Condensing Boilers eliminate Snow Shovels !

With the improvements in PEX tubing and boiler efficiencies, many homeowners and businesses are investing in hydronic snow-melt systems. These systems are used to heat driveways, walkways, and stairs during snowstorms to keep the paths clear. Homeowners install these systems to minimize the backbreaking work of shoveling. Businesses often install these systems to ensure positive footing and minimize injuries from falls. Steps are especially dangerous areas when coated with ice and snow. By installing a snow melt system on these steps business owners can be assured of a snow and ice free surface.

Condensing boilers are the natural choice for snow-melt systems. Condensing boilers achieve efficiencies of 97% and higher when used in these applications due to the low return temperatures. With these low temperatures condensing boilers can extract the maximum amount of heat from the flue gas before sending it up the chimney. Using modulation the boilers can adjust its firing rate to meet the coldest winter day.

The Triangle Tube Prestige and Challenger boilers are perfect choices for snow-melt applications. These boilers' efficiency will exceed their already high AFUE ratings of 96% and 95%. They are compatible with glycol for direct use or they can be combined with Triangle Tube brazed plates to seperate the snow-melt from the other radiant hydronic loops. Finally the Optima SSM Snow-Melt control can be used to operate the system.

Click here for an article about a snow-melt system in Wisconsin that is a terrific case study.