Keokuk, Iowa, winters bring significant snowfall, creating a major chore and safety hazard for homeowners like Mark Heston. This project focused on installing a reliable electric radiant snow melting system across the driveway, porch, and walkway. By utilizing rugged WarmlyYours Snow Melt Mats beneath new concrete, the system offers powerful, automated snow removal, eliminating the need for shoveling and enhancing the home's safety and value.
Project Details
- Location: Keokuk, IA
- Heated Space Type: Driveway, Porch, and Walkway (Zone #2)
- Square Footage Heated: 228 sq.ft. (Total Coverage: 205 sq.ft.)
- Electrical Specifications: 10250 Watts, 240 Volts, 43 Amps
- Flooring/Surface Type: Concrete (New Pour)
- Estimated Operating Cost Per Hour: $1.60
- Quick Breakdown (based on running continuously during heavy snowfall):
- $~12.80 per 8-hour snowfall
- $~384.00 per month (if running 8 hours/day for 30 days)
- Quick Breakdown (based on running continuously during heavy snowfall):
Automatic Snow Removal for a Safer Home
Mark Heston, who teaches electric-related subjects, was seeking a permanent, efficient solution to the heavy snowfalls common in Keokuk, IA. Shoveling a large driveway and walkway is not only time-consuming but also physically demanding and often ineffective against freezing conditions. The challenge was integrating a robust heating system into a new concrete pour that could handle high wattage and offer reliable, automatic operation.
Working with Hicky Contracting, WarmlyYours designed a high-power snow melting system utilizing five distinct Snow Melt Mats tailored to the specific dimensions of the driveway, porch, and walkways. Since the customer is electrically proficient, he was well-prepared for the installation, which was coordinated with Zone 4 for centralized control. The mats were secured before the new concrete was poured, ensuring the heating elements are perfectly positioned to deliver powerful, uniform heat. The outcome is a completely automated system that detects snow and ice and proactively clears the surfaces, providing a safe, clear path to the home all winter long.
Featured Products
- Snow Melt PowerMats (WHMA-240 series): Durable, pre-sized heating mats designed specifically for embedding in concrete, asphalt, or mortar beds. They are extremely rugged and offer a high-output, fixed resistance cable for efficient snow melting. Multiple sizes (3x15 ft., 3x10 ft., 2x30 ft., 2x20 ft., 2x15 ft.) were used to ensure 205 sq. ft. of customized coverage.
- Large Relay Panel (RLY-12PL-CC): A centralized control panel required for systems with a high amperage draw (like this 43A system). It safely switches the power on and off to the mats based on the sensor's input.
- Outdoor Snow Melting Junction Box (SM-JBOX-IG-L):A specialized, heavy-duty, in-ground box to safely house and protect the electrical connections between the cold leads of the heating mats and the supply wiring.
