The Warmquest Blog

Pedestal Paver Heating Solutions

Company News
Sep 27, 2018 2:53 pm
Written by Kyle Stubbs

Pedestal pavers are growing in popularity. These systems allow for drainage in hardscape areas on rooftops and are growing in use for deck, patio, and other paving applications across the country.Pedestal Paver Snow Melting

In areas with harsh winters and heavy snowfall keeping ice and snow off of pedestal pavers presents a challenge. Shovels and chemicals can damage pavers and the raised pedestal structure makes it impossible to heat the pavers using traditional methods. This is where our Pedestal Paver Snow Melting System comes into play. With a unique, patented pan system that installs seamlessly between the pedestals and the pavers, we are able to utilize our Hott-Wire mineral insulated cable to melt snow and ice, while maintaining the drainage benefits offered by pedestal paver systems.

Hott-Wire is the heating element of choice for projects large and small nationwide, having been used in government, commercial, industrial, and residential projects. Hott-Wire operates on 208/240/277 or 480 volt power, making it a versatile solution for a variety of projects. Cables are custom made to fit the needs of each project.

Heated Pedestal PaversPedestal Paver Snow Melting pans are also customized for each project. Our design team can help you evaluate the needs of your project and design a complete snow melting solution including Pedestal Paver Snow Melting pans, Hott-Wire cable, relay panels, and your choice from a variety of activation options. Warmquest continues to support each project after an order is placed, providing installation and technical support to stakeholders.

Heated Driveway Options: Solution Focused Design

Snow Melting
Aug 23, 2018 4:17 pm
Written by Kyle Stubbs

Considering adding a snow melting system to your home or business? At Warmquest we specialize in assisting customers with tailor-made heated driveway solutions. Part of this is thinking outside of the box. Heated driveways come in all shapes and sizes. What works for one home or business may not work for another. Warmquest can help you look at your goals and usage, and design a heating system perfect for your project.

When installing a snow melting system the first thing to remember is you do not have to heat the whole area. Many times heating the entire area will be the goal and this is fine, but often entire areas go unused during the winter. Many project owners make the choice to add snow melting with a specific goal in mind. This could be providing access up and down a steep incline, ensuring safe access to foot traffic at a home or business, or clearing parking areas for visitors. Warmquest can help stakeholders identify the goals of a project and design a system to meet them most effectively and efficiently.

A pair of heated tire tracks was sufficient to provide access to this home up the steep driveway.

 

This homeowner needed traction up a steep slope and access to multiple car port stalls.

 

For this home, pedestrian access to the front door was the chief concern.

 

Similarly, this homeowner wanted year round access to their hot tub. Note that the entire sidewalk and patio are not heated. Just the path.

 

This homeowner heated only the more commonly used section of their driveway. They paired this with a heated front walk and steps to provide themselves and their guests with easy access to the home.

 

Businesses too can benefit from a carefully planned snow melting system. Many offices heat critical access areas. Commercial buildings can benefit from heated loading docks, ADA ramps and other areas. This project wanted to provide employees access to the building from their vehicles. Paths were heated between parking stalls leading to a heated path to the entrance.

 

The important thing to remember with any snow melting system is that it can be as unique as your home or business. Each project has different goals and requirements and Warmquest specializes in these tailor made solutions. One size fits all may sound convenient, but customized solutions will be more effective and efficient in the long run.

Switches, Sensors, and Timers- Activation Options for Snow Melting and Roof Deicing Systems

Roof Deicing
Jun 25, 2018 3:45 pm
Written by Kyle Stubbs

When installing Snow Melting or Roof Deicing systems, there are a number of options for activation available. Do you need an automated sensor or will a manual timer work? Do you want the system activated when it snows or just when it is cold? Should you use a pavement mounted or an aerial sensor? With all the options available, let’s take a look at which options Warmquest recommends for various solutions.

Manual Timers
Timers and other manual switches are recommended with most of our systems. These options are great for pairing with an automated sensor to provide the option to manually activate the system if needed.

A manual switch may be sufficient on its own for activating a system in a less critical area. If you would be alright with waking up in the morning to a snow covered driveway or arriving at the office and finding snow built up from an unexpected storm then a manual timer will likely suffice. It is important to note that accumulated snow acts as an insulator and is harder to melt than falling snow.

Temperature Sensors
Temperature sensors are most commonly used in conjunction with our roof deicing systems. Particularly for commercial and other critical areas, a temperature sensor will operate the system whenever the temperature is below a configurable temperature point. This is useful for roof deicing as ice dams are frequently caused by snow melting and refreezing on the cold roof.

Some sensor models also have a temperature floor which turns the system off when it is below a set point, or too cold for melt to occur. This allows our systems to be more efficient.

Snow Sensors
Combination temperature and moisture sensors are our recommendation for most snow melting applications. These sensors activate a system when the temperature falls below a set point and moisture is detected on the sensor head. This ensures the snow melting system will run during a storm and for a configurable amount of time after.

When selecting a snow sensor, you have several options. The most common distinction is whether the sensor is aerial mounted or embedded in the pavement. Our pavement mounted sensors offer the most flexibility, with the controls for configuring the sensor mounted separately from the sensor head. This allows the controls to be configured from indoors.

Aerial mounted snow sensors typically mount along the roof eave, in a clear area where they will catch falling snow. This means to avoid trees, overhangs, and any other obstacle that could prevent the sensor from activating.

We advise you discuss your project goals and needs with a Warmquest expert to decide on the best activation option for your system. With more options available all the time, including wi-fi and other smart home technologies, Warmquest can provide a solution tailored to your project.

Retrofit Snow Melting: What to Expect

Professionals
Mar 23, 2018 10:38 am
Written by Kyle Stubbs

Heating an existing driveway or sidewalk is possible via a retrofit installation. While we have written a fair amount about this option elsewhere, this is intended to provide a basic overview of the retrofit installation process and what to expect.

Prepare for Controls and Panels

Determine where your controls will be installed. If you are heating a driveway we recommend somewhere near the front of your garage to minimize the distance to the heated area. Once this is determined you will need to have an electrical contractor bring power from your distribution panel to the control unit or relay panel. Power will also need to be provided for any sensors, timers, or other activation devices.

Design and Mark Layout

Once you have determined the area of the driveway you would like to heat, you can begin planning the layout of the heating cables. Keep in mind the cables are installed in loops and both ends should come back to your control unit or relay panel.

We recommend using a chalk line to mark the cable layout on the surface to be heated. The spacing between runs of cable will be determined by the product you choose and the heat density you wish to provide. This information can be found on the bid you receive from our experts.

When finished, be sure to measure your layout and verify the lengths match the cables you are planning to install.

Saw Cuts

With the layout marked with the chalk line you are read to cut the grooves for the heating cable. If you are using Hott-Wire, the cuts will be ⅜” wide and 1 ½” deep. If you are installing Tuff Cable, the grooves will be ¼” wide and 1” deep. You should also make saw cuts for the cold leads to return to your control unit or relay panel.

To avoid damaging the cables, a hammer drill should be used to knock out the corners of your grooves.

Cutting concrete and asphalt makes a big mess. You will want to power wash the area, taking care to remove debris from the grooves and surrounding area. The area should then be allowed to dry completely before installing the cables.

Installing the Cables

The Hott-Wire or Tuff Cable can now be installed in the grooves. The cable is installed along the bottom of the grooves in the pattern you previously designed. Once the cables are in place, a foam backer rod is installed over the cable and then the saw cuts are filled with the appropriate sealant for your project.

Finishing Touches

With the cable installed, an electrician can make the final connections to the control unit or relay panel. Activation devices will need to be installed and connected to the system.

Throughout the installation remember to follow the testing procedures outlined in the installation manual. This ensures the cable is properly functioning and not damaged during installation. The results of these tests should be recorded in the manual that came with your system.

Recent Posts

Categories

Subscribe Now!

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner