Cleveland Homeowners Combat Lake-effect Snow
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Cleveland Homeowners Combat Lake-effect Snow |
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After speaking with their builder, Upper Arlington, Ohio-based Woodbridge Custom Builders, Marty and Jacky decided to install an electric radiant heating system from Orbit Radiant Heating in the sidewalks outside their home. They figured it would significantly decrease the amount of snow they need to shovel each winter. Woodbridge obtained the system from The Handel-Davies Company, a company located in Warrenville Heights that has been providing electric radiant heat products to builders, homeowners, electrical contractors and distributors for more than 60 years. “Cleveland is a lovely area, but we get a lot of precipitation in the winter months, especially lake-effect snow since we’re so close to Lake Erie,” says Jaras. “We have more than 700 square feet1 of surface to maintain for each snowfall, and it is a big effort to keep it all clear, so no one slips on the ice and snow.” The rear sidewalk and driveway, which are both regular concrete, as well as the stamped-concrete front walkway feature the electric radiant heating system. The simplicity of the system’s design enabled Jaras to lay the cabling himself and just pay a licensed electrician to have it connected to the exterior power source. Now, the only cost associated with the cabling is the electricity used to run the system, which is minimal when compared to the laborious task of shoveling your driveway time and time again. Jaras also mentions, “We looked into a water-based system, but found that there are many more maintenance issues, since it requires a boiler that can leak and needs to be maintained. What’s great about Orbit’s system is that it is fully encapsulated, completely automated and runs on basic electric. It turns itself on when the temperature drops low enough and there is moisture in the air. We wake up or come home from work and the driveway and walkways are already clear.” Orbit’s radiant heating systems may be used for interior as well as exterior applications. In fact, the Jaras family also had the cabling installed inside to warm the floors of the home’s three full bathrooms, which accounts for more than 150 square feet2 of the home. Although the warm bathroom floors do not necessarily provide safer surfaces for walking, they sure make a difference to bare feet on a cold morning! 1 Rear sidewalk = 80 sq. ft.; Front walk = 272 sq. ft.; Garage pad = 350 sq. ft. 2 Master bath = 67 sq. ft.; Second bath = 30 sq. ft.; Guest bath = 59 sq. ft. |
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ORB-B-4096 |
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