The Lincoln Park Smiles dental office in Chicago, IL, faced the common challenge of dangerous snow and ice accumulation on their outdoor tile landing and steps during harsh Midwest winters. To ensure patient safety and maintain their welcoming atmosphere, they partnered with WarmlyYours and JM Industries to install an automatic snow-melt cable system. This radiant heating solution eliminates the need for manual shoveling or salting, offering an efficient, low-maintenance way to keep the walkway completely clear and safe year-round.1
Project Details
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Heated Space Type: Outdoor Walkway and Steps (Landing & 2 Stairs)
- Square Footage: 54 sq. ft.
- Electrical Specs: 2500 W, 240 V, 10 A
- Flooring/Surface: Concrete (New installation beneath outdoor tile landing and steps)
- Operating Cost Per Hour: $0.41
- Estimated Operating Cost Per Day (8 hours): $3.28
- Estimated Operating Cost Per Month (30 days/8 hours): $98.40
- Products Used: Snow Melt Cables, Value Snow and Ice Melt Control, Snow Melt Plaque (NEC Requirement), Small Relay Panel
Automated Safety for Chicago Winters
Lincoln Park Smiles is dedicated to providing a comfortable and welcoming environment, an ethos that needed to extend to their entryway, especially during Chicago's challenging winters.2 The buildup of snow and ice on the outdoor landing and steps presented a serious slip-and-fall hazard for patients and staff, undermining the office’s commitment to safety and hospitality.
Dr. Jack Manikowski recognized the need for a permanent, reliable solution. Working with Mark Boyer from JM Industries, the WarmlyYours automatic snow-melt cable system was chosen for its proven effectiveness. The system was custom-designed for a full coverage installation beneath the outdoor tile and was placed directly into the new concrete with a tight 3.0-inch cable spacing. This setup ensures rapid and complete elimination of snow and ice the moment precipitation is detected.
The installation was a success, with installer Mark Boyer praising the system: "Installing WarmlyYours products are always a dream! It is always easy to install and the customer support at WarmlyYours is fantastic." The outcome is a safe, clear walkway that operates automatically, offering peace of mind to the clinic and adding significant value and security to the property. This electric radiant heating system now guarantees a warm, welcoming, and hazard-free entry for every patient, regardless of the weather.
Featured Products
The following electric radiant heating components were used to create a reliable and automated snow-melting solution:
- Snow Melt Cables (WHCA-240-0128 & WHCA-240-0086): Description: Heavy-duty, twin-conductor heating cables designed for embedding in concrete, asphalt, or mortar beneath pavers.3 This system uses 240V cables to efficiently heat the 54 sq. ft. landing and steps, ensuring full coverage for superior ice and snow removal.
- Value Snow and Ice Melt Control (SCV-120): Description: An automatic control unit that features an in-ground temperature and moisture sensor. It activates the snow melting system only when conditions (temperature and moisture) necessitate it, maximizing energy efficiency by preventing unnecessary operation.4
- Small Relay Panel (RLY-4PL): Description: Used to safely handle the high amperage load of the entire 2500W system. The relay panel ensures the system's power demands are met while isolating the control unit from the main high-power circuit.5
- Snow Melt Plaque (SMP): Description: Required by the National Electrical Code (NEC) to alert first responders and maintenance workers that an electric radiant snow melting system is installed on the property.
