Using Ice Melt Vs Traditional Snow Removal Methods

As winter approaches, snow removal are likely to be on the top of your mind. Keeping ourselves and our families safe is a challenge in winter. Getting rid of snow and ice on the driveway, parking lot, and sidewalk is one of the biggest winter woes. If we go thirty years back, snow-packed white roads were somewhat expected and tolerated during winter months. But gradually, people started getting concerned about the potential slip and fall accidents and damaging consequences of leaving the snow in open areas. Hence, snow removal techniques gained popularity. The most popular choice in those times was shoveling. Let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages of using ice melt or traditional snow removal methods, then decide on the best way to do the job.

Salt-Free Snow And Ice Melt

1. Shoveling

You can get rid of snow from the driveway and pavement with a good old-fashioned snow shovel. That’s one natural way of solving this problem without hurting plants and pets. The only drawback with this method is it’s labor-intensive and can be hard on your back. 

2. Sand

Sand is another common method used by municipalities to clear the snow, but it’s hard on pet’s paws. Also, it’s a messy solution.

3. Melt The Ice With Ashes

Ashes may sound crude, but you can use them as a natural ice melt solution as well as for adding traction. But just like sand, it is also a messy solution.

4. Sugar Beet Juice

Sugar beet juice works by lowering the freezing point of the water. It can be used to deice the driveways, sidewalks, and roads. A big downside of using this natural ice melter is that it turns the pathway into a red-brown mess.

5. Rock Salt To Melt Ice

Rock salt is basically sodium chloride. The rock salt lowers the freezing point of the water from 32 degrees to 25 degrees, thereby slowing down the formation of ice. The porous concrete on your driveway absorbs the salty mixture and when the temperature falls below 25 degrees, the water re-freezes and expands, putting additional hydraulic pressure on the concrete and thereby damaging the concrete.

Ice Melt

According to a study, 60% of American households use rock salt or salt-based ice melt products, but only 38% of them are aware of its hazards. Almost all ice melt in the market contain chloride in one or the other form like- sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, etc. Mostly, they are a blend of sodium chloride and other minerals like magnesium and calcium. They can corrode your concrete, metal furniture, or vehicles and can even harm your pets and plants.

The Safest Way To Clear Snow

Urea-based ice melt is considered a safer option and the best pet-friendly ice melt. The crystalline amide-based solution is one of the only ice melt that guarantees its safety around children and pets. The modified crystalline amide core is infused with a special glycol admixture and traction agent. On contact with snow, the outer layer attacks immediately while the crystal core penetrates slowly to eliminate all snow and ice. They can melt at temperatures as low as -2 degrees.

Other Products

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