I live along the northern border of the country, near one of the Great Lakes.
This area is known as the “Snow Belt,” and we endure some brutal winter weather.
It’s not unusual for the temperature to drop down to twenty-five below zero and remain there for weeks at a time. Our annual snow accumulation is around twelve to fifteen feet. We typically have several inches of snow on the ground by Halloween. During the Christmas holidays, the roads are often dangerous to travel because of snow and ice. We expect blizzard conditions throughout the months of January, February and March. There’s very little hope for sunshine and warmer temperatures until sometime in May. Operating the heating system for six to eight straight months is expensive. Shoveling and plowing snow is an endless, time-consuming and labor-intensive job. I’m fortunate to have a boiler heating system installed into my home. The boiler is a hydronic system, using water to convey heat energy. This type of heater is extremely energy efficient, clean and quiet. It provides a more gentle heat and eliminates issues with drafts, temperature stratification, insufficient humidity and air contamination. We have a series of pipes concealed beneath the floor that work as radiant heating. Radiant heated floors offer tremendous benefits. They take up no living space, don’t detract from aesthetics and require no maintenance. Plus, we have the added advantage of zone control. One of the best features of the boiler is the versatility to combine types of systems. We recently installed a snowmelt system beneath the outdoor walkways and driveways. The snowmelt system automatically starts up in response to temperature drop and moisture. It melts away snow and ice and eliminates the worry over slipping and falling. We don’t get wet feet and don’t need to deal with snow removal.