Living in the northeastern part of the country, the snow and cold are a huge problem.
We deal with temperatures down to twenty-five below zero and an annual snow accumulation of approximately twelve feet.
Trying to combat the weather is a time-consuming and expensive ordeal. I have a boiler installed in the basement that links to radiant floor heating throughout the house. No matter how cold it gets outside, the indoor living environment is perfectly warm and cozy. The boiler heats up water and sends it through a system of pipes that are concealed beneath the floor. The heat from the pipes radiates across the floor and is infused into the air, eliminating cold spots and drafts. Anything that is sitting on the floor, such as tables and chairs, is also heated and further radiates the warmth. Because the highest temperature is near the floor and there’s very minimal stratification,the system achieves comfort at a lower thermostat setting than a forced air system. Plus, radiant flooring takes up no living space, makes no noise and never introduces any type of air contaminants into our breathing air. It doesn’t overly dry out the air and the boiler only requires annual maintenance. One of the best things about the boiler is that it also links to a snowmelt system. In much the same way as radiant flooring inside the house, a network of pipes is installed beneath the pavement of the driveway. The snow melt system automatically starts up in response to temperature drop and moisture. It melts the snow and ice and keeps the driveway perfectly clear. I don’t need to shovel, plow or put down harmful snowmelt chemicals. I don’t need to worry about wet feet or anybody getting hurt from slipping and falling on the ice.