What amount of energy is used by the hydronic system when snow melting is not required?
Answer Hydronic snow melting systems are the hands-down favorite for most of the world that sees snow. The reasons are simple. First, the total operational costs of melting snow with electricity are usually higher than the equivalent energy in gas. It is difficult to burn one fuel to make another (hydro-electric notwithstanding) and then waste say 60% of this new fuel in transmission and finally to use this refined fuel in the crudest way possible, resistance heating. It just doesn’t make sense. But if you are stuck with apples you try to sell applesauce. Fortunately you probably have intelligent choices to make, thus the misinformation you have been given. I just finished a design for a sharp fellow in Arnold, CA. He opted for an integrated hydronic system starting with a Mod/Con boiler that drives his home radiant floor, his domestic hot water AND snow melting for his 200-foot driveway! Hydronic systems run when they are called. The time that any heating system takes to melt snow is
