Heating the Driveway

While we were in Mexico, the slotted drains were supposed to be done and the electrician was supposed to be well on his way with installation of the driveway heating, if not done. The slotted drains are to catch the water (melted snow) so that it doesn't create an ice rink in the street. Two of those were put in... eventually. Basically, no work happened that week. Last week, when Tim was back down there, he worked really hard helping those guys and getting them going. The drains are in, and the electrician is well on his way. I wouldn’t be surprised if the electrician doesn’t get much done this week, while Tim’s up here. Just got word that he's made great progress and is almost done.

The reason to heat the driveway is to melt the snow off. Homewood Ski Area -our little town doesn't have a stoplight, but we've got a ski area- reports an average snowfall of 37 1/2 feet (450") per year. Our house surely gets less snow than that, but the point is, we get a lot of the stuff! Most people get their driveways plowed or use a snow blower. Of course, nowadays you are not allowed to build a driveway such as ours. It's too long (over our allotted coverage) and too steep. We can't convince a snowplow/blower driver to take on the job of our driveway. After a site topographical study and engineer consultation, it was concluded that redesigning/grading the driveway won't help because we are totally screwed there are no good options. So that leaves us with heating the driveway electrically. "Why," you wonder, "do they want to use electricity in the state of California ($$$$), when they could use hydronic heating?" Just basic dumb Because the driveway is too steep to install it. The equipment they use won't work. Nice idea, though.

Basically, they cut grooves in which to lay to heating wires and trenches for the conduit.


Here's one of the big, huge, eyesores
transformers. There are two. I think we'd better check with the homeowners association's architechtural review board. They like to have a say in things that effect the look of the house on the outside.