Electric Vs Hydronic Snow Melt Systems

Watts radiant offers two types of snow melting systems hydronic and electric which can work alone or be installed as a supplement to a radiant heat system.

Electric vs hydronic snow melt systems.

If the surface is warm enough the snow will melt and evaporate or run off into a drainage system. An electric system costs less to install because there s no need to purchase a boiler to heat the water. If you are in the snow belt snow ice melt systems can be a profitable niche. A scaled down version of this system designed specifically for snowmelt systems is on my wish list.

You are stuck paying the electric company whatever it bills you when you have an electric snow melting system but by contrast hydronic systems can run on a number of power sources including propane or natural gas. That s why hydronic heat is usually a better option than electric systems to heat large floor areas or even an entire house. Hydronic systems generally have higher first costs due to the mechanical system required for operation. While the concept of a built in snow melting system has its appeal the cost can be prohibitive.

The main advantage of hydronic systems is that they generally deliver more heat at a lower operating cost than electric systems. Hydronic snow melting our systems melt snow and ice by circulating a glycol solution fluid through tubing that is either embedded in concrete or installed beneath brick pavers. If fast response is critical hydronic systems can be operated during the winter at a reduced idling rate to keep fluid in the pipes warm enough to react quickly to impending snowfall. However they are much more efficient to operate compared to electric systems due to cost of fuel which depends on the source of heat used.

Once activated hydronic systems usually have a slower response time than electric systems because the fluid that circulates through the tubing must first be heated. Whereas electric radiant heat systems are often the more preferred solution for residential or home improvement projects. Generally hydronic is the best pick for larger scale commercial snow melting applications because of the potential for lower operating costs.