Is a Heated Driveway Right for You?

Nov 19

You may have heard that “heated driveways” are a thing. After the umpteenth time dragging out the shovel or snow blower to keep your driveway safe for use during the frigid winter months, you probably want to know more. Eyes watering from the cold, you might even be willing to pay any price.

So what is a heated driveway? How much does a heated driveway cost, and how do you know if installing one will be worth the trouble for you?

What Is a Heated Driveway?

A heated driveway is a driveway that has had a system installed beneath it to create radiant heat. This heat prevents snow and ice from building up on the driveway.

The result — a safe, friction-rich driveway all year round. No shoveling or snow blowing required.

What Types of Heated Driveways Are There?

Three types of heated driveway systems are out there:

Heating Mats. Electric mats laid over the top of the driveway. Less expensive and flexible, but less permanent.
Wire Grid. A series of electrical cables installed under the driveway. Less expensive to install, but more expensive to operate due to the increased electric bills.
Hydronic. A network of PEX plumbing installed under the driveway which carries a mixture of heated water and antifreeze. Expensive, but the most effective solution. The downside — if the system breaks and the boiler can’t maintain sufficient temperature, the water mixture can freeze if exposed to sub-zero temperatures. Frozen water in pipes beneath the concrete is challenging to fix in the winter.

How Much Does A Heated Driveway Cost?

Electric heated driveways are less expensive to install than hydronic systems, partially because hot-water heated driveway systems require an extra boiler.

The materials for a high-quality electronic heated driveway will run between $1,600-$3,000.

The materials for a high-quality hot-water heated driveway will run between $4,000-$7,000.

In addition, for systems installed under the driveway surface, you must factor in the labor to uninstall the system under your driveway. Expect to pay about $12-$21 per square foot for heated driveway installation.

This gives us an all-in heated driveway cost of roughly $1,600-$7,000 for electric, $13,000-$17,000 for hydronic.

Advantages Of A Heated Driveway

No more shovels or snowblowers. Save yourself time, effort, and frostbite.
No more melting chemicals or rock salt. These solutions for frozen driveways tend to erode the driveway, reducing its effective life.
Driveway stays safe. You can be confident your cars won’t slip off the driveway and endanger passersby. People will be less likely to slip and fall on the driveway as well.
Longer driveway life. Repeated exposure to sub-zero temperatures can cause driveways to crack, buckle, and degrade over time.
Increased home value. A permanent heated driveway, installed under the floors, can increase the market value of your home.
Low-maintenance. Heated driveways require little maintenance, though a hydronic system will need a new boiler every 10-15 years.

Disadvantages Of A Heated Driveway

Expensive. Be prepared to shoulder anywhere from $1,600 to $17,000 for heated driveway installation.
Complicated installation. If you choose a permanent heated driveway, expect some downtime where your driveway is torn up by heated driveway contractors.
Higher utility bills. Heated driveways consume electricity, water, gas, or a combination thereof. Electric heated driveways tend to add more to your utility bills than hot-water heated driveways to achieve the same effect.
Hard to repair. Permanent heated driveways are durable, but if they break, heated driveway contractors will probably have to tear up your driveway again to fix it.