We don’t need to spend hours in the cold shoveling snow
My local area is often referred to as the “snow belt.” This part of the country is well-known for our especially long, cold and snowy winters. Located along one of the Great Lakes, we experience lake-effect snow. As the clouds travel over the lake, they pick up moisture and then dump it in the form of snow on our region. It’s not unusual for us to accumulate multiple inches in an hour or several feet of snow overnight. Our forecast tends to include terms such as snow squalls, white-outs, freezing rain, snow showers and blizzard conditions. The temperature frequently drops below freezing, and we aren’t surprised by readings in the negative digits. For approximately eight months per year, we are reliant on the heating system. The weather necessitates an especially powerful and reliable heater. I am fortunate that my home is outfitted with a boiler. Hydronic-style heating offers unique benefits. The operation is wonderfully clean and quiet. Because water heats up much faster and retains heat longer than air, the boiler effectively combats the most severe weather while keeping running costs reasonable. Due to very few moving parts, there is little maintenance needed and the system can be expected to provide a long service life. Inside the house, we have a network of pipes concealed beneath the floor that transport the hot water. The heat from the pipes spreads across the floors, rises slowly and warms up the room. We have a very similar setup outside. There is a series of pipes hidden under the pavement of the front steps, walkways and driveway. The combination of moisture and temperature drop triggers the snowmelt system to activate. Hot water from the boiler flows through these pipes and effectively melts away snow and ice. We don’t need to spend hours in the cold shoveling snow. There are no worries over slipping and falling because of icy pavement. We don’t need to figure out where to pile all of the snow.
