Dr. Heater Heating Cables

Snow melt mat systems improve the safety and usability of driveways and sidewalks. They eliminate labor-intensive, time-consuming shoveling and salting while keeping walkways ice-free. You can find a few different types of snow melting options, including cables that install beneath the concrete or portable mats that lie on top of the ground.

Snow melt mat systems lie on top of the ground and, when turned on, melt the snow and ice to prevent it from piling up. Depending on the type of snow melt mat, the snowflakes melt as soon as they land on the mat. If snow has already begun to fall, it may require a few hours to melt. Lastly, you usually want to leave them on until that melting water evaporates so they don’t re-freeze. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Snow melt mats differ from heating cables. Also called heating trace cable or heat tape, these systems warm pipes as well as gutters and roofs. A self-regulating heat cable differs from constant wattage heat cable. Constant wattage cables use the same wattage per linear foot. This means that they use the same amount of power and consistent heat output along the length of the cable. This works well for warming driveways and sidewalks. Self-regulating heat cables adjust the amount of power output and heat depending on the temperature outside. Colder ambient conditions lead to a higher temperature. This works well for de-icing pipes and gutters.

Snow melting mats efficiently melt the snow and ice on your driveway. Dr. Infrared Heater constructs mats that can melt up to 1.5-2.5 inches per hour.

These convenient mats are also portable. Their plug-and-play design makes installation easy!

This might depend on the manufacturer, but many snow melt mat systems say you should not drive on them. Driving on them could damage the product.

Warming the floors means no more chilly floors in the morning before you have a chance to put your socks on. Radiant floor heating systems allow you to stay warm indoors during winter time. You can find either electric or hydronic radiant floor heat systems. Electric options use cables or mats that install beneath the floor, powered by electricity, while hydronic options use a system of pipes and hot water. Both systems rely on radiant heat, which means that they warm the floor and, as that warm air rises, it heats the people and objects in the room.

Depending on the type of mat used, they may melt around 2 inches of snow per hour. Dr. Heater offers snow melt mats that can melt between 1.5-2.5 inches per hour.

A heating cable, also known as heat trace cable or heat tape, is a type of electrical cable that produces heat. They often see use as pipe freeze protection, snow melting, protecting gutters, and more. You can find self-regulating or constant wattage heat cables.

Self-regulating heat cables produce more or less heat depending on the ambient temperature near that part of the cable. That means that if one part of the cable is colder than another, the heat output increases in that section. When the ambient temperature rises, the heat output decreases to save energy. Essentially, self-regulating heat cables adjust themselves, but it is still recommended to use them with a thermostat or other controller as they cannot shut themselves off completely.

Because they can automatically adjust their heat output, self-regulating heat cables work more efficiently than constant wattage.

Constant wattage cables, on the other hand, produce the same amount of heat throughout the length of the cable. These cables are not affected by the ambient temperature outside, meaning they provide a constant heat output. They typically require a thermostat or controller to operate.

Constant wattage cables are typically more cost-effective than self-regulating cables.

Truthfully, that depends on the manufacturer, but some self-regulating heat cables have been known to last up to ten years.

Dr. Heater offers self-regulating heat cables that come with a two-year limited component warranty.