The Warmquest Blog

Portable Snow Melting Mats: A Versatile Solution for Unique Projects

Snow Melting
Nov 30, 2018 10:56 am
Written by Kyle Stubbs

Sometimes embedding heating elements into a surface just isn’t an option. The construction of a deck or stairs may limit the use of permanent embedded solutions. Or a temporary need may not require an invasive solution. For these cases, we recommend our RadiantTrak heated walkway and stair mats.

RadiantTrak products are available in a number of size configurations and are designed for installation on stairs or walkways. They are commonly used on wood or composite decks, where open air layouts do not allow for any embedded cables. Platforms and ramps can also be heated with these roll out mats to keep access areas clear during the winter.

Each mat is designed to plug into a 120V or 240V outlet for activation. Automating RadiantTrak products can be accomplished with a simple plug in temperature sensor. The mats can be anchored to the surface via grommets in each corner.

These portable mats offer home and business owners a flexible option for controlling snow and ice in areas that may not be suitable for a traditional heating cable installation. To see an example of these mats installed and in action, visit our sample projects section.

For more information on RadiantTrak or our other snow melting solutions, contact our specialists at 877-877-4724.

Roof Deicing: Where to Install Heat

Roof Deicing
Oct 31, 2018 10:06 am
Written by Kyle Stubbs

Ice dams, icicles, snow load, and other winter weather issues can wreak havoc on your roof. Fortunately a variety of roof deicing solutions exist to reduce or eliminate snow and ice buildup.

In order to effectively control and prevent ice dams and other issues, roof deicing systems must be installed in the proper locations. We have spoken at length about the differences in over and under roof heating systems elsewhere, in this article we will be looking at where to place heat in order to combat ice dams and winter woes.

Eaves
Most ice dams and icicle issues occur along the eaves of a roof. As heat loss from the building melts snow on the roof, the runoff refreezes along the cold eave. When installing both our under roof ZMesh and Invizimelt systems as well as our GutterMelt heat tracing cables, we recommend heating along the eave, and ensuring the heat is brought all the way up past the interior wall of the building. This ensures that melting snow and ice will be able to run off the roof without refreezing. It is also important to heat all the way to the edge of the eave. With under roof systems this is fairly simple, but when planning GutterMelt installations it is important to allow the cable to run right to and slightly past the edge of the roof.

Valleys
Valleys often collect snow and ice and can become trouble spots. Heating a foot or two on either side of a valley can ensure proper drainage and prevent buildup. This is especially critical in areas that don’t receive much direct sunlight.

Gutters, Downspouts and Drains
It doesn’t do any good to heat your roof only to have the runoff refreeze in the gutters and downspouts. We recommend running GutterMelt in gutters and downspouts to facilitate drainage. The same is true of roof drains, scuppers, and other drainage features.

Other Trouble Spots
Each roof comes with its own unique challenges. Many layouts and features can lead to ice damming and buildup down the road. Place to consider heating include crickets, areas around dormers and windows,or anywhere a flat roof meets a vertical wall.

Pedestal Paver Heating Solutions

Company News
Sep 27, 2018 2:53 pm
Written by Kyle Stubbs

Pedestal pavers are growing in popularity. These systems allow for drainage in hardscape areas on rooftops and are growing in use for deck, patio, and other paving applications across the country.Pedestal Paver Snow Melting

In areas with harsh winters and heavy snowfall keeping ice and snow off of pedestal pavers presents a challenge. Shovels and chemicals can damage pavers and the raised pedestal structure makes it impossible to heat the pavers using traditional methods. This is where our Pedestal Paver Snow Melting System comes into play. With a unique, patented pan system that installs seamlessly between the pedestals and the pavers, we are able to utilize our Hott-Wire mineral insulated cable to melt snow and ice, while maintaining the drainage benefits offered by pedestal paver systems.

Hott-Wire is the heating element of choice for projects large and small nationwide, having been used in government, commercial, industrial, and residential projects. Hott-Wire operates on 208/240/277 or 480 volt power, making it a versatile solution for a variety of projects. Cables are custom made to fit the needs of each project.

Heated Pedestal PaversPedestal Paver Snow Melting pans are also customized for each project. Our design team can help you evaluate the needs of your project and design a complete snow melting solution including Pedestal Paver Snow Melting pans, Hott-Wire cable, relay panels, and your choice from a variety of activation options. Warmquest continues to support each project after an order is placed, providing installation and technical support to stakeholders.

Heated Driveway Options: Solution Focused Design

Snow Melting
Aug 23, 2018 4:17 pm
Written by Kyle Stubbs

Considering adding a snow melting system to your home or business? At Warmquest we specialize in assisting customers with tailor-made heated driveway solutions. Part of this is thinking outside of the box. Heated driveways come in all shapes and sizes. What works for one home or business may not work for another. Warmquest can help you look at your goals and usage, and design a heating system perfect for your project.

When installing a snow melting system the first thing to remember is you do not have to heat the whole area. Many times heating the entire area will be the goal and this is fine, but often entire areas go unused during the winter. Many project owners make the choice to add snow melting with a specific goal in mind. This could be providing access up and down a steep incline, ensuring safe access to foot traffic at a home or business, or clearing parking areas for visitors. Warmquest can help stakeholders identify the goals of a project and design a system to meet them most effectively and efficiently.

A pair of heated tire tracks was sufficient to provide access to this home up the steep driveway.

 

This homeowner needed traction up a steep slope and access to multiple car port stalls.

 

For this home, pedestrian access to the front door was the chief concern.

 

Similarly, this homeowner wanted year round access to their hot tub. Note that the entire sidewalk and patio are not heated. Just the path.

 

This homeowner heated only the more commonly used section of their driveway. They paired this with a heated front walk and steps to provide themselves and their guests with easy access to the home.

 

Businesses too can benefit from a carefully planned snow melting system. Many offices heat critical access areas. Commercial buildings can benefit from heated loading docks, ADA ramps and other areas. This project wanted to provide employees access to the building from their vehicles. Paths were heated between parking stalls leading to a heated path to the entrance.

 

The important thing to remember with any snow melting system is that it can be as unique as your home or business. Each project has different goals and requirements and Warmquest specializes in these tailor made solutions. One size fits all may sound convenient, but customized solutions will be more effective and efficient in the long run.

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