Electric sidewalk heaters??

[whatthe]

Anybody use these? How do you like them? Where did you buy them?

[scat19]

You're THAT lazy? :rofl:

[ercchry]

Originally posted by scat19
You're THAT lazy? :rofl:

i can not believe you are THAT annoying

[mshaw]

if i could find them i would definately be that lazy. i fuckin hate clearing the sidewalk

[mr2mike]

Warmly yours makes them.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=warmly+yours+side+walk+melting

[nich148_9]

There's a fine line between laziness and efficiency. This is the latter.

I hope you find something. Might be something I could try too.

[Mibz]

I imagine the cost of heating concrete in -30 weather is retarded, they'll probably think you've got a grow op during blizzards. Still, I might just buy one of those mats and throw it out on top of my driveway while I shovel the sidewalk. Then I could get it installed when I get a new house.

[FraserB]

Thats not really a bad price for what it is.

[Canmorite]

Prepare for a build up of ice at the end of your driveway. These things are usually so expensive to power, it's more cheaper to hire a snow removal company.

[hampstor]

damn too bad I couldn't do this under the sidewalk... I may just have to get a snowblower afterall.

[AndyL]

Bulk rolls of heat tape - but has to be laid before concrete is poured. That's typically how they do ramps when there's no boiler/radiant heat in the building.

[benyl]

The neighbor across the street has this under his driveway. I get jealous.

[HondaKid]

I look forward to the request for grass which grows to no more than 2.5 inches, stays green and needs no watering. Also, the seven minute ab request, cause six minutes is simply stupid.

[benyl]

My other neighbor is going to install that fake grass this spring. It's like $8 sqft.

You just spray it off. hahaha, damn my neighbors are lazy.

[Mibz]

If I could flick a switch that changed my fake grass from green to brown in winter I'd do it :P

[whatthe]

Lazy is not getting off the couch to let your dog out, and then it pees on the floor.


Maybe someone wants it simply becuase it's nice to have, because they are going away in winter and need sidewalks clear, becausethey have commercial property and can't be there to shovel walks all the time, or because they can't rely on snow removal services, or because that time is better spent enjoying something else in life, or because of heart problems.



-----

How exactly do heart attacks occur when shovelling?
Strenuous exercise and cold weather each have the ability to increase blood pressure and heart rate. They can also elevate blood concentration of fibrinogen, a protein associated with blood clotting. But when strenuous exercise and cold weather are combined, the risk of heart attack is even greater.
As your heart beats faster, the shape of your blood vessels can change. Studies have shown that those who have died while shovelling snow or performing other vigorous winter activities, have plaque inside their blood vessels that has ruptured. This rupture may be caused by an increase in blood pressure or changes in vascular tone linked to physical exertion.
Research also indicates that acute heart problems increase in connection with significant dips in outdoor temperature. One study notes that a 10-degree drop in temperature represents a 38 percent increased risk of a recurrent heart attack.
Source: Heart and Stroke's Point of View - Should heart patients shovel snow? , published by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

[FraserB]

I don't think the heated concrete and fake grass is lazy at all. I fucking hate shoveling snow and cutting grass, and for some reason there are no neighborhood kids who go around and do it anymore. I know I was out busting my ass every time it snow when I was younger.

[BlackArcher101]

50 watts per square foot?

I fail to see how that will melt snow in colder temps.

[theken]

Originally posted by mr2mike
Warmly yours makes them.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=warmly+yours+side+walk+melting
you spelt sidewalk wrong

[HuMz]

Originally posted by BlackArcher101
50 watts per square foot?

I fail to see how that will melt snow in colder temps.

My uncle has the patio one and its been effective the few times i've seen it....besides the power per square foot is meaningless in how much head it gives off.

[BlackArcher101]

Power per square foot is meaningless? It's a factor in determining Btu's which is key to determine the temperature rise.

I'll have to break out the thermo books later to see what the actual rise would be.

[phreezee]

Originally posted by benyl
My other neighbor is going to install that fake grass this spring. It's like $8 sqft.

You just spray it off. hahaha, damn my neighbors are lazy.

Do you know what company does this? I need it for the dogs in the backyard, I can't keep up with the maintenance.
All the ones I've googled are carpet like and installation is labour intensive.

[whatthe]

http://www.warmzone.com is another, CSA approved, and they have a few different applications.

I picked up some tires at some guys place years ago and he had the electric system installed. It was miserably cool, but I doubt it was cooler than -15. In any case, his driveway and sidewalks were clear of snow despite a light snow all day.

For rental commercial apps this looks impressive... http://www.groundthaw.com/node/28 but if you convert to a watt equivalent at their max of 6000 sq.ft, it's less than 50 watts/foot.

Another thing to consider is that the bottom side of the pathway won't necessarily be dealing with the same temp as ambient. I've got dusty therm books as well, but I am still kind of hoping for a few real world experiences.

I am thinking that a solid week of -20, or large dumps could necessitate a little extra manual labour. Also, would think drainage should be addressed, lest the melted snow runs off and makes ice in a bad spot.

[buh_buh]

I would get both.

Call me lazy or whatever. Bottom line, I wouldn't have to shovel the walk or mow the lawn, and you do.

[KRyn]

Originally posted by HuMz


My uncle has the patio one and its been effective the few times i've seen it....besides the power per square foot is meaningless in how much head it gives off.


Mmm if it heats my patio and gives me head sign me up.

[scat19]

Originally posted by ercchry


i can not believe you are THAT annoying

I can't believe you're THAT much of a ricer

[ercchry]

Originally posted by scat19


I can't believe you're THAT much of a ricer

wow took you all day to come up with that? :rofl:

[Neil4Speed]

Originally posted by BlackArcher101
Power per square foot is meaningless? It's a factor in determining Btu's which is key to determine the temperature rise.

I'll have to break out the thermo books later to see what the actual rise would be.

I got to agree with you, I find it amazing that this could effectively melt snow when it is -35 outside with only 50 watts per square foot.

[scat19]

Originally posted by ercchry


wow took you all day to come up with that? :rofl:

Didn't check this thread until this morning, sorry it wasn't in a timely fashion.

Next time, I'll govern myself accordingly. As you were.

[Mibz]

TurboD was the new Toms-SC, scat19 is the new TurboD.

It seems anybody who hates shoveling, mowing or getting in a freezing car is lazy and has a vagina the size of... well his.

[mr2mike]

Not looking at the specs but I believe they say you turn this on when it first starts snowing. I wonder if you had like a foot of snow, would it melt?

[Mibz]

Originally posted by mr2mike
Not looking at the specs but I believe they say you turn this on when it first starts snowing. I wonder if you had like a foot of snow, would it melt? I imagine it would be a lot harder. Though I also imagine that if you're installing this, you can install some sort of snow sensor to automatically turn it on.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by mr2mike
Not looking at the specs but I believe they say you turn this on when it first starts snowing. I wonder if you had like a foot of snow, would it melt?

This is correct, from what I understand. Same with driveway heaters. You won't be around to turn it on every time it just starts snowing, but the idea is that you just want to keep it warm enough for the snow not to accumulate. Ice can be a bit of an issue but with some salt/sand it isn't a huge deal. They are not really meant to be turned on for hours and hours after you have a foot of snow sitting on your driveway/sidewalk. Or you can do a half assed shovel job, and then use the heater to get all the stuff you would have to work at or chip off with an ice scraper.

[ekguy]

It's so funny people's atttitude at shoveling snow out here haha. Try waking up to your car being a bump of snow in your driveway under 5 feet of snow....Then ask yourself why it's so hard to shovel 10 feet by maybe 3 feet of 2 inches of light fluffy snow...People in Calgary are increasingly lazy.

[hampstor]

Originally posted by ekguy
It's so funny people's atttitude at shoveling snow out here haha. Try waking up to your car being a bump of snow in your driveway under 5 feet of snow....Then ask yourself why it's so hard to shovel 10 feet by maybe 3 feet of 2 inches of light fluffy snow...People in Calgary are increasingly lazy.

You should be thanking people for looking at quicker ways to remove snow off the sidewalk rather than calling them lazy asses. You should be directing your anger at the lazy fuckers who DON'T do any snow removal period.

I used to think snowblowers/snowmelt was for lazy people too. I now live in a home with 160ft of sidewalk and am looking for a snowblower to use for those days like we had back in March/April.

[ekguy]

Originally posted by hampstor


You should be thanking people for looking at quicker ways to remove snow off the sidewalk rather than calling them lazy asses. You should be directing your anger at the lazy fuckers who DON'T do any snow removal period.

I used to think snowblowers/snowmelt was for lazy people too. I now live in a home with 160ft of sidewalk and am looking for a snowblower to use for those days like we had back in March/April.

snowblowers aren't a bad idea....But really a sidewalk warmer???? That's lazyness brought to a new level right there.

We use snowblowers back home since we really have no choice in the matter. Having a 100 foot long driveway and 5 feet of snow...But sidewalk warmers wouldn't even melt a big amount of snow so it's really only useful for small amounts of snow that would take no amount of time to clear.

[Jetsons]

So instead of all the BS, how about someone post a link to a product and offer some experience.

[scat19]

Originally posted by hampstor
160ft of sidewalk

ooooooo!

When I lived at home I had to shovel two driveways, a total of about a 1000FT.

[4lti]

Originally posted by Mibz
If I could flick a switch that changed my fake grass from green to brown in winter I'd do it :P
astroturf lol, my friends houses in New Brighton have it all on there lawns.

[AndyL]

The proper way to control one isn't to 'go turn it on' - there are specialized thermostats designed to flip the switch (contactor) when freezing (ie hoar frost) or precipitation is detected...

Like any home system these days - should be pretty much automatic...

You wont find too many reviews because there are few people who use them in residential applications... Most often they're used in commercial buildings, and building operators wouldn't have a clue what they have in the slab... But trust me - 99% of the time it's good old fashioned heating tape (yep same stuff they wrap water lines in parkades/mobile homes/etc with), it's laid as the slab is prepped. No commercial name/brand name/etc - just a note on the drawings "electric in slab heating".

[7thgenvic]

Parents driveway has it the entire length of the driveway...Not cheap to heat the fucker up....No snow removal...No ice...Just pure drivewar... :) lazy fucks