How To Warm Up Walkways And Prevent Ice During Cold Months With An Amazon Solution

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Hours of shoveling in the cold. Sore muscles. Slippery ice that forms the second you turn your back. Sound familiar? If yes, chances are you are also tired of shoveling snow every time it falls and are looking for another way to prevent ice and warm up your walkways during the cold months. Sure, salt can help. However, dumping too much salt can harm the environment and plants. Plus, salt is corrosive. Thankfully, though, not all ways of keeping your walkways snow- and ice-free are so harsh. There are better alternatives, too. Take, for instance, the HeatTrak heated snow-melting mat.

The mat can be purchased on Amazon, and it is designed to melt snow and ice using built-in electric heating elements. According to the manufacturer, the pad can remove about 2 inches of snow per hour, and it works in temperatures as low as minus 8 degrees Fahrenheit. The mat also has a textured surface. This helps provide better grip underfoot, even when wet, and helps prevent slips and falls. As for build, the mat is made from weather- and corrosion-resistant materials, and it can be left out all season long during the winter.

Buyers seem to like the HeatTrak heated snow-melting mat, too. Its reviews on Amazon consistently note that the mat works great, is durable, and is a good value for money. In fact, one buyer even said the pad perhaps works better than advertised. However, some buyers have shown some concerns, too. For instance, one buyer noted that they use a lot of power, whereas another mentioned that the pad does not work below freezing point.

The first thing you should probably consider when purchasing the HeatTrak heated snow-melting mats is the area of the walkway you want to warm up and keep clear of snow. The mats come in several sizes: 20-by-30-inch, 20-by-60-inch, 30-by-30-inch, and 30-by-60-inch; the list goes on. You can even connect multiple mats to cover longer walkways. So, make sure you order the appropriate sizes. Also, keep in mind that these mats need a HeatTrak Power Unit to work, and that is sold separately. Plus, that power unit only supports up to 13 amps of connected mats, so make sure to check the total load before connecting several HeatTrak pads together.

Nevertheless, once you have figured out the sizes you want to get and their power supply, make sure that you place them and turn them on before it snows. This is not to say you cannot use them after it snows. However, if there is a lot of snow, they will require a longer period of time before the walkways get cleared of the ice. So, having them on beforehand is a better option. If, however, you are turning them on with snow underneath, make sure that the water has somewhere to drain. Otherwise, it will freeze and form ice on the walkway again once you turn off the pads. Better yet? Clear the snow using some snow and ice removal tools before you turn the mats on.

Lastly, pay attention to how you place the HeatTrak heated snow-melting mats on your walkway. If not placed properly, they can become a tripping hazard, so make sure that if their corners start to curl upward, you secure them using the built-in corner grommets or any other suitable fasteners, following the manufacturer's instructions.