The best time to start preparing for winter woes like snow removal and ice dams is before they become a problem. If you have ever struggled with ice dams you know how important proper preparation can be. Ice dams can cause serious damage to a structure and cleanup can cost thousands. Here are four things to watch out for.
The Warmquest Blog
4 Types of Ice Dam Damage
- Roof Deicing
- Feb 7, 2019 10:26 am
- Written by Kyle Stubbs
DIY Driveway Heating
- Snow Melting
- Jan 29, 2019 11:58 am
- Written by Kyle Stubbs
Installing a new driveway? Now is the perfect time to install a snow melting system. Warmquest provides a range of systems for driveway heating, with DIY friendly solutions. Let’s take a look at what is involved in a Do It Yourself heated driveway. As always, any DIY project should be sure to follow all local codes, ordinances, and laws.
Snow Melting Solutions: Good, Better, Best
- Professionals
- Dec 28, 2018 12:28 pm
- Written by Kyle Stubbs
When discussing the various solutions for snow melting, heated driveways, and sidewalks our experts often use the terms “Good, Better, or Best” to describe the options. With Tuff Cable, Hott-Wire, and SnowMeltz each having their own strengths, join us for a look at what makes them good, better, or best.
Good – SnowMeltz
Our line of preconfigured SnowMeltz mats offer a DIY friendly solution to heated driveways and sidewalks. These mats are designed to heat specific sized areas and roll out for a simple installation. They offer a 10 year warranty.
Due to the cut and turn installation of SnowMeltz mats, they can be utilized in a variety of applications. Jumpers are provided for protecting the mats when they cross crack control joints in new pour concrete. The mats are especially convenient for installing beneath pavers or asphalt where planning for and working around concrete joints is not necessary.
Better – Hott-Wire
Mineral Insulated Hott-Wire provides a robust, free flowing heating cable with the ability to generate high heat outputs for effective performance in any climate. Hott-Wire comes in a variety of preconfigured lengths, varying the spacing allows for cables to be customized to heat various areas at desired heating outputs. Custom cables can be manufactured to meet projects needs. Hott-Wire includes a 10 year warranty.
As a free flowing cable, Hott-Wire offers additional flexibility in installations, allowing for heating tricky areas or working around concrete joints. This allows for Hott-Wire to be more customized than mat systems. Additionally, the free flowing cable can be installed in a retrofit application via sawcuts made in existing surfaces.
Hott-Wire can be installed in a variety of surfaces. It’s unique construction makes it well suited to installation in new pour asphalt, where it handles the heat well and requires less accommodations.
Best – Tuff Cable
Tuff Cable is a unique low voltage heating system used in a variety of applications. Tuff Cable’s greatest strength is it’s versatility, allowing for unique, customized solutions to even the trickiest of snow melting challenges. The low voltage heating element demonstrates great longevity and has a 25 year warranty, in addition it is easily repaired if the worst happens.
Tuff Cable uses a unique jumper system to protect the cable when it crosses concrete joints. Different from the jumpers used in Hott-Wire and SnowMeltz installations, the Tuff Cable jumpers are splice into the cable, meaning the heating element never crosses a joint.
Low voltage Tuff Cable is cut to length in the field, making it very installer friendly. There is no need to worry about coming up short on a presized cable or trying to find room for extra heating mat.
Like Hott-Wire, Tuff Cable can be retrofit into existing surfaces. This allows for heating existing areas without demolition.
To learn more about how Hott-Wire and Tuff Cable compare, check out this detailed article.
Portable Snow Melting Mats: A Versatile Solution for Unique Projects
- Snow Melting
- Nov 30, 2018 10:56 am
- Written by Kyle Stubbs
Sometimes embedding heating elements into a surface just isn’t an option. The construction of a deck or stairs may limit the use of permanent embedded solutions. Or a temporary need may not require an invasive solution. For these cases, we recommend our RadiantTrak heated walkway and stair mats.
RadiantTrak products are available in a number of size configurations and are designed for installation on stairs or walkways. They are commonly used on wood or composite decks, where open air layouts do not allow for any embedded cables. Platforms and ramps can also be heated with these roll out mats to keep access areas clear during the winter.
Each mat is designed to plug into a 120V or 240V outlet for activation. Automating RadiantTrak products can be accomplished with a simple plug in temperature sensor. The mats can be anchored to the surface via grommets in each corner.
These portable mats offer home and business owners a flexible option for controlling snow and ice in areas that may not be suitable for a traditional heating cable installation. To see an example of these mats installed and in action, visit our sample projects section.
For more information on RadiantTrak or our other snow melting solutions, contact our specialists at 877-877-4724.
