Radiant Heat FAQ's

For heated driveways and other snow melting projects the following variables contribute to the cost:

• Square footage of heated area- Some projects can be accomplished by heating tire tracks or a portion of the driveway rather than the entire surface.

• Geographic location- Warmquest uses regional snow melting standards and data provided by ASHRAE to ensure a system is effective and efficient in your location.

• Surface being heated- Concrete, asphalt, pavers, etc. Installation methods and costs vary depending on the surface.

• Installation method- A retrofit installation via sawcut may be a more affordable option than demolition and a new pour.

• Activation device- Warmquest has a variety of options when it comes to activating your system. Your choice of manual switches, temperature sensors, moisture sensors, timer switches, and telephone activation all play a role in the final price.

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Gravel driveways are not suited for snow melting systems.

• Gravel driveways lack a solid surface to protect the heating element. As weather and use move, displace, and wear on gravel, the cables would be damaged, shift out of place, or otherwise fail. 
• Installation in asphalt, concrete, and in a sand bed under pavers provides material to conduct the heat. Cables laid under gravel would be substantially less effective at distributing heat to melt snow and ice. 

Heating an existing driveway or sidewalk is accomplished by installing the heating cables into saw cuts which are then sealed. Retrofit installations are an effective way to improve many existing surfaces, including driveways, sidewalks, stairs, loading ramps and docks, entryways and more. 

Our team can calculate the hourly cost to run your snow melting system once they know the product being used, the area being heated, and the local price per kilowatt/hour. 

There are several options for heating metal stairs. For metal stairs with concrete steps, cable is embedded in the concrete much as it would be installed in cement steps. 

For steps constructed entirely of metal, select products can be installed on the bottom of the step and insulated to drive the heat upward. 

Alternatively, our portable snow melting mats are perfect for metal stair treads. 

Electric radiant heat is well suited for existing structures. ZMesh can be installed beneath most floor coverings and is not embedded in thinset. If you have access to the floor joists ZMesh can be installed from below for a retrofit installation. Heatwave, Floorizwarm, Tuff Cable, and Cozy Heat can all be installed in thinset mortar beneath any floor covering. 

This question is best looked at from a different perspective. 

What type of flooring do you want? We have products to heat nearly any floor covering, from hardwood to carpet, tile to linoleum. 

This question often comes up when discussing heating wood floors. We have found that as long as the installation of both the radiant heat system and the floor covering follows the manufacturer's instructions, that wood floors can be heated effectively without damaging the wood. A key element of this is making sure the wood acclimates before installation. 

We recommend checking with your flooring manufacturer before installation to ensure everything will work smoothly.