Heated pavement

[LarryFine]

I would think you have to listen to the weather report. If they’re calling for 18” inches depending on how heavy and wet it is you have to plow it 2 or even 3 times. Especially if your using a John Deere tractor.

My friend does exactly that.

 

[LarryFine]

He sent me a pic:

 

[Eddie702]

25' x 100' I would just buy a big snowblower

 

[GoldDigger]

The 4 wheelers work great I use one for moving snow. They do sort of have depth limits though. You can go through a foot of snow if not too far to push it. If drifted really deep you are probably out of luck. That is when you are probably waiting for that hired plow service to dig you out.

As the snow pack gets deeper, even the pros need to use a blower rather than a simple plow.

 

[kwired]

I would think you have to listen to the weather report. If they’re calling for 18” inches depending on how heavy and wet it is you have to plow it 2 or even 3 times. Especially if your using a John Deere tractor.

Depends what model of John Deere you have

 

[drcampbell]

I’m rethinking the heated pavement idea ...

ASHRAE recommends 200-400 W/m².
That'd be 50-100 kW for your entire driveway, or 25-50 kW for the one-lane strip idea.

 

[W@ttson]

Sorry I’m late to the party here. If you are going to do the heated drive way watch this guys YouTube channel:

The video I linked is good but if you go through his videos he does a really great job explaining his system.

It’s totally the best way to go about it.

 

[Dsg319]

30k you can buy a UTV 4x4 cab with heat/Ac power windows, pick up a plow for prolly 2k plow snow and have fun going on rides the rest of the time.

 

[PaulMmn]

That sounds terrible in so many ways.

But think of the huge BBQ grill it wold make!

 

[LarryFine]

But think of the huge BBQ grill it wold make!

I'm thinking of BBQ'ed people and pets.

 

[PaulMmn]

That's certainly true, but the question is how much of it can you deliver to the wheels before they slip on the pavement?

Especially when you consider that you only have 4 tiny patches of rubber, about 4"x4", actually making contact with the pavement! Same consideration for braking as well.

 

[PaulMmn]

What would one of those ground-source heating systems do for heating your driveway (in addition to the house)? Deep wells and 60* water... Should lower the cost of operation quite a bit!

 

[drcampbell]

If the site has 60°F groundwater in January, it probably doesn't need driveway deicing. Snow country's more likely to have 45°F groundwater.

Even if it were 60°F, the low ∆T would require a LOT more piping, pumping & flowrate.

 

[4-20mA]

Pretty good watch.

 

[gadfly56]

Sorry I’m late to the party here. If you are going to do the heated drive way watch this guys YouTube channel:

The video I linked is good but if you go through his videos he does a really great job explaining his system.

It’s totally the best way to go about it.

Yep, that's the same fellow I pointed to in post #29.

 

[Mr. Serious]

If your garden tractor has hydraulic system connections, maybe there's a snowblower attachment for it.

 

[letgomywago]

Heated water as pointed out is a good choice. Boise has an extensive geothermal district heating system for sidewalks and buildings.
I have seen driveway heating on This Old House and they may of used ground water wells with water to water heat pumps.

I think bend has some government buildings that use that too.

 

[PaulMmn]

If your garden tractor has hydraulic system connections, maybe there's a snowblower attachment for it.

That's the large size tractor. Most 'home size' tractors are either electric or just a plow with manual (haul the lever) raise/lower.

 

[Mr. Serious]

That's the large size tractor. Most 'home size' tractors are either electric or just a plow with manual (haul the lever) raise/lower.

I've seen a "riding mower" size tractor with hydraulic attachments. This was back in 1995, but I suspect there are still some made that way. It is a bit of a specialty product, though. You have to seek it out and pay a premium for it.