We installed a heated driveway at our Thornhill property last spring during a full concrete replacement. The previous driveway was 28 years old and needed to come out anyway — timing the snowmelt system with new concrete was the logical move.
Why we did it:
Our driveway is steeply graded toward the garage door — a genuine safety hazard when icy. After my mother-in-law slipped on it twice in one winter, the decision was made.
System spec:
- 2-car driveway, 560 sq ft
- Nuheat or WarmUp electric resistance cable (contractor used WarmUp)
- Smart snow sensor (moisture + temperature) — activates automatically
- 240V circuit, 40A dedicated breaker
Cost breakdown:
- Heated cable system (WarmUp, 560 sq ft): $4,200
- 240V/40A circuit and panel space (electrician): $1,100
- Smart sensor installation: $380
- New concrete driveway (would have happened anyway): $12,800
- Total incremental cost for the heat system: $5,680 over baseline driveway cost
First winter results:
System activated automatically 14 times between November and March. Zero shovelling required. Estimated electricity cost: $210 for the season (monitoring via smart panel — actual measured data).
One issue:
The sensor trips at 2°C even with light freezing rain — we programmed it to start at 0°C after the first month. Reduced unnecessary activation.
Honest verdict: Worth it for our specific driveway (steep grade, safety concern). For a flat driveway in a milder GTA location, the $5,680 premium vs annual shovelling cost makes the payback 20+ years — harder to justify purely on economics.