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Following the national average of $0.16 per kilowatt hour, you would pay about $2.20 per hour for a snowstorm. Electric rates vary based on where you live but continue to rise with other forms of energy. For an accurate estimate, contact your electric company or look at a bill to find costs for your area. Also, electric rates fluctuate throughout the year and throughout a single day. Running the system during off-peak usage hours reduces your bill.

Heated driveways use radiant heat underneath the driveway to melt away snow. They either heat up with electric coils or from hot water flowing through pipes, coming from your boiler. These electric cables and pipes are generally only a couple of inches under the surface. As they heat, they heat up the thermal mass of the asphalt or concrete, which melts away the snow and ice. They usually run for an extra period after all the snow is melted to dry out the surface and avoid ice accumulation.

Driveway heating systems can be installed under almost any driveway surface, including patios, sidewalks, and decks. Wherever you don’t want to have to shovel, you can install this same heating system under there, too, so you never have to worry about shoveling.

Remember that it’s best to have your boiler placed as near as you can to the driveway. Most systems will have a mechanism that activates the system when snow falls. Even when you’re on vacation or away from your home, your driveway will stay clear for your return.

Heated driveways will melt off snow at a rate of about two to three inches per hour. The actual rate of melt depends on the temperature you have the heating set at, the type of driveway you have, and the climate you’re in. Your driveway will melt much faster in 32 degrees than it will at zero degrees. So expect your results to vary a bit.

Heated driveways can crack, but typically this only happens if the system is malfunctioning. When the heated coils or tubes are much higher than the concrete, cracking can occur. You’ll generally be able to fix this with little more than crack sealant and resurfacing. However, you’ll need to make sure the system has been fixed prior to repairing the concrete.