Contact Us After Hours

Loading contact options...

Sign In

Loading...
Snow Melt EcoMat Support

Snow Melt EcoMat Support

This support page provides publications, manuals, videos, support articles, and common support questions for the Snow Melt EcoMat product line.

Create a new Support Request

Support Questions

Showing 10 of 16 questions

Electric-resistance heating cables and systems have no polarity. This includes all current WarmlyYours heating elements.

14 people found this helpful Was this helpful? Yes No

Yes. The manufacturer's splice that connects the heating element to the cold lead should be entirely embedded in a noncombustible material (like asphalt, concrete, or mortar) within the outdoor surface that is being heated. 

13 people found this helpful Was this helpful? Yes No

GFEP is the National Electric Code (NEC) required protection for fixed outdoor deicing and snow-melting equipment, which may be accomplished by using circuit breakers equipped with ground-fault equipment protection (GFEP) of 30 mA. It is important to understand that this required equipment protection is NOT the same as a 5 mA GFCI used for personal protection.

10 people found this helpful Was this helpful? Yes No

To ensure optimal performance, snow melting heating elements should be installed so that they are consistently 2"-3" from the finished surface. For installations using pavers, the maximum thickness for pavers installed over heating elements is 2.5". 

9 people found this helpful Was this helpful? Yes No

If a cable is damaged during installation, recheck the system for continuity and confirm the integrity of the insulation with a megohmmeter, or "megger" tester, referring to the installation and testing instructions. If the cable fails any of these tests, take the following actions: clear a 3 foot square working area around the damaged section of cable, and record the cable part number from the UL tag and the location where you purchased the product. Call WarmlyYours with the above information. WarmlyYours will provide further assistance and supply a splice kit suitable for repairing the particular cable.

4 people found this helpful Was this helpful? Yes No

The most common spacing for snow melting systems is 3“ from wire to wire. However, we can design snow melting systems based on your local climate and weather expectations that might have different cable spacings to ensure the most efficient system possible. We also offer snow melting mats with 3" and 4" spacing.

3 people found this helpful Was this helpful? Yes No

Yes, as long as the paver isn't resting on exposed cable. The cable has to be embedded according to the installation cross section drawing.

Cover to an uncompacted depth of 1.5” (38mm), leveled to grade. A compactor that's applicable to the thickness and application can be used to compact the sand. The paver installer(s) must take care not to walk on the hot-cold factory splice and to avoid damaging the Heating Cables with shovels or rakes. At no time shall the compactor directly contact the wire.

3 people found this helpful Was this helpful? Yes No

Yes, WarmlyYours Snow Melting Heating System can be installed with quartzite stones. Start with 4” to 8” (102mm to 203mm) of crushed rock aggregate base. Rebar or wire mesh should be staked on top of this base and then heating cables or mats will be tied to this mesh with plastic zip ties. Heating system needs to be covered with 1” to 1.5” (51mm to 76mm) of finished mortar or sand. Stone Pavers will be installed on top but must NOT be any thicker than 2.5” (63.5mm). See cross-section in the documents section and in the manual.

3 people found this helpful Was this helpful? Yes No

Yes, the leads are not direct burial rated. The leads must be protected in compliance with local electrical codes.

3 people found this helpful Was this helpful? Yes No

No, a sensor is not required with the snow melt system. However, certain automatic controllers require a temperature/moisture sensor to sense atmospheric conditions and may also require an in-slab, high temperature limit sensor to be installed (notably, asphalt installations).

1 person found this helpful Was this helpful? Yes No

Yes. The NEC requires 2“ minimum of non-combustible material below, and 1.5“ minimum of non-combustible material above the heating cable.

The drawback is whether or not the pervious concrete will fail under load, thereby damaging the heating cable and voiding warranty. The cable should be attached to rebar in this case to insure the strongest support.

1 person found this helpful Was this helpful? Yes No

Reflective insulation is not effective with conductive heating, which is how embedded floor heating and snow-melting systems transfer heat. To be effective, the reflective insulation surface needs to face an air space (air gap), which allows the reflected heat to be redirected.

An effective solution considers the insulating material's R-Value. This is the rating of a material's insulating properties. The "R" stands for "resistance" and refers to the material's resistance to heat flow, or temperature conduction.

1 person found this helpful Was this helpful? Yes No

A 2 pole single-phase 240V circuit works by continuously monitoring the current flowing through both hot wires of the circuit. If it detects even a slight imbalance between the current on each hot wire (indicating a ground fault), it will quickly trip, cutting off power to the circuit. Essentially, it compares each leg of the 240V circuit and trips if they are not precisely equal.

1 person found this helpful Was this helpful? Yes No

Yes, the sensor wires may be trimmed.  Most local code requirements call for 6“-7“ of extra wire from the gang box.

Was this helpful? Yes No

To calculate the system's approximate operating costs, multiply the total kilowatts of the system by your local electricity rate. Let's use the example of a 350 sq. ft. concrete patio (residential application), with 240 VAC, at the U.S. national average rate of $0.17 per kWh.

Total Watts: multiply area in sq. ft. × 50 Watts
350 × 50 = 17,500 Total Watts

Kilowatts: (the unit by which we purchase electricity) divide Total Watts by 1,000
17,500 Watts ÷ 1,000 = 17.5 kW

Cost per Hour: multiply kW by your local kWh rate
17.5 kW × $0.17/kWh = $2.98 per hour of operation

Hours of Operation: using a typical 6-hour snowfall as an example
$2.98 × 6 hours = $17.85 for that storm

All of this will vary based on your local electricity rate and "after-run time." After-run time is the period the system remains on after snow stops falling to fully dry the slab and prevent refreezing — typically 1–3 additional hours. Rates vary widely by state; check your utility bill for your actual kWh rate. Use our Operating Cost Calculator to get a personalized estimate based on your zip code.

Was this helpful? Yes No

For driveways with a grade (slope) of 5% or more, WarmlyYours recommends full-coverage snow melting rather than tire-track heating. Here's why grade matters:

  • 0–4% grade (nearly flat): Tire-track heating is a cost-effective option. The unheated areas between tracks are a minor inconvenience.
  • 5–8% grade (moderate slope): Full coverage is strongly recommended. Unheated areas between tire tracks become primary slip hazards for pedestrians stepping out of vehicles.
  • 8%+ grade (steep): Full coverage is essential. Gravity significantly increases the risk of vehicle sliding and pedestrian falls on any unheated surface.

On a slope, a vehicle that makes it up a heated tire track can still slide sideways if the surrounding surface is icy. Full coverage eliminates the entire hazard — not just the vehicle path. The additional material cost is approximately 35% more than tire-track heating, but it is the only option that truly eliminates the risk on a steep grade.

Was this helpful? Yes No

Documents

Installation

Project Planners

Technical Specifications

Technical Support

Warranties

Register Warranty

Sell Sheets

Speak to a radiant heating expert

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Create a Support Request