Common Questions

How soon will they ship, and is shipping free?
The mats ship in about 5 to 7 business days. Standard mat orders over $374 ship free, and driveway mats always ship free. Heavy-duty PRO mats are not included in free shipping, and their shipping is shown in the order form before you add to cart.

Which mats do I need?
Use walkway mats for paths and sidewalks, one stair mat per step, an entrance mat at a door, and two driveway mats (one per tire track) for a driveway. Businesses with heavy foot traffic can choose heavy-duty PRO mats. The order form above walks you through it.

Will they work in heavy snowfall?
Yes. The mats melt about 2 in of snow per hour. For the best results, turn them on before the snow starts so it melts as it lands.

What happens to the melted snow?
If the mats are on before the snow starts, the snow melts and evaporates as it lands, so water does not pool. In very heavy snow it takes a little longer, but leaving the mats on keeps the water from refreezing into ice.

Can I connect stair mats to walkway mats?
Yes. Walkway and stair mats plug into each other behind one power unit, up to 13 amps per power unit. Where a stair mat leads to a walkway mat, a 20 in connector cable is needed, and the order form adds it for you. Entrance and driveway mats plug into their own outlets.

How many outlets do I need?
One outlet for each power unit, entrance mat and driveway mat. Keep each circuit at 13 amps or less. The review step of the order form tells you how many outlets and circuits to plan, and the Amps tab lists the draw of every mat.

How far can the mats be from the outlet?
The power unit cord is 6 ft (PRO walkway mats have an 11 ft cord). We add watertight cable extenders for outlets up to 50 ft away. Do not use a regular extension cord between the mats. If you use an extension cord to reach the outlet, it must be outdoor rated and 14 gauge or heavier.

Will they make my electric bill expensive?
No. Multiply the amps by the voltage to get the watts. A 20 x 60 in walkway mat draws 2.5 A at 120V, about 300 watts. At 15 cents per kWh that is about 4.5 cents an hour.

Can I leave them out all winter?
Yes. They are made to stay out all winter. You do not have to run them all the time: switch them on when snow is on the way, or add a thermostat, remote or snow sensor to do it for you.

Can I drive on the mats?
Driveway mats and PRO walkway mats are strong enough to drive on. Standard walkway, stair and entrance mats are for foot traffic only.

Are they safe?
Yes. The mats are waterproof, and every system has ground fault protection: a GFCI power unit on standard mats and an ELCI on PRO mats, which cuts the power if it detects a fault. PRO systems over 40 sq ft on one circuit need a dedicated GFEP (30 mA) circuit installed by a licensed electrician.

Can I use them on a wood deck, asphalt, concrete or stone?
Yes. The mats are made for wood, asphalt, concrete and stone. They warm the surface enough to melt snow, nowhere near enough to damage wood.

I have stamped or decorative concrete, or composite decking. Can I use the mats?
Yes, with precautions. Please read our decorative concrete and composite decking guide before you lay the mats.

Can I put the mats on top of snow?
No. Lay the mats on the bare surface before the snow falls.

Can a mat be cut to size, or laid in an L or U shape?
Mats cannot be cut. You can lay separate mats in an L, U or any other shape and connect them, with watertight extenders for longer gaps between mats.

How warm do the mats get?
The mats run about 40°F above the surrounding air, enough to melt snow and ice as it lands.

Can I roll them up for storage?
Yes. At the end of the season, clean them, let them dry and roll them up. Store them somewhere dry until next winter.

What is the warranty?
The mats come with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty from the date of shipment. See the Warranty tab for details and our 30-day return policy.

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.

Amp Draw Per Mat

Amp draw is per mat, +/- 10%. Keep each power unit and each circuit at 13 amps or less. The order form above works this out for you and adds power units as needed.

Walkway and Stair Mats (120V, connect together)

Entrance Mats (120V, power unit built in, stand-alone)

Driveway Mats (stand-alone, power unit and 25 ft lead included)

PRO Walkway Mats (stand-alone, own plug and 11 ft cord)

PRO Stair Treads (11 in deep, connect together)

Example: four 30 x 60 in walkway mats draw 4 x 3.5 = 14.0 A, which is over 13 A, so they need two power units on two separate circuits (for example 3 mats on one and 1 on the other).

208V and 240V mats plug into a NEMA 6-15 outlet installed by an electrician. PRO systems over 40 sq ft on one circuit need a dedicated GFEP (30 mA) circuit installed by a licensed electrician. Always have an electrician confirm your circuits.

Warranty

We supply tough products for the construction industry and other job sites, so it is very unlikely you will have any issues. If you do, rest assured the heating mats come with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty from the date of shipment. We have the right to repair or replace any defective product. The warranty does not cover damage caused by improper use, installation or abuse.

Returns

ALCO has a 30-day return policy for heating mats from the date of shipping. The mats must be in the same new condition as when you received them. If they are not in new condition, a 25% restocking fee and the return shipping cost will be deducted from the refund.