Q: Is it for you?
Snow melting can be very convenient. What you must decide is if this convenience
is justified by the installation and operating costs. One consideration
is if you have the boiler capacity or space for a boiler with enough capacity
for snow melting. Another consideration is the type of system. A manual
on/off system is the cheapest, but you must turn it on yourself and there
will be a warm-up period before the snow melts. A semiautomatic system
will turn itself on and off automatically and keep the area at a set temperature
regardless of the presence or absence of snow or ice. A fully automatic
system is the most convenient since it is always running and can detect
the presence of snow and ice, however this system is the most expensive.
Q:
How much does it cost?
The cost will vary depending on the project.
Cost per square foot can run from about $8.00 US and up.
Q: How much does it cost
to operate?
It depends on the type of system you have, how much snow melting area
there is and the weather. A fully automatic system is more expensive to
operate than a manual or semiautomatic system because it is continuously
running on standby. The more snow melting area you have and the more snow
there is, the higher the operating cost.
Q:
What happens if a pipe breaks?
In the event that a problem occurs. HeatLink has a repair coupling that
is used to repair the damage. Damage is very rare, but when it happens
it usually happens during installation. The tubing is still exposed and
repairs are made quickly and easily.
Q: What runs through the
pipes?
A mixture of water and glycol would be used to prevent the pipes from
freezing.
Q: Does it heat up fast?
It depends on the type of system you have and the weather. A manual system
where the homeowner must turn it on will heat up slowly. A semiautomatic
system will take the same amount of time to heat as a manual system, but
the system will detect when to turn itself on. A fully automatic system
will heat up quite fast since it will be running on standby all the time.
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