I live in South Bend, Indiana, where it’s necessary to rely on the heating system for approximately eight months per year.
- Temperatures regularly drop into the teens or even the negative readings.
We are not surprised when it starts to snow sometime in September, and the snow often linters until mid May. We accumulate more than five feet of snow per year, which is considerably higher than the national average. Shoveling snow is a horrible, labor-intensive and time-consuming job. It’s not pleasant to spend any amount of time outdoors when a freezing cold wind is blowing. Shoveling out the driveway, walkways and mailbox can take several hours, and it’s a job that never ends. It can be necessary to clear the pathways multiple times per day. There is also the concern of where to pile all that snow. The mounds grow so big that they take up parking space and obstruct the garage entrance. When I finally had enough of the job, I had a snowmelt system installed. My home in South Bend is heated by a boiler and radiant flooring throughout. The boiler heats up water and sends it through a series of pipes concealed beneath the floor. The heat from the pipes spreads across the surface of the floor, rises gradually and creates a very even and gentle comfort. I now have a network of pipes installed under a fresh concrete driveway and walkways. A sensor detects temperature drop and moisture, signals the boiler and hot water is delivered through those pipes. The heat melts away snow and ice and eliminates the need for shoveling. My driveway and walkways are always perfectly clear. I have no worries over slipping and falling on icy pavement. I don’t need to get up extra early to shovel before work.