Heated steps & walkway on the cheap

[Goody]

I just wanted to know if anyone else has tried something like this.
I live in Michigan and woke up Thanksgiving morning to our first snow of the year. Even though our spa is 4 feet outside our bedroom it was still cold and slippery walking to it. I've had the spa since April and I'm waiting until next year to build a permanent deck around it so I am using the Polymer steps that came with it and a temp walkway to get in. Anyways I strung heat wire (the same stuff used on the edges of roofs to prevent ice dams) through the grooves in the steps. I also weaved it back and forth down the walkway and covered that with outdoor astroturf. I plug it in 1/2 hour before we wonder out and it has been great.

[HotTubMan]

Nice idea! Sounds smart.

[Chas]

I know this is getting to sound real old - but be sure you have this hot setup plugged into a GFI-protected outlet: as it's doing it's job it is obviously getting wet and spreding water around.

Sounds like a great idea though.  

[Andy-VA]

Where did you find that wire and how much was it?

[Chas]

Here is one site I found on a google search:

http://www.heatersplus.com/cable.htm

[Goody]

The wire can be found at Home Depot (at least in this area) and it was about $20. It is on a GFI circuit and the beauty of it is that the wire is made to be in a cold wet environment.