Common Questions

These mats are used for heating industrial items and also are used for melting snow?
Yes, they are dual-purpose with their unique design. Companies use them for industrial applications, and commercial and residential customers use them to melt snow.

How soon will they ship?
The heating snow mats ship out in approximately 5-7 work days.

What is the warranty?
The heating mats come with a two year manufacturer's warranty.

Will they work with heavy snow fall?
Yes, even when snow falls at very high rate the heating mats will melt the snow to provide a safe walking surface. It does this very quickly as well.

What happens to the snow/water once it is melted?
If you turn the heating mats on before it starts snow, you will not have any water pooling on the snow melting pads. The reason for this is that the snow will evaporate as soon as it hits the pads due to the preheating. If it's a very heavy snowfall, it might take a little longer, but as long as you leave the heating mat powered on it will eventually evaporate over water, thus preventing it from freezing again, causing a slip hazard.

Will they make my electric bill expensive?
Surprisingly, they are very inexpensive to use. Depending on the size, a single mat is about the same as running a few light bulbs. The mats use approximately 250-310 watts each which will only cost around $0.036 cents an hour to use for larger mats.  Smaller mats use approximately $0.009 cents an hour. You can see it's very inexpensive. You can use multiple melting mats and still spend less than one dollar a day! Compare that with slip and fall doctor bills and lawsuits.

Can I leave them out all winter long?
Yes, you can leave the outdoor heating mats out all winter long because that is what they are made to do. You do not have to let them run all of the time but you can. If you see that it's going to snow you can simply turn them on and be ready for the snow to fall so that you can start melting it as soon as it comes down. If you forget to turn them on, you can simply power them on, even with snow sitting on top of them. It will slowly start to melt the snow away with ease!

Can I drive on the mats?
We do offer a version of heating mats for your driveway  Those mats allow you to place them in your driveway so that they line up with your vehicle tires.

Are these dangerous? Will I be electrocuted?
Absolutely not. Heating mats have been used for decades,, and there are literally hundreds of thousands of them in use around the world. They go through rigorous testing to make sure they are safe and they are completely waterproof. In addition, they use a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). This safety switch automatically shuts off the mat if it detects a power surge. It's the same technology that's used in electrical outlets in your house that are near water like kitchen, bathroom, and outdoor outlets.

Is it possible to connect my stair mats with the sidewalk mats?
Yes! Each mat can be easily connected to additional mats.

Can I use them on a wood deck and deck steps?
Using the heated outdoor mats on wood decks or steps is safe. The temperatures are enough to melt the snow but nowhere near high enough to cause damage to wood surfaces.

Is it possible to use the mats on top of asphalt?
The outdoor heated sidewalk and stair mats are designed for wood, asphalt, concrete, and stone use.

Can I put the mats on top of thick snow?
To work without issues, the mats should be placed on the surface before the snow begins to fall.

Can a mat be cut into a specific length? 
Unfortunately, mats cannot be cut into different sizes. However, we do offer a wide range of choices to pick from. It is also possible to purchase smaller mats and connect them; and thus create more specific sizes.

Can I arrange them in an L-shape or U-shape?
Every heated mat can be used independently of others to create specific shapes. L-shape, U-shape, zig-zag, or other layouts can be set up. You will find built-in connector cables on the right sides of our mats. Thanks to them, you can connect multiple mats and create a larger unit with a specific shape. You can also use a cable extender to set up longer connections between the individual mats.

What is the average temperature the mat can sustain?
The heated sidewalk and stair mats can maintain an average temperature of around 40 degrees F (4.44 degrees C) right next to and above their surrounding area.

Real Reviews From Real Customers

Easy to use and quick to install
Heating covers are the best. They melt the snow away and keep our customers safe. They are super easy to install. From out of the box we just unrolled the mat, plugged it into our outside outlet and it started melting the snow right away. Tom W.

Why did we not use these long ago
We have been shoveling snow for years. Finally we reached a point where it was simply too much work. We looked online and found ALCO and ordered the mats. They arrived quickly and we installed them on the walkway and the porch. Now when we see some is on the way we just plug it in and let it run. Its really nice that we don't have to worry about clearing snow from our steps and walking path any longer. Mark B.

A clear path to my hot tub
Connecting the heating mats together in a series has worked wonderfully. It is keeping the ice and the snow off of my wood deck near my hot tub. No more snow walking paths in bare feet or salt stains on the wood. Lisa R.

ALCO gave me a custom solution
I'm not very technical and even though is a plug and play type of product I was not sure what I needed. I used the custom fill out form and a ALCO rep contacted me straight away. They provided me with a custom quote for exactly what I needed and that's what I ordered and that's what I received. They are excellent at helping you decide what is needed. - Sandra G.

Reduced our liability
We have a business to run and we can't worry about shoveling snow. It only takes a little bit of snow to have a slip and fall accident. We searched out a solution and ALCO seemed to have what we needed. Since we have installed them they are keeping the snow and ice away from our entrance. This reduces our liability and saves on labor costs.  Jackie M.

Small Mats
The amp draw per mat on the spec sheet is +/- 10%. See this page to know how many mats you can connect together.

Dimensions | Voltage | Amps | Weight (lbs)
11" x 3FT | 120V | 0.7 | 6
11" x 3FT | 240V | 0.3 | 6
11" x 4FT | 120V | 0.9 | 8
11" x 4FT | 240V | 0.4 | 8
11" x 5FT | 120V | 1.1 | 12
11" x 5FT | 240V | 0.6 | 12
11" x 6FT | 120V | 1.4 | 13
11" x 6FT | 240V | 0.7 | 13
11" x 7FT | 120V | 1.6 | 14
11" x 7FT | 240V | 0.8 | 14
11" x 8FT | 120V | 1.9 | 15
11" x 8FT | 240V | 0.9 | 15

Medium Size Mats
The amp draw per mat on the spec sheet is +/- 10%

Dimensions | Voltage | Amps | Weight (lbs)
24" x 5FT   | 120V | 2.6   | 21
24" x 5FT   | 240V | 1.3   | 21
24" x 10FT | 120V | 5.3   | 42
24" x 10FT | 240V | 2.7   | 42
24" x 15FT | 120V | 8.1   | 63
24" x 15FT | 240V | 4.1   | 63
24" x 20FT | 120V | 10.9 | 84
24" x 20FT | 240V | 5.4   | 84
36" x 5FT   | 120V | 3.9   | 32
36" x 5FT   | 240V | 1.9   | 32
36" x 10FT | 120V | 8.0   | 63
36" x 10FT | 240V | 4.0   | 63
36" x 15FT | 120V | 12.2 | 94
36" x 15FT | 240V | 6.1   | 94
36" x 20FT | 240V | 8.2   |126
48" x 6FT   | 120V | 6.3   | 51
48" x 6FT   | 240V | 3.1   | 51
48" x 10FT | 120V | 10.7 | 84
48" x 10FT | 240V | 5.3   | 84
24" x 5FT   | 120V | 3.09   | 35
24" x 10FT | 120V | 8.00   | 71
24" x 15FT | 120V | 12.20 | 106

Large Mats
The amp draw per mat on the spec sheet is +/- 10%

Dimensions | Voltage | Amps | Weight (lbs)
24" x 20FT | 120V | 3.14 | 94
24" x 20FT | 240V | 5.14 | 94
24" x 25FT | 240V | 21.0 | 115

Warranty

We provide materials for the construction industry so we know how to supply a tough product! Its very unlikely that you will have any issues, but if you do, rest assured the heating mats come with a 2 year manufacturer's warranty from the date of shipment. We do have the right to repair or replace any potentially defective products. The warranty will not cover any damages caused by improper use, installation or abuse.

Returns

ALCO has a 30-day return policy for heat mats from date of shipping. The heating snow melting mats must be in the same new condition as when you received them. If the items are not in new condition then a 25% restocking fee along with return shipping fees will be deducted from the refunded amount.