Installing Inground Radiant Heat

• There are two ways of using inground radiant heat. Electrical cable can be installed under the paving, using electrical energy to heat the outdoor area, which can be costly in terms of electrical usage. The alternative is a hydronic heating system, which uses a boiler to heat a liquid, containing antifreeze, that is then piped under the outdoor area through copper pipes. This is a more efficient system for heating large areas.
  
  

When To Install Radiant Heat Outdoors

• Both the electrical cable and the hydronic heating system need to be installed under paving, so a convenient time to install inground radiant heat is when your driveway is being installed or repaved, or when your walkway is being replaced.
  
  

Automated or Manual Control

• Inground radiant heat can be controlled through the use of automatic sensors or manually. Aerial and surface-mounted sensors can detect precipitation and cold temperatures and will activate the heating system during inclement weather. They then turn off automatically a few hours after the storm. Inground radiant heat can also be controlled manually if additional heat is required.