Common Questions

What can I use industrial heating mats for?
They keep things warm in cold weather. Lay a mat under, against or around drums, totes, tanks, pipes, equipment or materials stored outside, or lay mats flat on floors, platforms and work surfaces where people work in the cold.

How warm do the mats get?
The mat surface runs about 40°F above the surrounding air. They are made to keep items from freezing, not to heat things to high temperatures.

Can I wrap a mat around a drum or a pipe?
The mats are flexible, so they can sit under, against or around an item. Never cover the mats with blankets, tarps or insulation, as that will damage the heating element. Mats cannot be cut to size, so pick the size closest to the area you need to heat.

What is the difference between standard and heavy-duty PRO mats?
Both heat the same way. Standard mats are flexible rubber, plug into a standard 120V outlet and cost less. Heavy-duty PRO mats are industrial grade and flame retardant, built for high usage and rough handling, and come in 120V, 208V or 240V.

What power do I need?
Standard mats plug into a standard 120V outlet through a GFCI power unit. PRO mats are made in 120V, 208V and 240V. 208V and 240V mats plug into a NEMA 6-15 outlet installed by an electrician. Keep each power unit and each circuit at 13 amps or less. The Amps tab lists the draw of every mat.

Can the mats connect together?
Standard mats connect to each other behind one power unit, and PRO heavy-duty strips connect to strips of the same voltage, up to 13 amps per power unit. Mats with a built-in power unit, large-format mats and PRO heavy-duty mats each plug into their own outlet. The order form above works this out and adds the power units and cables for you.

How far can the mats be from the outlet?
The power unit cord is 6 ft (PRO heavy-duty 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.

Can I use the mats indoors?
The mats are made for cool, cold environments. Do not use them in a heated space.

Can I leave them out all winter?
Yes. The mats are waterproof and made to stay out all winter. Store them clean and dry when the season is over.

Can I drive on the mats?
Large-format mats and PRO heavy-duty mats are strong enough to drive on. Standard mats are for foot traffic only.

What does it cost to run them?
Multiply the amps by the voltage to get the watts. For example, a 30 x 60 in standard mat draws 3.5 A at 120V, about 420 watts. At 15 cents per kWh that is about 6 cents an hour.

Are they safe?
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. Always have an electrician confirm your circuits.

Can the mats switch on by themselves?
Yes. On 120V standard mats you can add an inline thermostat cable (on below 35°F, off above 50°F) or a wireless remote, one for each power unit or stand-alone mat.

How soon will they ship, and what does shipping cost?
The mats ship in about 5 to 7 business days. Standard mat orders over $374 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.

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.

Standard Mats (120V, connect together)

Mats With Built-In Power Unit (120V, stand-alone)

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

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

PRO Heavy-Duty Strips (11 in wide, connect together)

Example: four standard 30 x 60 in 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.