Westchester, New York, is a beautiful area with a lot to offer for everyone.
Like many places, the area experiences a wide range of weather, including cold winters and heavy snowfall with ice covering the roads.
However, this snow and ice isn’t just a problem for the roads but also a problem for homeowner driveways.
The easiest way to deal with this is to install a heated driveway in Westchester, NY.
Why Get a Heated Driveway in Westchester?
As mentioned, Westchester winters can be harsh with lots of snow and ice throughout the season and homeowners can spend much of their free time clearing their driveways, walkways, and other exterior hardscapes from this snow and ice.
Clearing these spaces is important for many reasons:
- Protecting your surfaces from damage.
- Protecting your car from possible corrosion caused by excess moisture.
- Protecting your tires from various issues like pressure dropping, reduced traction, and increased wear.
- Ensuring your driveway is free from slip hazards that can lead to serious injury and potential liability issues.
The issue is that clearing your driveway is something you must do repeatedly throughout the season. This can be exhausting and even dangerous, with homeowners staying out for long periods in the cold working on slick surfaces.
Not to mention, deicing products — like salt — can be very damaging and harmful both to your driveway and the environment.
On the other hand, a heated driveway will eliminate all the snow and ice without anyone lifting a finger, harming the driveway and affecting the environment.
Qualities to Look for in Heated Driveways
There are many qualities you should look for in heated driveways. Some of these include:
- Energy Efficiency: Pick a system that consumes as little energy as possible.
- Smart Controls: Find a system controlled with smart controls and sensors.
- Design Flexibility: Use a system that is flexible with design and driveway types.
- Minimal Maintenance: Select an option that heats more evenly.
- Warranty Coverage: You want the best warranty possible.
- Reliable Brand: Choose a reputable brand with systems that are proven and tested — like Warmup!
Your Heated Driveway Options in Westchester New York
When discussing heated driveway options in Westchester, NY, there are two main options: electric radiant heating systems and hydronic radiant heating systems.
Electric Radiant Heat
Electric radiant heating is made up of electrical heating cables. For driveways, you have two options for electrical radiant heat:
- Loose cables, which are great for homeowners who want a custom layout or have curved driveways.
- Snow melting mats, which are great for straight runs, walkways, and tire track layouts.
How does it work?
Electrical currents travel through these cables or mats and create heat through thermal radiation, The heat travels upward, heating the surface of the ground and melting snow and ice.
Pros
- Electric heated driveways are easier to install.
- It has a cheaper upfront cost.
- They heat up quicker, typically in 15 to 30 minutes.
- They offer more even, consistent heating and snow melting.
- It is low maintenance; once installed, there is little, if any, maintenance involved.
Cons
- You can have higher running costs since it relies on electricity.
- If there is a power outage, the systems won’t work unless you have an alternate power source.
Hydronic Radiant Heat
Hydronic systems generally work the same way as electric systems. But the difference is that these systems are water-based. Water, mixed with antifreeze, is heated in a boiler and then pumped through small, flexible tubing, which creates heat that warms the driveway and melts snow and ice.
Pros
- Hydronic systems have lower operating costs.
- They are energy efficient.
- Hydronic systems work with multiple heat sources, including natural gas, electricity, and propane.
Cons
- Hydronic systems have a higher upfront cost.
- While they provide effective heating, in extremely cold temperatures, water may cool before completing a full cycle, which can lead to areas of unmelted snow and ice.
- More complex installation process.
- Requires extra maintenance to keep the boiler in working condition.
5 Benefits of Radiant Heating
Although there are benefits to using both electric and hydronic driveways systems, there are also many benefits to installing a heated driveway in Westchester, NY.
Some of those benefits that make it worth considering include:
1. Makes Driveways Safer
Ice and snow create plenty of safety hazards.
As a result, it is easy for someone to slip and fall on a driveway or walkway covered in snow. These falls can be minor but can also land someone in the hospital. Radiant heating, however, can help eliminate those risks.
2. Goodbye Shoveling and Deicing
With a heated driveway, shoveling snow, hiring a snow removal company, or using potentially harmful deicing products is no longer necessary. This saves you time and money and ensures less damage to your driveway and lawn.
3. Prolongs the Life of Your Driveway and Car
Deicing products can also damage your driveway and car. Over time, the moisture can erode the surface of your driveway, and water can freeze in cracks, ultimately worsening them.
For your car, the prolonged moisture and cold can corrode the underbelly of your car and damage your tires.
But if you use a heated driveway, you won’t have to use these products that could have potential damaging effects on your property.
4. Can Work On Sidewalks, Stairs, and Patios
Because of the success heated driveway systems have received, there are also a variety of heated walkway options that can work on sidewalk, patios, and stairs. Not only is this good for winter, but it means you can use your patio during the fall and winter more comfortably.
5. Automatic Activation Potential
When you choose to pay for automatic activation controls, it means you never have to lift a finger — not even to turn the system on.
With this feature, the system uses weather data and temperature and moisture sensors to detect conditions. If certain conditions are detected, it will turn on around two hours before the weather is expected, giving it time to preheat.
Factors That Affect Your Westchester Heated Driveway Purchase
Although the benefits of having a driveway are great, you need to consider the following before making your purchase in New York:
Size of Your Driveway
The larger your driveway is, the less efficient it is going to be. It’s important to check with your heated driveway provider to determine the best heated driveway solutions for your needs.
Shape of Driveway
Certain heated driveway systems are built better in terms of flexibility, and irregular-shape driveways can make installations more complex. You should always work on finding a heated driveway provider — such as Warmup — that has heated driveways that can be installed on almost every driveway shape.
Seasonality
When you choose to install a heated driveway, you also want to consider the weather and how much it is going to impact your driveway and how many times your heated driveway is used.
You want a heated driveway system that is durable and has the ability to withstand not just several snowfalls but also several winters.
Clear Up Your Westchester, New York Driveway With Warmup
When you live somewhere with snowy weather, you know there’s no avoiding snow and ice.
That doesn’t mean you can’t do something to minimize its presence on your property. Using a heated driveway in Westchester, NY is the perfect solution to snow issues –– and Warmup is the perfect company to turn to as one of the top manufacturers of electric radiant heating products.
Not only can you find solutions for your driveway, walkways, and patios, but there are also snow-melting products as well as solutions for nearly every part of your home!
Contact our experts today to learn more about our heated driveways and the numerous other radiant heating products we offer.