Top Five Ways to Melt Snow in Your Driveway

Self-Melting Driveways

• Self-melting driveways function with electric cables or hot water tubes running just beneath the asphalt, which warm and melt the snow as they heat up. Although some companies provide annual checkups, the system’s upkeep and maintenance is minimal. Keep in mind, however, that the device remains a pricey option initially as homeowners must completely tear up the driveway to install the device.

Salt

• Pouring salt onto a snow-covered driveway produces heat, thus causing the snow to melt. Choose the salt product carefully, however, as some varieties remain less effective against harsh temperatures while others prove harmful to the environment. Although calcium chloride mixtures sometime produce algae in their runoff, homeowners need to use only a small dose to see results.

UV Car Shades

• Lay out a set of ultraviolet car shades on top of your driveway. The shades attract sun rays, which in turn melt the snow. Invest in a series of shades, or simply move a few of them around throughout the course of the day. Make sure to cover various areas of the driveway during peak sunlight hours, including the morning and afternoon.

Snow-Melting Mats

• Although most companies make electric snow-melting mats exclusively for walkways and staircases, homeowners can use the plug-in heated mats to melt small patches of snow on the driveway. Although most mats include features that turn off the mats when they are punctured, residents should never drive over the mats. The mats remain particularly effective if turned on 30 minutes prior to snowfall.

Heat Lamps

• Line the snow-covered driveway with heated quartz lamps. Although most driveways require multiple lamps for full coverage, homeowners can still use a handful of lamps to melt small sections. The heat lamps warm up quickly, producing results almost immediately.