How to Install a Snow Melt Radiant Heating System

Installing a snow removal system, such as one that uses radiant heat, is one way to keep ice and snow off sidewalks and driveways. One type of radiant system that you can install for your home uses water from a boiler to provide the heat that will melt the ice and snow.

Shovel
Three-hole bricks
Reinforcing rod or rebar
String or zip ties
Wrench

Instructions

- 1
  Excavate the area where you want to install the radiant heat snow melt system with a shovel. Remove dirt to a depth of about four inches.
- 2
  Level the area that you have excavated with a plate compactor.
- 3
  Break three-hole bricks into four pieces using a chisel and a hammer. Place the chisel over each of the holes and hit it with the hammer.
- 4
  Place reinforcing rods on the ground that are spaced four feet apart. Place the broken pieces of brick from the previous step under the rods for support and to keep them off of the ground.
- 5
  Place additional reinforcing rod four feet apart going in the opposite direction to create a grid.
- 6
  Lay the tubing used for the snow melt radiant heat system over the reinforcing rod and secure it using string or zip ties. The tubing should be laid in rows with two feet of spacing in between.
- 7
  Attach the tubing to the manifold or heat exchanger fittings with a wrench. The heat exchanger is connected to your home's boiler or secondary boiler that provides the hot water that will be used as the radiant heat source.
- 8
  Turn on the water supply for the snow melt radiant heat system to pressure test it and make sure there are no leaks in the system.
- 9
  Cover the tubing with concrete to complete the installation.

Define Ice Scraper

Rock Salt Disposal and Cleaning

Snow Removal