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Western Septic and Excavation Service

Ice Melt FAQ’s page 

How does granular ice melt work?

Granular ice melters (salts) are spread on a sidewalk or roadway to melt ice. As they come in contact with the ice, the salt content of the product begins to melt the ice, and as the ice melts, the resulting water mixes with the salt and forms a brine. This brine has a lower freezing temperature than plain water. This brine then undercuts the ice on concrete or asphalt, releasing its bond with the pavement so that it can be removed mechanically. Thin layers of ice can often be melted completely using only an ice melt product.

Are there different types of salts used for melting ice?

Yes, there are several. The five most common types of salt used for melting ice are sodium chloride (rock salt), magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium chloride, and urea.

Are some salts more effective than others?

Each ice melter has a eutectic low temperature limit, or a theoretical low temperature limit to which, under perfect circumstances, it will still melt ice. However, conditions on a snowy morning are never ideal, and as ice melts the brine solution becomes more and more diluted, and therefore less effective. Therefore, each ice melt product also has a practical low temperature limit, or the temperature to which the product can be effective under real-life snow and ice situations. The chart below shows both the theoretical and practical low temperature limits for each of the five most commonly used salts.

 

Calcium chloride is the most effective. It creates heat when it comes in contact with water, and therefore speeds up the brining process. It also collects moisture from the air and is easily converted into a brine solution with very little ice on the ground. Magnesium chloride also pulls moisture from the air to form a brine, but does not produce heat. Sodium chloride, urea, and potassium chloride only form brine from the water produced in the melting process, so in cold temperatures these take a lot longer to work. Also, some of the highest quality commercial products remain in the surface of the concrete after the water has dried and will keep ice from forming a bond with the surface the next time snow falls.

What are the most common hardware store products made of?

Most common consumer products on the market today are based on sodium chloride, potassium chloride, or a blend of both. Some products also contain some magnesium chloride. Calcium chloride is usually considered commercial quality, and is harder to find. Calcium chloride products are much more costly per pound than the others, but have reduced application rates and lower working temperatures which offset the additional costs.

How do I know if I am applying salt at the proper rate?

Start with the application rate chart on the bag. If the product you are using does not have a rate chart on it, it is probably a very low quality product best left on the hardware store shelf. Remember, no ice melt product works unless it forms a brine, so if the sidewalk is dry and there are still granules on the surface, one of two things happened: either the product was of low quality and didn’t form a brine, or the product was over applied. Also, if there is a problem with track-in, try reducing the application rate to use as little as possible while still being effective.

Do I use granular or liquid ice melter?

For most practical applications, granular products are the most readily available and easy to use. In the case of calcium chloride, the heat created causes the granules to bore down through the ice to the surface of the concrete, where the brine can then undercut the ice as it forms, breaking the ice loose from the surface. Other granular products do not create heat and so stay on top of the ice, but these provide traction while they are working. Liquid, on the other hand, is usually used in large areas such as vehicular traffic areas. If applied on the surface of existing ice, especially with a small sprayer on sidewalks, liquid ice melters are not very effective. They work better when applied before the storm to prevent ice from bonding to the concrete. In the case of parking areas and streets, liquids can be used effectively for either anti-icing before the storm or deicing after the storm, because of the higher application rates possible with truck mounted sprayers and the agitation caused by the tires of vehicular traffic.

Do ice melters damage concrete?

None of the commonly used salts will damage concrete. The damage that concrete sustains from the use of ice melters is due to the pressure created by freezing and thawing water contained in the pores of the concrete. As we all know, water expands when it freezes. Concrete is porous, and in wet weather water soaks into the small voids in the concrete. When this water freezes, it creates extreme pressure on the concrete. That is why the surface spalls or pops off. All deicing products must be used responsibly, because improper use can dramatically increase the number of freeze-thaw cycles the concrete must endure. The best way to reduce concrete damage is to use a quality, air entrained concrete. Air entrained concrete has many, many microscopic pockets of air which provide channels of relief for the pressure of freezing water. Also, be familiar with your local weather patterns. If you live in a colder climate, consider using a salt product with a lower effective temperature limit. If you spread a product on your concrete that is barely effective, it will melt ice for a very short time before refreezing. In that short time, you have forced the concrete surface to endure an extra freeze-thaw cycle it would never have had otherwise. Use a product that will keep the ice from refreezing once it is thawed.

Do ice melters damage vegetation such as lawn, flowers, trees, and shrubs?

Ice melting products will not usually damage vegetation as long as they are applied correctly. However, many people have the tendency to over apply the products, thinking more will get the job done faster. While this may be true, it comes at a possible cost to your landscaping. With proper use, the snow that is removed from the sidewalks is piled along the sides of the concrete, and dilutes the salt content of the runoff to concentrations that are safe for vegetation.

How do I keep the ice melter from tracking into my house or business?

Ice melters track in, there is no way around it. If we walk through it after it is spread on the walk, the granules stick to the moisture on our shoes. If we walk through it after it is in a brine solution, the moisture on our shoes can contain quite a bit of salt content. The most effective way to reduce tracking is to use as long of floor mats as possible both inside the door and out. Also, use a high quality ice melting product that is can be applied at a lower application rate and still be effective. The less product applied, the less there is to track. Remember, once a year carpet cleaning is cheap insurance compared to using substandard winter safety practices. Some top quality name brand commercial products actually provide printed material describing how to clean carpets after a winter of ice melter use.