Heated driveway

[Brad]

Steve,

We have done some excellent testing this winter. We are running another 8-12 inch snow fall test tonight and tomorrow. All systems are running - the pre-pre-heat cycle is done - we are now into the pre-heat at a higher temperature cycle now. The system needs to get up to temperature fast and it is not moving at all right now. The air temperature has been falling too fast - just dropped to 13 degrees.

[Brad]

Charlie,

The ice storm/power surge created a bit of a problem with the furnace for the driveway heat system. Got the part replaced last week and then got on to fine tuning. Made a few more adjustments yesterday morning and things are running a bit hotter.

Here is the driveway as of this morning after the one foot storm.


The follow are graphs of the water temperature in the system for the prior storm
Supply1 = water going out to the main part of the driveway
Return1 = water coming back from main driveway
Supply2 = water going to the front walkway and the top of the driveway by the road
Return2 = water going back from walkway and top of driveway

Before the storm on the 19th - then I forced it to go from its idle temp up to the melt temp which it did quickly


During the storm the temps stayed constant as everything was melting.


Then when the system knew the demand for heating was doing down and everything was in balance, it started to shut into more of a running mode, then later it went back down to the melt temp.


Anyone with a radiant heat system "has" to have the ability to see what is happening with the temps. I have a small 4-probe temperature module that reads the temps and the data is available through a browser (since it is IP network based) and also the XML data is available. Spyboy's roommate wrote a small program to capture the XML data and then I can save it and import into Excel.

[ColdWeatherClimber]

$18,000 ??? That thing is way over-complicated for what it is supposed to do. Run some pipes, poor the blacktop and pump hot water through it

[Bill O]

Half the fun of winter is having a snowy driveway. With big piles on the side and snowpack on the pavement.

[Steve M]

Half the fun of winter is having a snowy driveway. With big piles on the side and snowpack on the pavement.

I think that would depend on how steep your driveway is.

[Brad]

With this driveway there would be only one way to go - down into the garage. And "into" could have a couple of different meanings. Without a clear, dry pavement on the asphalt being so steep there would be no way of getting up. Any slickness and you will make it down one way or another - but not up. Before the melt system was put in we had several instances where the car ended up sideways across the garage doors instead of going through the door.

So, it is either get it really clear - or park at the top and walk up. For some in our family walking up is not a real option. The driveway can not be plowed as there is no place to push the snow to at the bottom of the hill by the house. So, snowblower is a possibility if you want the danger of trying to stand on a steep slippery slope and manage a bucking snowblower. I used to do it before we paved the driveway and almost killed myself several times.

Plus, the melt system is cool. And it is cheaper to run than having it plowed all the time.

[mtruman]

Sounds like your driveway configuration is like mine Brad (sloping down to the garage). Sure wish mine had been heated this weekend - my back is still unhappy about shoveling the nearly 18" we got between Friday and yesterday. I keep waiting for the day we have the "car ending up sideways across the garage door instead of through it". Been lucky (and careful) so far. Had a few times where getting up the driveway has taken a running start out of the garage and a prayer that the car would keep going straight and make it to the top before the ice took over. My problem with the melt system would be that we have a really poor drainage system at the bottom of the driveway so a clear driveway could easily equal a flooded garage (which has happened several times in heavy rains when the single drain was either frozen or clogged). Come to think of it, maybe I should just move to a new house that was engineered better to begin with...

[Steve M]

Sounds like your driveway configuration is like mine Brad (sloping down to the garage). Sure wish mine had been heated this weekend - my back is still unhappy about shoveling the nearly 18" we got between Friday and yesterday. I keep waiting for the day we have the "car ending up sideways across the garage door instead of through it". Been lucky (and careful) so far. Had a few times where getting up the driveway has taken a running start out of the garage and a prayer that the car would keep going straight and make it to the top before the ice took over. My problem with the melt system would be that we have a really poor drainage system at the bottom of the driveway so a clear driveway could easily equal a flooded garage (which has happened several times in heavy rains when the single drain was either frozen or clogged). Come to think of it, maybe I should just move to a new house that was engineered better to begin with...

What...and take all the fun away?

[Charlie]

brad looks like you have it the way you want it .i was looking at the temps every so often to see how it was doing .the next time i redo my drive way or move up north i will have a system like this .

steve how is your driveway cooling system doing ,did your tires stop melting

[Steve M]

brad looks like you have it the way you want it .i was looking at the temps every so often to see how it was doing .the next time i redo my drive way or move up north i will have a system like this .

steve how is your driveway cooling system doing ,did your tires stop melting

The system WAS doing well until it froze the driveway and all the cars slid out into the street. Luckly I don't live on a busy street.