Making Repairs to Snow Melt Systems

Though hydronic tubing and electric cable are protected by tough outer jackets, they aren't impervious to damage, especially during installation. But most damage is fixable. Thats why manufacturers recommend testing their systems both before and during concrete placement. At that stage, its fairly easy for contractors to make repairs in the field using kits supplied by the manufacturer. Once the heating elements are embedded, repairs are more difficult because concrete around the damaged section must be removed first.

Detecting the trouble spot also is trickier. A rupture in hydronic tubing can be detected by an infrared scan gun that senses heat, says Bailey. To detect a breach in electric cable, Blackburn uses an electronic detection system that can tell how many lineal feet down the cable a break is located.

To avoid damage to tubes or cables during concrete placement, contractors should never drive ready-mix trucks over them. Instead, they should use pumps or wheelbarrows to place the concrete.

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