Negative Impact Of Salt On Your Property

As the winter season comes to a close, you may be wondering how to get rid of the ice on your property. After all, it’s not only unsightly; it can also pose a hazard for pedestrians and vehicles alike. Fortunately, there are several ways to get rid of snow and ice from your property quickly and easily. One of these methods is salt. But is it safe to use rock salt for snow? The answer is NO. 

Here are some reasons to avoid using rock salt for snow.

1. Makes It Easier For Water To Penetrate

When it comes to concrete, mainly freshly mixed concrete, any substance that contains chlorides is highly hazardous to concrete. As these chemicals have a trace amount of acid, they reduce the strength of the paste that binds the concrete together by expanding the pores and making it easier for water to penetrate. As a result, the freeze-thaw cycle will get more severe once extra water enters the system. 

2. Holds Water, Damages Concrete

Salt is a particular hygroscopic substance that can hold onto water. However, when the driveway salt penetrates the pore structure, it can repeatedly draw up to 10 percent more water, freeze, and thaw. As a result, the concrete sustains damage that is beyond repair. 

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3. Corrodes Reinforced Steel

Chlorides play an essential part in the corrosion of reinforcing steel because they can swiftly break through the iron oxide layer that acts as a protective barrier and then initiate the process that causes steel to rust. Hence, avoiding chlorides from melting ice on your concrete is advisable. Instead, a safe and natural ice melt with fast action should be used. It will keep your concrete safe and will melt ice immediately.

4. Damages Vehicles On Your Driveway

The paint on the car corrodes from the driveway ice melt salt, which causes rust to develop beneath the surface, bubble up, and become brittle and flaky. Moreover, it does not provide adequate traction for people and vehicles.

The chloride ice melt can damage your driveway in just one season. Concrete shouldn’t be exposed to toxic chemicals. 

Winter Ice Removal with Salt

When winter comes in full force, and your carport resembles a skating surface, what do you normally think about first? For most people, they think about sodium chloride ice melter that’s commonly known as “rock salt”. It has been the saviour, when it comes to winter with salt for the removal of ice for years.It’s been the go-to for winter ice removal with salt for decades. It is inexpensive, readily accessible and achieves the required effect – at least to a temperature of about -10 degrees centigrade. Sprinkle it on your terrace, and you’ll see how quickly it starts to defrost that thick layer of ice covering the ground. However, even though sodium chloride might look like the saviour of mankind in a packed bag, this brave salt also has a nasty flaw that cannot be easily forgotten.

What about calcium chloride? This salt takes it up a notch. Comfortably functioning in temperatures as low as – 25 degrees Celsius. It tends to be the favorite when the cold really becomes unbearable considering the climate. It pulls water from the atmosphere and accelerates the process of melting, which is appealing, no? So, what is the problem, you ask? It eats away all the concrete, all metal, and nearly everything that comes in contact with this particular product. Then, there is magnesium chloride which claims to be the ‘safer’ option. It’s non corrosive like calcium chloride but operational to about – 15 degrees Celsius, but don’t be taken in. It’s still a salt, and it still has a lot of negative environmental and structural effects. These salts can make your driveway shower safe but how long is that going to last and at what price?

Environmental Impact of Salt for Ice Melt

Let’s get real about the environmental impact of using salts like sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride for ice removal. You don’t give it a second thought and throw a little salt on your driveway as to melt the ice but the little ‘‘crystals’’ that you are displacing do not just vanish along with the snow. They wash into our storm drains, into rivers, into lakes, and over the years build up, and do a total devastation on the ecosystems.

Excessive salt in the water bodies can disrupt aquatic life, cause damage to fishes, and affect the growth of plants. It’s like pouring in a toxic chemical into our water bodies slowly.

But it’s not only the water that gets affected. Salts also tend to go underground, and they help spoil the area underneath the ground, which makes plant life go bad, and even prevent your gardens from thriving properly. Think about that next time you’re sprinkling salt on your sidewalk—it’s not just melting ice, it’s slowly poisoning the ground beneath your feet. And what about infrastructure? The aggressive character of these salts is both beneficial and frightening, especially calcium chloride, does not stop on your driveway. It eats up the concrete, eating up metals, and results in repairs of many road structures. The environmental impact is massive, and it’s something we can’t afford to ignore.

Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Salt

So, what’s the answer? We need something that melts ice without melting our environment in the process. Enter eco-friendly alternatives to traditional salts. One standout is Safe Paw, which uses a modified carbonyldiamide formula designed to be safe for pets, plants, and the planet. Unlike the harsh chlorides, Safe Paw doesn’t corrode concrete or harm delicate ecosystems. It’s a non-toxic solution that keeps your surfaces safe down to -2°F without all the nasty side effects of traditional salts.

Sand and gravel are other alternatives. These do not melt ice but ensure that traction is given to avoid slipping or falling without risking putting any chemicals into the environment. There are even newer technologies such as heated mats that one puts in driveways and pavements to stop ice from forming in the first place. Though these may be more expensive to get at the beginning, they are a once off cost that ensures your walkways are on a clear path without the endless damage to the environment.

Switching to eco-friendly alternatives might feel like a small step, but it’s a powerful move toward a cleaner, safer winter season. Let’s leave sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride in the past and embrace smarter, greener ways to keep our homes and the environment protected. It’s time to rethink how we tackle winter’s icy grip and choose solutions that work with nature, not against it.

If you are guessing how to melt ice on concrete without salt, you don’t need to worry anymore. The answer lies in Safe Paw. When a significant amount of snow accumulates over time, the safest action is to apply a natural and safe ice melt solution that can also avoid slipping. 

Safe Paw, a natural salt-free ice melt, offers resistance to slip and fall. As a result, it can be safely used even in thick ice and at the lowest temperature.

Safe Paw works in two steps: first, it breaks the ice and then melts it without allowing it to freeze again. This combination is good for melting through even the most challenging situations, including ice formations and packed snow. It works better than the best snow blowers.

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Conclusion

Salt is a corrosive chemical that can cause damage to plants and animals if it gets into the soil or water supply. When salt is used on your driveway or sidewalk, it dissolves in rainwater and drains into nearby streams; this can harm aquatic life by causing high levels of salt concentration in their bodies.

Gaia Enterprises Inc. delivers 100% pet-safe and environmentally friendly winter products. Safe Paw, our flagship product, is the #1 selling pet-safe ice melt that does not harm pets, safe if ingested, and safe on all types of concrete.

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