblower, you can expect the cost in the first year to be around $985.
On the other hand, a snow melting system will cost an average of $1,600 to install on a driveway of about 10 by 20 feet. Operating a snow melting system will cost you about $0.32 per hour. This means when you switch from a snow plowing service, you will save a whopping $1,000 in the first year when you install a heated driveway.
Tire Tracks’ Heating
A tire tracks’ heating system only heats a part of the driveway. Two-tire wide strips that cover the length of the driveway are installed. This system is more energy-efficient and will save you approximately 35% by only heating the tire tracks instead of the entire driveway. Heavenly Heat has snow-melting cables or mats for partial or full coverage.
When is the Best Time for a Heated Driveway?
The best time to install the driveway is when it is being installed for the first time, when you plan on expanding it or when you want to repave it. These options give you a chance to supplement your driveway with electric heat when the driveway is under construction. It saves you from the pain of tearing up a perfect driveway to install the heating mat. The best thing is snow melting systems work great regardless of whether your driveway is made up of concrete, pavers, or asphalt.
Do you need a heated driveway? You can get a free, no-obligation quote from Heavenly Heat.
