I live in an section that is often called the “snow belt.” Our proximity to one of the Great Lakes results in extreme winter season weather, then the winter season cold frequently lasts for six to eight months and temperatures below chilly, or even below zero, are expected.
- The weather forecast often calls for lake effect snow, blizzard conditions, snow flurries, chilly rain and snow squalls.
The wind chill can make it dangerous to be exposed to the elements for any length of time; I am lucky that I have a boiler installed in my home! A hydronic furnace certainly handles the coldest winter season mornings, providing entirely gentle and consistent warmth. The boiler operates silently, reliably and efficiently. It offers the benefits of radiant floor heating and zone control. There is a network of pipes concealed beneath the floor. As the warm water runs through these pipes, heat spreads across the floor and rises slowly upward! One of the best perks of the boiler is that it also powers a snowmelt system entirely much like the radiant flooring inside the house, there is a series of pipes hidden beneath the pavement of the driveway, walkways, front steps and garage floor. When the system senses temperature drop and moisture, it automatically starts up, spreads heat across the pavement and melts away snow and ice, then because of this effective system, we never need to worry about shoveling or plowing snow. There’s no problem over slipping on icy pavement and getting hurt; My pal and I don’t need to use harmful snowmelt chemicals or deal with snow removal. While my neighbors spend hours outside, sporadically multiple times per day, shoveling, we regularly have a perfectly clear driveway.