freeze and thaw cycles of winter precipitation poses a serious risk of injury to homeowners, guests, and delivery services.
A proactive and long-term solution to winter weather management is the use of an outdoor heating system for your stairs. Heated stairs automatically melt snow and ice, reducing maintenance, improving safety, and establishing reliable outdoor accessibility. In this article, we’ll go over:
- What a heated stair system is
- The benefits of heated stairs
- How a heated stair system works
- Why you should choose Warmup
What is an outdoor stair heating system?
A heating system for outdoor stairs consists of electric heating cables that are installed beneath the stair finish. Two different kinds of cable systems can be used – either loose Snow Melting Cables, which can be laid out for irregularly-shaped or curved stairs, or Snow Melting Mats, which can be rolled out to fit rectangularly-shaped stairs. The cable systems work with most finishing materials, such as concrete, stone, and pavers. Once installed, the system works invisibly and effortlessly beneath the surface.
In order to monitor and automate the system’s heating, the cables are connected up to a controller. The controllers use sensors to detect temperature and moisture to determine when to turn on or off. Certain controllers, such as the SNOPRO, have additional system management features, such as WiFi connectivity and allowing your system to be controlled and monitored through an app.
Why choose an outdoor heated stair system?
In the midst of snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, outdoor stairs quickly become slippery and difficult to access. Traditional forms of snow removal, such as shoveling and salting, are helpful at the moment, but require the actions to be repeated to effectively maintain accessibility and safety.
Heated stairs, on the other hand, provide a safer solution where shoveling and applying salt or chemical deicers is not needed.
Improved Safety
About 97% of all fall injuries are weather-related cases caused by slips or trips on ice or snow. Since heated stair systems begin heating before snow or ice ever have the chance to accumulate, the risk of experiencing weather-related injuries decreases significantly. For homeowners, this helps secure safety and seamless home access, and for business owners, this helps reduce liability by ensuring the safety of patrons and delivery operations in inclement weather.
Reduced Maintenance
Repeated snow removal maintenance, such as frequent shoveling and applications of salt and chemical deicers, can be expensive (either for hired labor or purchasing products), is time consuming, is physically taxing, and can be risky to do during inclement weather. These methods of snow removal can also cause damage to the stairs’ surface, damaging them over time and reducing their longevity. Heated stairs result in reduced maintenance by practically eliminating the amount of snow and ice that needs to be removed while making it safer to do so if needed at all.
Greater convenience
Heated stairs make it possible to have snow removal automated. Sensors detect precipitation and weather patterns then alert the controller to turn on, ensuring that the stairs are heated before snow or ice accumulates. Plus, the system can be controlled and monitored through an app. There is no longer a need to wake up early, stay up late, or shovel and salt anytime in between.
Heated Stair Treads vs a Snow Melting System
When it comes to outdoor stair heating, there are a couple of common options: heated stair treads or an embedded snow melting system. While both are used to alleviate snow and ice accumulation, they differ in several ways.
Heated Stair Treads
Heated stair treads are placed directly upon the surface of an existing staircase. Essentially, they are surface level mats with built in heating elements that are meant to melt snow that lands on top.
Heated stair treads are a practical, temporary option when homeowners need something that will keep a pathway accessible at the moment. However, because they sit directly upon the stairs, they remain visible and only heat areas they directly cover, leaving their snow and ice melting capabilities lacking.
Embedded Snow Melting Systems
An embedded snow melting system is placed beneath the surface of the stairs. It is completely hidden from view and delivers consistently even heat across the entire staircase.
Since snow melting systems can be customized to fit the shape of a stairway, they allow more versatility in use, accounting for any curves, sizes, edges, and overhangs. Since the cables are spaced appropriately, the entire slab can be heated, ensuring that there are no heating gaps. Ultimately, embedded snow melting systems provide a reliable long-term solution to safe stairway use in the winter.
How Outdoor Heated Stairs Work
A heated outdoor stair system is made up of a combination of cables, sensors, and controllers that work seamlessly together to optimize energy consumption, proactively counter precipitation, and prevent snow and ice buildup.
Sensors monitor the weather
Sensors such as the AirSense and PRO-A are used to detect temperature and moisture levels. Once the set threshold is passed, the system will automatically activate. The sensors ensure that the system will turn on only when it is necessary, effectively improving efficiency and reducing unnecessary energy consumption.
Controllers manage the heating system
Controllers are the communication hub between sensors, the heating system, and the user. They allow the user to manage preferences related to activation and temperature/moisture level thresholds. The SNOPRO, for instance, is an all-in-one WiFi-compatible control unit that can be monitored through the WSM Snowmelting App. The ComBox controller can be used for larger-scale needs, as it can be used to power four separate outdoor heating zones. Both controllers are designed to output only the required amount of energy while only activating when needed.
Cables deliver the heat that melts the snow
Whether you’re using Snow Melting Cables or Snow Melting Mats, both types of cable layouts operate in the same way. Since they are embedded within the concrete, they heat the slab from the inside, allowing heat to rise and safely heat the surface. As heat moves through the material, it raises the temperature of the slab high enough to melt snow and ice while preventing anymore from freezing or building up. This helps prevent hazardous precipitation from accumulating, improves stairway accessibility, and reduces freeze-thaw cycle risks.
Heated Stair Installation
Snow Melting Mats and Cables must be fully embedded in asphalt, concrete, or in a sand bed under pavers. They can either be installed in new builds or over existing stairs and must be fully embedded with a minimum cable coverage of 2” (maximum coverage is 4”).
If you’re building or rebuilding outdoor stairs, it’s recommended to apply cables or mats with a 3-inch consistent spacing. For a 10-inch step, it will require a loose run of 3 cables, making sure one of the runs is on the outermost edge of the step to guarantee heating for any overhang or toe.
For new stairs, take note of railing installations. Rails are typically drilled after any masonry or concrete, meaning that it will be important to leave a minimum of 6 inches on the edges of the steps free of cables or mats.
Other helpful heated locations
Outdoor radiant heating has numerous helpful applications that extend beyond stairs. Snow Melting Systems provide an added layer of safety, longevity, and convenience to many outdoor spaces.
Sidewalks and walkways
Sidewalks and walkways are typically the primary path people take to enter and exist a home or building. Heated sidewalks and walkways secure easy access to locations to the most frequented paths, allowing for safe and seamless navigation to and from a home or business.
Driveways
Removing snow and ice from a driveway is often the most laborious and time-consuming snow management task. Heated driveways eliminate the need for shoveling, plowing, salting, or deicing. For homeowners and businessowners, this means saving on snow removal expenses while preventing damage from occurring on the pavement, extending the longevity of the surface.
Patios
Snow often makes patios, terraces, and outdoor living spaces unusable for many months at a time. Adding outdoor heating allows for greater use and safety in using these spaces year-round. This is particularly helpful for homeowners who enjoy gathering in their outdoor spaces and businesses such as hotels and restaurants that have shared outdoor spaces for guests.
Enjoy Safer, Snow-Free Stairs with Warmup
Snow and ice shouldn’t dictate access to your home or business. Heating your outdoor stairs provides a reliable and low-maintenance snow management solution that improves safety, convenience, and accessibility. With a lowered need to remove snow and a reduced risk to safety, you can spend more time enjoying peace of mind at home, no matter what weather the winter brings.
Warmup’s outdoor heated stair solutions successfully provide safer, snow-free stairs during the winter. Our Snow Melting Mats and Snow Melting Cables can be used to create custom layouts specific to your stairs. Easily pair them with intelligent sensors and automated controllers to achieve a convenient, weather-responsive solution that enhances accessibility and maintenance.
Interested in exploring outdoor heating solutions? Contact us or request a free quote to learn more about how a snow melting system can be specially designed to suit your project needs.
