Home / HVAC Heating Edmonton / Hydronic Snow Melt System
Your Local Edmonton and Area Contractor for any Hydronic Snow Melt System
At RBA Mechanical, our Pros can repair or install a snow melt system on any outdoor surface using a natural gas heating boiler and heating tube. It is also called a “heated driveway”.
If you have an existing hydronic snow melt system (any heated outdoor surface), we provide maintenance and repairs on your boiler and equipment. Not to mention options to upgrade your snow melt system to make it more efficient. Request repairs or service on your snow melt system. Click here for hydronic heating services. Click here for boiler services.
Visit our store for hydronic heating services
We can add a hydronic snow melt system to any driveway or ramp.
In addition, we can add a hydronic snow melt system to any sidewalk or pathway. Not to mention, your steps, ramps, patios, and any other outdoor surface that you want.
Before A large snow fall on the ramp Melting the snow Melting snow
We can even install a snow melt system over top of existing concrete.
install of tubing over existing sidewalk Install of tubing over existing concrete patio Melting snow on outdoor patio
Click here for the Facts & Myths of a snow melt system
For installations, add-ons, or replacements, RBA Mechanical is your local source for hydronic snow melt systems. Whether you have a residential or commercial project, we can install a snow melt system for you.
How does a snow melt system work?
We install a snow & ice detector in the concrete, so the snow melt control knows when snow has fallen and when to activate the system. The snow melt control fires up the boiler, and the boiler heats up the fluid that is flowing in the piping system. A pump sends that heated fluid through the tubing that is embedded in the concrete. This heats up the concrete and melts the snow.
How is a snow melt system installed?
We install the tubing over top foam board insulation. The tubing is raised slightly so when concrete is poured, the tubing is imbedded in the concrete. This maximizes the energy used to heat your pad. This method allows for very high energy efficient operation. Coupled with a hydronic heating boiler and snow melt control, you can finally toss out that shovel.
Furthermore, with automatic snow melting, you have no worries about forgetting to turn off that switch!
Oh no! I forgot to turn off the switch to the sidewalk, and it was on for 2 weeks!
Allen, A.
With RBA Mechanical, you will get automatic snow melting, so no worries about forgetting to turn off that manual switch. Our Pros have the years of wisdom to select the right high efficient equipment for your new install. Including NTI heating boilers, Eco King Boilers, Uponor premium snow melt tubing, and Tekmar snow melt controls.
We can install a brand new snow melt system, or add a snow melt package to your existing hydronic heating system.
HePex Tubing and Manifolds
We use Uponor HePex, heatlink, or Viega tubing and manifolds for all our radiant & snow melt systems.
Not only does Uponor tubing have 25 years limited warranty on their tubing, it is a flexible tubing. Which means that you can’t squash it and if it gets kinked, it can easly be reshaped.
The manifolds we use are valved with actuators. This means when routine maintenance is performed, the manifolds can be isolated without shutting down the whole system.
How the tubing is installed
The layout of the tubing is determined by the certified radiant heating designer. The tubing is installed on rigid foam insulation in the pattern that will heat the outdoor surface area enough to melt snow.
At RBA Mechanical, we raise the tubing slightly so it will be imbedded in the concrete for optimum efficient operation.
Tubing can be installed in different outdoor surfaces, such as concrete, aggregate, paving stones, asphalt, turf conditioning.
Snow melt systems can be installed in any outdoor surface, including patios, sidewalks, driveways, helicopter pads, and more.
The Boiler System
For the boiler system, we use a natural gas hot water heating boiler (hydronic boiler) to heat the fluid that flows throught the tubes. A pump is used to push the fluid through the tubing.
There is more then one type of boiler that can be used. For smaller systems such as a residential driveway or a sidewalk, we prefer the Eco King boiler. These boilers have all the required components built in, which makes them best for small spaces. For spaces that have more room, or larger systems, the NTI boilers work great.
Operating the snow melt system
The snow melt system uses a control that is similar to a programmable thermostat. The control senses snow from a snow sensor or “glass eye” that is imbedded in the concrete. The control then kicks in and tells the boiler system to provide heat to the snow melt system. The control automatically shuts off when the surface is cleared. With warm weather shut down, the system will not operate above a specific temperature.
The type of control used may vary depending on your snow melt needs. But we favour Tekmar snow melt controls. They come with standard operating functions, or with the full wifi capability.
The Snow Melt Design is the backbone of your hydronic snow melt system.
- How much tubing do you need? What size?
- What size of manifolds do you need?
- How is the tubing layed out? in what pattern?
- What size of boiler is required?
These are all the questions answered when the Design is completed by a certified Hydronic Heating Designer. The fee for this ranges, based on the size of the project, but when you choose RBA Mechanical, your design fee is 100% refundable.
Why have the snow melt system designed by a certified hydronic designer?
- The tubing is installed in concrete. You want it done right, the first time.
- You want to make sure there is enough tubing to actually heat the concrete and melt the snow & ice.
- Using tubing to heat a floor space requires science. The designer knows the correct pattern and layout needed to heat the concrete and melt snow safely.
- The design provides the informantion needed to size the boiler system correctly.
It’s the law. The design ensures your hydronic snow melt system meets all Safety Code Regulations and Standards.
Any hydronic heating system that is vulnerable to the cold weather, must have freeze protection installed. Which means, that all hydronic snow melt systems must contain freeze protection.
This is accomplished using heat transfer glycol. NOT the antifreeze for your car.
The heat transfer glycol protects all the piping and the tubing that is located in the concrete from freezing when the temparture gets to the freezing point. For example, in Edmonton & area, we design for -30 C. This means the fluid in the tubing will not freeze.
For more information on the hydronic fluid, visit our page here.
So how do you get your own hydronic snow melt system?
Adding a hydronic snow melt system is easy. You determine on what surface you want the snow melt. You contact RBA Mechanical for your budget quote. Once you approve your budget quote, you have your snow melt design completed with the final quoted cost. Then your new snow melt system is installed.
So What does it cost to get a hydronic snow melt system?
It costs no more then buying a new car. The size, model & the bells & whistles you get, depends on the price you pay.
Here at RBA Mechanical, we divide a hydronic snow melt system into two (2) stages so your hydronic snow melt system can be installed all at once, or only one stage at a time.
- the tubing installation itself (or rough-in stage) consists of the insulation, tubing, the snow melt sensor, and manifolds.
- the hydronic boiler system consists of the boiler, the safety & operating components, the snow melt control, and the freeze protection.
The cost of a heated outdoor surface, is dependant on the usage of that surface (sidewalk, patio, driveway, etc), the operation method of the heated surface, and the square footage of the surface.
Here is a table with some sample costs if installed by RBA Mechanical. The Base Cost is the minimum cost required for a fully functioning heated outdoor surface with manual on/off operation.
| Dimensions | Base Cost |
| 10 ft x 10 ft | $20,500 |
| 3 ft x 40 ft | $20,800 |
| 20 ft x 40 ft | $28,400 |
| 25 ft x 40 ft | $36,700 |
| Extra Costs: | |
| Snow & Ice melt sensor with automatic control | $3,500 |
| Snow & Ice melt sensor with WIFI control | $6,400 |
Prices listed are in effect May 17, 2022. Product availability, inflation, and other such factors may influence prices as listed.
Say yes to your new hydronic snow melt system!
At RBA Mechanical, we have compiled different options that are available to you in order to get your own hydronic snow melt system.
- We can install the whole system for you all at once.
- We can install just the tubing (rough-in) for now, and the boiler system later on.
- We also have DIY options available.
When you choose RBA Mechanical for your hydronic snow melt system, we have DIY and various discount options that can help lower that installation cost.
Some sample discounts may include:
- homeowner supplies the insulation & vapour barrier
- homeowner assists with the installation of insulation, vapour barrier, and the tubing, depending on the homeowner capabilities
- purchase of all the materials at the same time, when quote is accepted (10% discount)
- make payments through e-transfer or direct deposit (2% discount)
DIY-e
Are you a DIY Expert?
The return of our full DIY installation packages are coming soon. Whether you are a local expert, or from a remote area, you can still get your radiant snow melt system from RBA Mechanical.
Contact us to learn more about our DIY-e hydronic snow melt packages
or Call 780-474-7481
This document will show you how you can get your own heated driveway or sidewalk snowmelt system from RBA Mechanical. Review it, then contact us to proceed with your very own snowmelt system.
get-your-own-snowmelt