Snow melting systems

There are many different applications for the need or desire for snow melting systems. These days snow melting is done with pex pipe, the same as infloor radiant systems. The pex pipe can be either half inch or three quarter in depending on the parameters of the system. Snow melt is done for many reasons, but the most common is in drive ways that have a 10% or greater grade towards the garage door. Check your area for more information. Whether you are building a new heating system or expanding your old one a snow melt system does not cost much and is very efficient to operate.

The snow melting systems that I have installed used oxy barrier pex pipe that was installed over insulation and pressed into the grooves of the insulation. This gave better efficiencies as the radiant heat would then travel up through the concrete and melt the snow instead of heating the ground below the slab.

The concrete was then poured directly over the insulation and the pex pipe. Depending on the application there may or may not have rebar in the concrete for added strength. The second and more common way that I have installed snow melt systems is again with pex pipe and I would tie the pex pipe directly to the rebar. There would be insulation below the pex and rebar, in the form of a bubble type insulation.

Both of these methods are very similar and both always work out fine for me. The other methods are as follows:

Slab over existing slab

When there is already a slab in place there is no need the bust up and remove the existing slab, just lay down chicken wire or rebar and tie your pex pipe to the wire. If possible still use some form of insulation just to improve efficiencies.

Slab over steel deck

In many commercial jobs there will be a steel decking (called q-decking) that the concrete will lay on top of. You will still need rebar to tie the pex tubing to. After the installation the concrete will be poured directly over top .

Brick or stone snow melting system

The pex tubing will be placed over a bed of sand and crushed stone. The sand needs to be tamped to avoid future settling. On top of the sand lay down chicken wire to fasten your pex tubing to. Then cover the pex pipe with at least one inch of cover. Afterwards place your brick or stone as required.

When your work is all done you will need to get the job inspected before covering your pex tubing. Check your local jurisdiction for permit needs. Generally your system will need to be filled with water or air, then pressurized to one and a half times the regular working pressure. (check with local codes)

You will also need to install a snow sensor. This sensor will detect when snow is falling and fire up the system to begin heating the slab to melt any snow that falls.

If you are running your snow melt off of your home heating system and you do not have glycol in your heating system you will need a heat exchanger. You will definitely want glycol in your snow melt just incase something happens you do not want your system freezing and destroying your pex. If you are only heating a garage or just the snow melt then run the full system with glycol. Check with your area for recommendations on water to glycol mixtures.

For further reading check the links at the bottom of the page.

Thank-you for reading my article on snow melt systems.