Everything You Need to Know About Snowmelt Driveways

Heated driveways are increasing in popularity for homeowners who may not have the time, physical ability or desire to manually clear the snow from their driveways each day during the winter season. As more custom homes are being developed in the GTA and surrounding areas, snowmelt systems are being added as a convenient and luxurious feature more frequently than ever before.

Why should I heat my driveway?

There are a number of reasons our clients choose to install snowmelt systems. Here are a few of the reasons we hear most often:

1. It’s convenient. Anyone who has lived through a Canadian winter knows how much of a task it is to shovel snow. Shovelling a standard driveway typically takes at least half an hour; longer for heavier snowfalls, larger driveways and/or expansive walkways. Our clients have children to drive to school, jobs to get to, events to attend – and saving that extra hour of time each day is convenient, and one less chore to think about!

2. It’s a luxury. Our high-end builders strive to provide their clients with a luxurious experience. And what is more luxurious than a spotless driveway all winter long? As the saying goes, time is money, and the biggest luxury of all is the time you’ll save eliminating the chore of shovelling from your to-do list.

3. It can protect your walkways. Certain materials such as flagstone and brick will deteriorate with the use of rock salt. Over time it can even damage concrete. Installing underground heating removes the need to salt your walkways, and thus prevents damage to your walkway, driveway, vehicles, shoes and more.

4. It’s safer. Do you have small children at home? Do your elderly parents visit frequently? Installing snowmelt walkways is a safe way to prevent slipping and falling without the need for continuous snow-clearing and salting. Our controls ensure that the ground stays free of both snow and ice.

5. It protects against liability. We install snowmelt systems for commercial properties, too. Snowmelt is a dependable way to ensure that your business won’t be liable for slips and falls resulting from icy walkways or slippery parking lots.

How does a snowmelt system work?

Our snowmelt systems use hydronic heating to heat your driveway (or walkway) slab and effectively melt any snow that accumulates on it.

Hydronic heating refers to the use of water or liquid (“hydro”) to transfer heat. Since water freezes it cannot be used independently to heat an outdoor system. Instead, our snowmelt systems are filled with a mix of water and propylene glycol: a non-toxic, alcohol-based antifreeze liquid that is commonly used for heat transfer applications in HVAC systems.

First, the control switch monitors the Weather Network and outdoor temperature to prepare for forecasted snow and ice. Upon detection of snowfall on the snow sensor embedded in the driveway, the system is triggered to turn on. The boiler begins heating the glycol via conduction, then the liquid is pumped through the underground pipes and circulated through the entire system. The glycol transfers heat to the pipes, which transfers heat to the concrete, and within minutes the snow begins to melt. Voila!

How much does a snowmelt driveway cost to install?

Installing a hydronic heating system is a multi-step process that requires a great deal of planning, design and research. It requires a preliminary visual design, demolition of the existing driveway/walkway (if applicable)*, installation of the outdoor tubing, installation of the indoor mechanical system and equipment, filling the system with glycol (a freeze-resistant liquid), testing of the system and the final driveway finish*. We will work with the homeowner, builder and/or general contractor to ensure each step of the install is coordinated with other trades and completed within the required timeline.

Due to the complexity of the process, the price of a full snowmelt system can vary depending on factors such as:

· the total square footage to be heated

· the mechanical room design

· whether it will tie-in to the interior domestic heating

· the terrain in which the driveway is to be installed

· the cost of material, which has increased recently due to supply-chain disruption during the pandemic

For a free, no-obligation quote, send us an email at info@farrmechanical.ca or give us a call at (647) 869-2237. Please provide us with the approximate location of your home/project, the total square footage to be heated, any images or plans you have available and your contact information, and our experienced professional sales team will produce a quote for you, free of charge.  

* Please note that Farr Mechanical is a heating contractor and as such we are only involved in the installation and maintenance of the heating systems, not the demolition or installation of the concrete or driveway finishes. If needed, we are happy to recommend demolition, aggregate and/or concrete contractors to assist with the remaining portions of the project.

How much does it cost to run a heated driveway snowmelt system?

Typically our systems are run by natural gas, meaning that the cost to run your snowmelt system each winter will vary based on gas prices, snowfall, and personally configured settings.

Gas prices in Canada are determined by 3 factors: commodity, transmission and distribution. Transmission prices are regulated by the Canada Energy Regulator, distribution prices are regulated by the province, but commodity is an unregulated factor and as such, the price fluctuates daily based on supply and demand.

Due to this fluctuation, coupled with the fact that snowfall varies each year, it is difficult to estimate the precise cost of running a heated driveway all winter long. An approximation would be $0.30 to $0.60 per sq. ft. per year in an area of heavy snowfall, and $0.15 to $0.30 in an area of lighter snowfall. For a 1,000 sq. ft. driveway, that equates to anywhere from $150 to $600 per year*, depending on snowfall and gas prices.

*Please note that these costs are approximations only, and actual costs cannot be precisely estimated due to factors mentioned above. Larger driveways, extreme snowfall and/or configured high-usage settings can all result in higher costs.

Still have questions? Give us a call anytime, we're happy to take a deeper dive into how our systems work and determining what options work best for you!