Today we finish up, started talking about earlier heating systems that are used outside the home. We have explored options for heating of roofs, gutters and drains, and now let's talk about de-icing systems, ladders, walkways and driveways.
If we compare the likelihood of injury from falling icicles with a probability of injury resulting from walking on untreated ice stairs and walkways, in the latter case, the "chance" to be in a hospital bed or move around the planet with the help of crutches higher. In winter, the owners of country houses visited by their possessions are not as often as it occurs in the summer. During their absence, the snow that fell on the stairs, paths and driveways can be melted, and the "fresh" cold will certainly turn it into ice.
gutter heaters
Moreover, the process can be repeated with surprising regularity, and the chance to get to the gate or from the garage to the front door without getting hurt at the same time, will be small. And check the garage through the snowdrifts or ice crust - employment, does not cause anybody with delight. But the situation is not hopeless. Since the subject of our conversation are de-icer system, it is easy to guess that the homeowners are coming to the aid of just such a system, which acted as a janitor and do not allow snow and ice to cause inconvenience owners of country houses.
To combat the snow and ice on the street stairs, on the tracks and sidings used one-and two-core heating cables, containing, as we recall from previous conversations, galvanized wire "threads." She lived in these cables can reach temperatures of 130 degrees C, they are quite flexible and have a relatively low weight.
Installation of cables begins with the preparation of surfaces. We do not accidentally, the term "surface" used the plural, as the staircase is a few surfaces. Each step must be cleared of debris and dust, after which you can begin to work, guided by previously drawn up by the project.
Consider the option in which the heating cable is laid on the stairs. In the case open from the bottom step, you should perform heat insulation of the site.
Cable - not the only element of the system. First of all, we note that the design of de-icing system, mounted on a ladder has three sensors:
air temperature sensor;
precipitation gauge;
sensor levels.
The sensors are an integral part of the automatic control system, which also includes a microprocessor temperature controller, timers, and RCD. In general, the automatic system is nothing more than a weather station.
In addition to the automatic system, Stairs Deicing heating system includes:
network cable;
pipes for electrical cables;
mounting box;
couplings;
mounting kit.
At the time of the device (cable laying and pouring screed thickness of 30-45 cm) mounted "cold" ends that are not hidden in the coupler and connected to the control cabinet. Lay the heating cable should be of special attention, making sure that it does not overlap. Upon completion of installation and fixing of cable is filled with cement and sand screed. After the screed has hardened, you should check the cable parameters, then (subject to a positive test result) on the surface of the coating can be placed. Typically, such coverage is tile. Once the solution is fixing the tile cools, the system can be switched.
If we talk about the electrical installation, such installation is a lot like the one mentioned in conversations about the "warm floors". Cables connected to the thermostat, automatically turning on and off the system. However, this electrical installation is still different from the known electrical installation "warm floor" so that the de-icing system, as we have seen, there are elements outside the system "warm floor" and, consequently, its more complicated circuitry.
Installed power de-icing system for stairs varies from 200 to 400 W / m (depending on wind loads and the presence / absence of protection from the snow).
Installation of the system it is desirable to entrust to specialists. In this case, the homeowner will guarantee its work perfectly.
The device de-icing system on the tracks and access roads to the garage is very similar to the device of the system on the stairs. The elements of this system is also consistent with those described above. The heating cables are designed to release the tracks and sidings of the snow packed "snake" and rammed sand (gravel), and performed before screed on the asphalt, as well as on the surface, lined with paving tiles. To fix the cable, you can use the mounting tape.
Along with the laying of the cable assembly is made, and other system components (sensors, mounting boxes and so on.). At the end of the cable laying and fixing it is pouring cement and sand screed. In the screed should not be void. This applies to the device to tie ladders. In the case of formation of "air pockets" in the heating element from overheating can quickly become unusable. The device ties can be replaced by a sand unit "cushion", which will then be laid paving slabs.
The automatic system is the same weather station, which we have already said today.
This concludes our conversation about the outside of the home heating and the heating systems in general, which was devoted to a conversation.
