I live in an area of the northeast that is known as the “snowbelt.’  The wind blows across one of the Great Lakes, picking up moisture, which then turns to snowfall.  We are nestled in a valley, and the clouds dump the majority of the snow on us. It’s not usual for us to accumulate multiple feet of snow in a single night.  Blizzards which close schools and shutdown roads are a common occurrence. Our winter season typically lasts from early October until the end of March. Along with record amounts of snow, we deal with subzero temperatures and extreme wind chill.  A powerful, reliable and energy efficient heating system is a necessity. My home is outfitted with a boiler heating system which easily handles even the worst weather. The boiler uses water to convey heat energy, and is linked to baseboard heating around the perimeter of the rooms.  The boiler is wonderfully versatile, and along with heating the house, provides a source for a snow melt system. A system of pipes is installed beneath the cement of the garage floor, driveway and walkways. These pipes transport heated water which effectively melts away snow and ice.  The heating system activates automatically at specific moisture levels and temperature. It runs silently and requires no maintenance whatsoever. Because of the efficiency of the boiler, the snow melt system costs very little to run. It also eliminates the need for shoveling, plowing or harsh chemicals.  It not only makes our lives much easier, but helps to avoid the safety risks of slipping and falling.