Protecting a McDonald’s Drive-Thru with Radiant Snow Melting

The Challenge

A McDonald’s in Flagstaff, AZ was looking for a way to improve its operational efficiency at its drive-through window. While Arizona is very hot and dry in the late spring and throughout the summer months, the late fall and winter season weather can be a challenge for those on the road. This McDonald’s found that their drive-through lane became very icy during winter weather, causing it to become slippery and hazardous for both customers and staff. They had previously been using traditional snow removal methods - such as shoveling, plowing, and salting – to clear their drive-thru lane and parking lot.

However, these snow removal methods were both time-consuming and expensive, and this McDonald’s was more interested in finding a long-term, cost-effective, and operationally-efficient solution. Additionally, they wanted something that wouldn’t cause damage to the pavement, as shoveling and plowing sometimes do. This meant looking for something that would successfully protect the safety of the surrounding area as well as the integrity of the parking lot and drive-through pavement.

The Solution

After looking into various snow melt alternatives, this McDonald’s decided that the Warmup Snow Melting Mats would be a well-suited choice to protect their drivable spaces. The Snow Melting Mats can be used with coverings such as pavers and related masonry, concrete pours, and asphalt with a base consisting of crushed gravel or sand. They are great to use when creating or redoing driveways and paved walkways, since they are easy to roll-out during installation due to their pre-sized rectangular layout. In addition, the cables within the mat are pre-spaced to deliver 50W/sqft, ensuring effective melting during the winter months. The mats are designed to pre-heat the intended area to prevent any snow or ice from building up on a given pathway.

The CommBox-600 Controller and AirSense Sensor are also capable of detecting temperature and moisture levels, which determines when the mats automatically turn on. Using built-in relay contactors and GFEP protection, the CommBox-600 panel can switch up to four times the supplied voltage. This means it can be used to create up to four zones and power them one at a time, thereby reducing the amount of amperage needed to run the system. This ensures that the right amount of energy and heat output is used at the right time and reduces the risk of accidents occurring due to dangerous winter weather conditions.

The Result

The Flagstaff McDonald’s found that the efficiency and safety of their drive-through improved during the winter seasons once the Warmup Snow Melting Mats were installed. As this was a long-term solution to snow melt management, they no longer had to pursue traditional snow removal methods, leading to a more cost-effective and energy-efficient wintertime operation. Now, their drive-through remains consistently clear of snow and ice, allowing customers to smoothly enter and exit without concern for their safety or the wellbeing of their vehicle.

The attached sensor provides that the mats produce heat output based on the moisture and temperature detected, ensuring that neither heat nor energy are lost at any point and resulting in savings on operating costs. The entire Snow Melting Mat System automatically detects and melts snow and ice, providing a hassle-free snow melt operation for their establishment. McDonald’s was very happy with the results and is glad to have made an investment that successfully maintains their location and prioritizes their customers’ safety regardless of what the weather may be like.