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The installation isnt that expensive if you already have hot water heating. Need a mixing valve, pump, sensor, relay and of course the radiant tubing.
I could be wrong but I think the expensive part is the running of the heated driveway zone. I dont see how its possible to get driveway heated enough to melt snow right before a snow. And even if its not how doesn't the thermal expansion of the heat crack the driveway? I will have to read into it.
You will need several zones for the driveway so you need a manifold.
I have never seen it tied into the existing heating system. Alway have been stand alone system with its own boiler. Most home boilers won't be sized or able to handle the extra load. Plus you would have to make all your existing dwelling zones priority zones so you don't sacrifice home heat for driveway.
Also need to use glycol outside instead of water.
The Tekmar controls are off the hook expensive, great products. Just installed radiant in my bathrooms all componets are pricey. Then you need someone to wire all this.......very specialized. Thank God I wired it myself......took me awhile!
Then you have to maintain this system......and pray it does not leak....
Really nice if you have the bucks!
Personally I rather install radiant inside first and enjoy all winter long!
I agree....I think they got a top 5 QB....might take 2 more years. Would have loved to see what he could do with Marshall. Must have been more to the Marshall trade.....he is a knucklehead.
OK, so after last nights slippery sliding up and down the driveway (which needs serious work),
I reall feel we need to consider a heated driveway. Already feel that the usual hydroponic liquid based stuff is not worth the risk of leaks and such.
Seeing these electrical mats that can be put under asphalt. Thinking its in my future.
Since the last post and especially last night, anyone now think its a good idea:
(background: new house, will be here for 25+ years; driveway needs replacing anyway; steep driveway. And yes, I threw down salt both the night before last night as well as yesterday AM and last night. Still a really slippery slope. And yes, I bought the pprev owners nearly new snowblower @$150 and have bags of ice melt....)
^ well a snowblower isn't going to get that last layer of snow that freezes into ice. Ice-melt doesn't get everything either. My walkway and parts of my driveway are fine where I actually shoveled through properly - it was very light snow. But good luck with what you decide. It's way too costly for what you get imo. Ice doesn't form all that often here.
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