Driveways are one of the most important areas of your house, mostly because they are among the areas that are used most often. Furthermore, they are also the most exposed. If you have heated driveways, you may be under the impression that you can rest easy during the winter months as your driveway pretty much maintains itself. While this is true and is part of the charm and appeal of heated driveways, there are still a few steps you can take to increase your driveway’s lifespan.

Here are a few tips to maintain your regular driveway or heated driveway, regardless of the season.

1. Watch out for cracks

This problem is less seen in heated driveways, as the heating technology keeps temperatures more regulated. After all, cracks occur because of the expansion and contraction of the concrete as the seasons change. However, there are other potential causes of cracks, such as if you have trees growing near the driveway. Their roots may grow to such an extent that they crack through the surface of your driveway. Make sure to maintain the trees around your driveway to prevent this.

2. Reduce water

Water can penetrate the surface of your driveway and cause problems. To curb this, you can simply make sure to clear the driveway every time there is rain, or you can create strips around your driveway to collect water and divert the flow away from your driveway. You should also check that your downspouts do not empty onto your driveway.

3. Treat with care

Whether you’re clearing leaves or snow, make sure to always treat your driveway with care. Rather than scraping the driveway with force, be gentler with your shovel or use a plastic one to reduce harshness. Indeed, one of the reasons heated driveways are so popular is because homeowners want to reduce the potential of damaging their own driveways. You can also use a leaf-blower instead of a rake to clear leaves.

4. Clean frequently

Aside from water, your driveway is exposed to other sediment and dirt such as motor oil, mud, and more. These substances can all cause harm to your driveway. As such, set aside a day for driveway cleaning. It does not have to be terribly frequent, but it should not be something you neglect completely.

To reduce some of the burden of caring for your driveway, you can always install a heated driveway. For more information on this, call us at A.S. Electrical today.