Just like any important choice, those considering installing floor heating have many queries. One of these questions is: What is an electric heat mat and how does it melt snow? Essentially, an electric floor mat is a heating element that can be placed under your floor (tile, hardwood, linoleum, etc…). A good way of looking at it is an electric floor mat is that it is an electric blanket under the floor. As for how it melts snow, the answer requires two explanations: How an electric floor mat works, and why it melts snow efficiently. 1) How does an electric floor mat work? All electric heating elements work on the same principle; resistance. All conductive substances have a given level of electrical resistance. This electrical resistance creates friction as the electricity passes through the material. This is why the majority of electric wires are made of copper rather than aluminum, a less expensive and lighter material. Copper has less electrical resistance and allows the electricity to flow smoothly making it a more effective choice. Taking advantage of electrical resistance, mankind has learned to use different materials to capitalize on the friction caused when electrons flow through them. The by product of this friction is warmth. From your toaster to electric floor mats, this principle is at work in any electrical heating device. 2) How does an electric heat mat melt snow? When snow lands on a normal floor, a tiny amount of the snow is melted. This melting conducts warmth from the floor to the snow, resulting in a tiny amount of melted snow. The warmth transfer additionally results in the floor being chilled. Soon, an equilibrium is reached where the flooring does not have enough warmth to continue melting snow. Having an electric floor mat changes this equation. Having an active heat mat beneath the your floor, as warmth is conducted from flooring to snow and a small amount of snow is melted, but instead of reaching an equilibrium, warmth is then conducted from the electric floor mat to the flooring causing the process to continue until the snow is completely melted. The result of this process is a continual melting of snow instead of a brief period with a tiny amount of melting. At this point, you may be wondering how this affects your life. Have you ever seen the condition of your carpet after a person wanders over it with snow on his or her shoes? Snow collects dirt as we ambles around. As the snow gets dislodged, it later melts. Add melted snow (water) and dirt, and you get mud. An electric heat mat installed in entry areas can isolate this water to one easily cleaned part of the home, instead of letting it get tracked all over the home. For those who live in a region where snow falls, an electric floor mat in entry areas is a smart idea.