The average snowfall per year in the United States is 28 inches.
In Orland Park, we typically accumulated approximately three feet.
For five or six months, the snow continues to fall and add up. We can see anywhere from several inches to several feet in a single day. It’s sometimes necessary to shovel out the walkways and driveway before leaving for work and again when we arrive home. When the outdoor temperature is negative twenty degrees and the wind chill makes it feel even colder, shoveling is not a pleasant job. I need to bundle up in heavy boots, wool coat, gloves, hat and scarf. I can barely move. Shoveling is time-consuming, labor-intensive and unpleasant. It can take hours. There is also the concern of where to pile all that snow. As the drifts grow bigger, we have less chance of accessing the garage or the mailbox. I have decided to invest into a snowmelt system. My Orland Park home is outfitted with a boiler and radiant floor heating system. The boiler heats up water and pumps it through a looping network of pipes hidden below the floor. The heat spreads across the surface of the floor, rises slowly and keeps the entire house perfectly warm and cozy. A snowmelt system is very similar. A series of pipes are concealed under the pavement of the driveway and walkways. These pipes link to the boiler inside the house. When the snowmelt system detects the combination of temperature drop and moisture, it automatically starts up. Hot water circulates through the pipes, spreading heat across the surface of the pavement and melting away snow and ice.