Imagine never having to shovel snow again — without moving to the tropics, that is.
EasyHeat Sno-Melter Cable Kits can be embedded in a driveway, sidewalk or other concrete or paver surface to warm it and melt snow and ice.
Cable kits are available in sizes that cover 10 to 100 square feet. Multiple kits can be combined for bigger areas.
The system, from Emerson Industrial Automation, is designed for installation by a contractor or a skilled do-it-yourselfer who can do intermediate-level electrical work. The installer attaches the cable to a wire mesh or rebar reinforcement, hard-wires the cable to a power source and then covers the mesh or rebar with the surface material.
The kits are designed for use with an automatic controller, which is sold separately. The controller turns on the heating cable whenever moisture is present and the temperature drops below 38 degrees Fahrenheit.
The cable kits are available from some electrical distributors, building supply stores and online retailers. A 100-square-foot kit sells for about $250.
— Mary Beth Breckenridge
