Heated Driveways from Abt
Things are still sunny out, but it's time to prep for the snow and frost. Once temps drop below freezing, what might have been rain turns to frost and snow, and becomes a more serious inconvenience—and even a threat. Your home, cars and driveway deserve to stay safe, and so do the members of your household, from children to pets to the elderly. That's where a heated driveway from Abt comes in. A heated driveway turns on automatically when the temperature drops to a certain degree, melting snow, ice and frost. The final effect? No need to shovel, no need to salt or use chemicals and you're left with a clear, safe passageway for you and your family. Say goodbye to slips and falls, time spent shoveling and melting salt that can hurt a dog's paws. The benefits are there, especially in Chicagoland winters where the weather can turn on a dime—and you can wake up with inches of snow with no warning. Abt's HVAC team services and installs heated driveways, and you could have one this year ... but what's involved? Keep in mind that the best time to have your heated driveway installed is in the spring or fall as concrete needs certain conditions to properly cure.
How Does It Work?
The entire process is overseen and handled by our HVAC estimator's team—with our experienced experts, the project is in Abt's hands from the start. While the final effect is incredibly convenient, installation does take some significant work and installation on our side. PEX tubing is run through a driveway and tied into manifolds that are all connected to a new and dedicated boiler. The entire system is filled with a glycol/antifreeze solution that, when heated by the boiler and pumped through the tubing, effectively heats the driveway and melts snow and ice. Unfortunately, that means your current driveway will need to be removed so that we can install a heated driveway.
Our Installation, Shockingly Fast
When it comes to the actual driveway, customers will need to use both Abt and a concrete, paving or asphalt driveway company to complete the task. The driveway specialists handle the initial work of removing the existing driveway. Next, they grade and frame the space so that it's ready for our HVAC team's work.
Once the original driveway is gone, it's time for us to install the heated driveway. Our process begins by laying insulation down, then we swap out to have the driveway companies lay in a substrate of wire mesh. Next up, our PEX tubing system. We tie this into the mesh, then run it to the boiler piping and install the necessary sensors. The final step is when the driveway company comes back and finishes with a layer of asphalt, concrete or paving. With the amount of time it normally takes to work on and install things like HVAC systems and driveways, you might be surprised to find out that a heated driveway only takes a week to install in most cases. If you have a larger, longer driveway, the process can take longer.
Are Heated Driveways Worth It?
In our opinion, yes—we even use them on the pathways here at Abt. These systems last for many years and maintenance is minimal, with regular boiler maintenance as the only real upkeep needed after installation. The benefits are truly substantial. The heated driveway activates itself through a special controller paired to both the outdoor temperature and slab sensors, meaning that you don't even have to press a button. When you wake up after a snowstorm, the snow and ice are nowhere to be found, and you can easily drive your car across your heated driveway.
Consider the safety factor as well—on top of making winters safer for you and your family, a heated driveway is safe to operate as well. Anyone who hears about heated driveways might worry that the heat could damage whatever comes across the surface, from cars to basketball hoops to dogs as they walk along. The glycol in a heated driveway operates at a specific temperature range that's lower than you'd expect. If the temperature of the glycol were to rise too high, it could crack or buckle the driveway, so we make sure that everything stays at just the right temperature. The result is a heated driveway system that's designed to be damage-free, all while keeping ice and snow at bay.
Is a Heated Driveway For You?
Taking everything into consideration, heated driveways are impressive ... but they're not budget-friendly. Installing a heated driveway is a true investment in your home and its value, and it's one you'll be using and enjoying for years. If you usually hire a plow to take care of your driveway's snow, a heated driveway will definitely eliminate the cost of using that plow all winter long, and you'll never have to lift a shovel or pay for melting salt again. But another element to consider is the cost of operation. Using the heated driveway will raise the cost of your gas utilities, and in severe storms, the heated driveway may need to operate continuously.
However, you don't have to pull out the checkbook immediately—even if you want a heated driveway for this winter. Abt has financing options available that can make it easier for many to install their heated driveway before the first frost hits. If you're hoping to have yours working this winter, now is the best time to get started: reach out to our team at Abt at 800-860-3577 or fill out the form on our HVAC services page and our experts will get back to you as soon as possible.
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Heated Driveway FAQs
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PEX tubing runs through your heated driveway, carrying a glycol/antifreeze solution beneath the surface. Each tube ties into manifolds that connect to a dedicated boiler, melting snow and ice. Everything is covered by a layer of concrete, asphalt or paving.
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In our opinion, yes, heated driveways are worth it—especially if safety is a concern and you live somewhere with harsh winters. Children, older folks and pets won't have to worry about slipping, and you won't have to pick up a shovel or salt the ground again. There's no need to pay for a plow, either. These systems have long lifespans as well and require little maintenance. In our opinion, they're a very good investment.
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Yes, heated driveways work. Though you can't see it from the surface, the tubing beneath the heated driveway carries a warmed solution of antifreeze and glycol that melts ice and snow when the temperature drops. The dedicated boiler keeps the solution at the perfect temperature, all without damaging the driveway.
