According to a well known orthopedic surgeon who authored a study on the dangers of snow blowers, many snow blower injuries occur when people ignore the warnings, and stick their hands down the chute to unclog the snow. This often results in injuries to that hand such as sliced fingers, and in the worst case scenario, the need for a complete amputation. Operating a snow blower is not the only risk to those involved in manual snow removal. It’s no secret that many people suffer heart attacks when shoveling snow. When you shovel snow, your heart demands more oxygen than when you are sitting and watching television. While this may not be injurious to those in tip top physical condition, for sedentary individuals it can be critical, especially if they have a coronary condition they are unaware of. Fortunately, there’s a much better way to remove snow and ice from your pavement: Outdoor radiant heating. At East Coast Landscape and Design, our team of professionally trained crew members can install a radiant heated driveway or walkway in Gaithersburg MD, for you, quickly and easily.

 

The Hidden Dangers of Deicers

 

Deicers are rock salt or other products used to specifically help melt ice and snow. An application of a deicer does not necessarily take the work out of shoveling your pathways. First of all, these deicers only work where you’ve tossed them. If you’ve aimlessly thrown them onto the surface with no rhyme or reason, then you’ll end up with uneven patches of clear areas mixed in with snow/ice packed sections. Secondly, deicers are not friendly to your vehicle’s finish, your pets health, or the environment. Road salts can corrode and damage your cars paint job, your pets can become ill when their feet come in contact with these chemicals, and the plant and animal life will be harmed from the runoff.

 

All of this combined with the abrasive damage and chipping caused by using a manual snow shovel, along with the dangers of operating a snow blower means that you’re not only risking your health, but damaging your property. With outdoor radiant heating, the pavement works for you. As a result, there’s no more rushing out to spend money on bags of salt, spending hours out in the cold, buying the newest snow shovel design, paying for snow removal equipment rental or someone to shovel for you. If any of this concerns you, please feel free to contact us, and one of our trained professionals will be able to guide you through the process of obtaining permanently heated driveways and walkways for your Gaithersburg, MD property.

 

What is a Radiant Heating System?

 

When that first snowflake falls, it’s a hint of what’s to come. However, if you had an outdoor radiant heating system installed underneath your drive or walkway, that tiny, delicate snowflake would melt the moment it touched the surface. Why? Because the heat emanating from the pavement would cause it to melt on contact, which would prevent the accumulation of snow or ice in the first place.

 

There are two main types of radiant heating systems: Electric radiant heat and hydronic. With the electric method, heat travels through metal coils which lie underneath your driveway or walkway. In hydronic radiant heating, a mixture of water and antifreeze is pumped through PVC piping, which then warms your pavement. If you’re concerned about pets, please don’t be. In either case, the pavement never warms to the point where it will burn their feet.

 

No matter which type of radiant heating system you select, the bright spot is that you can control what sections obtain the heat. Say that you only use one section of your driveway to park your vehicle. If that is the case, you only need to have the radiant heating system in that one area. Knowing this, means you have direct control over the total cost of your installation. You’ll also never have to rush out to purchase a couple of bags of rock salt at the last minute, shovels or have to pay someone to do the shoveling for you.

 

Don’t Forget the Patio!

 

Today, people are keen to utilize every inch of their property, and that includes creating outdoor living areas. More and more homeowners are enjoying the benefits of an outdoor cooking area, and with outdoor radiant heating, they are free to grill outdoors even in the winter. For those of you with a hot tub, who enjoy the thought of relaxing in a nice, hot soak in the middle of a wintry wonderland, then consider having radiant heating installed in the concrete surrounding the hot tub. This gives you a nice, warm surface surrounding the tub, that’s both ice and snow free. If you’ve a balcony you’d like heated, talk to one of our staff to see if it can be installed there, so you can enjoy many lovely, winter nights gazing at the stars on a winters night in warmth, comfort and peace.

 

Conclusion

 

Enjoy a hassle free winter and holiday season this year with a heated driveway, walkway or both for your Gaithersburg, MD home or business, courtesy of the professionals at East Coast Landscape and Design. As a proud member of Angie’s List for over 13 years, we’ve earned our stripes when it comes to creating customer satisfaction and convenience. Once our professionals have installed the heating system to the paved areas of your choosing, we are confident that you’ll find letting the pavement do the work for you, gives you peace of mind and a more restful winter season. If you’ve any questions, please call us at 301-421-4141 to request an estimate. We’ll be happy to guide you through the process, and answer any questions you may have.