Snow Melt System Installation Near North Shore & Greater Chicagoland Area, IL

The snowmelt design is based on typical standards and practices for this area. The snowmelting system design and operating costs are based on the following The snowmelting system is designed to melt up to 12” of snowfall / day, and is based on snowfalls happening between 20 – 32F, and is designed to melt up to 98% of the snowfall in these ranges. Snowfall rates of more than ½” / hour will create snow build-up, but the snowmelt system will continue to perform under the snow. Snowfalls below 20F outdoor temperatures may take longer to melt, and would have higher heat loss rates.

Snowmelt systems have a start-up time that varies depending on the outdoor temperature, and the temperature of the slab. {Snowmelting systems are not a “Spectator Sport”; heat up and melting times can vary greatly, but none of them are short}. To minimize snowmelt build-up, manual “Jump Start” should be used on the snowmelt control. Manual start of the snowmelt system will allow the slab to get up to a melting temperature before the snowmelt event starts, or at a minimum will reduce the warm-up time once a snow event starts. Manual “Jump Start” is generally programmed for 8 hour run time. If nothing happens during that time, the system will simply shutdown, otherwise if a snow event happens during that time frame, the main snow sensing controls will take over and run the system in it’s typical operating procedure. Manual “Jump Start” does increase energy usage on the snowmelt systems, but reduces snow build-up.

A properly maintained and operated snowmelt system should be able to be operated in this area during a typical winter snow fall season (30 events / 40” snow total) for approximately

• Fully Automatic Operation (Snowmelt only at snow event) – $0.35 – $0.40 / sq ft of snowmelt area annually.
• Fully Automatic Operation and frequently used Manual “Jump Start” (Snowmelt at snow event + approximately 30 8-hour manual operations) – $0.60 – $0.85 / sq ft of snowmelt area annually.
• This cost does not take into account annual boiler system upkeep a $250 / year additional costs, nor does it take into affect snowfall seasons beyond the normal outlined above.