The ROI of Driveway Heating Systems: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

The winter season is just around the corner and Canadians have started preparing for it already. Canadian winters require not only physical preparation but also mental resilience. Shoveling snow is one of the most daunting tasks that every homeowner has to face during winter.

For homeowners who like the ease of being able to clear snow from their driveway without having to get out their shovel and snow blower, driveway heating systems are an attractive choice. If you are thinking about remodeling or improving your house, heated driveways are really practical and something you should take into consideration.

Understanding The Real Cost of Driveway Heating Systems

Driveway heating systems bring tons of benefits with them. However, it is crucial to have a budget in mind before starting your research for service providers. The total cost of a heating system depends on multiple factors such as heating type, total area of the driveway, etc. The total cost can be divided into two categories: initial costs and operating costs.

Installation Costs

The total cost of installing a driveway heating system depends on multiple factors, including the size of the driveway, the type of heating system, and any nuances with the initial architecture of the property. Larger driveways, more advanced heating systems, and landscape that hinders wiring possibilities can increase the upfront investment. However, the convenience of never having to shovel snow again makes it a worthwhile consideration.

Operating Costs

The ongoing operating costs of driveway heating systems depend on multiple factors such as the system’s wattage capacity, which is typically measured in kW per sq. ft., the cost of electricity in your province, and the size (total area) of your driveway. In addition to that, the wattage capacity required for your driveway will depend on the city you live in and the frequency of snowfall occurrences in your city.

To calculate the operational expenses, you’ll need to consider the system’s power usage and how long it would operate during the snowy season. For example, a medium-size driveway equipped with a heating system would have its power requirements multiplied by the duration of a snowfall. That said, a homeowner’s time spent on shoveling snow (or the money spent on getting someone else to shovel it) may be worth far more than the cost of electricity a heated driveway would consume.

Conclusion

Although the number of snowfall occurrences and their intensities are unknown to us, investing in robust driveway heating systems can reduce your snow removal cost quite significantly in the long run. If you want to assess the costs involved in having your driveway equipped with a heating system then get in touch with us at A.S. Electrical Ltd. today to get the best quotation for your driveway.