What Are The Best Deicers?
As the winter season approaches, there will be heavy snowfall and accumulation of snow on the driveways, pathways, and parking lots. As a homeowner, if you want to keep your property clear from ice and snow, you must use deicers. In the market, there is a wide range of deicers available, and you need to pick the right one according to the climatic conditions and the amount of snow to be removed. If you need clarification about picking the right deicer for your place, read on to learn what are the best deicers available in the market and how to pick the best one.
How Does A Deicer Work?
All ice melters work similarly by decreasing the freezing point of snow or ice and turning the mixture into liquid. Deicers combined with salt form a brine solution that will help in breaking the bond between ice and surface. Once the bond is broken, it becomes easy to remove the ice by shoveling by hand or machine.
Types Of Deicers That Work Best In Ice Removal
Here is a list of some of the best deicers used for snow and ice removal in your locality.
1. Rock Salt
When it comes to ice or snow removal, rock salt is always the best option. Rock salt is the most effective against snow or ice, and at the same time, rock salt is readily available at a low cost. Some of the main drawbacks of rock salt are that it is not an effective deicer at low temperatures, damages concrete, and harms plants or pets.
2. Calcium Chloride
Calcium Chloride is also one of the best deicers this winter season. Unlike rock salt, calcium chloride works at low temperatures and is not harmful to the soil and vegetation. Calcium chloride attracts moisture and generates heat when it reacts with water. The heat produced is useful for melting ice and snow. The main disadvantage is that the surfaces become wet after applying calcium chloride, and the concrete is damaged.
3. Potassium Chloride
Potassium chloride is also the best deicer that is safe for pets but can damage plants. Potassium chloride can work at low temperatures, up to -12 °F but works very slowly and is one of the best options for concrete surfaces with wire mesh. Potassium chloride will not be the best option if you want to melt large quantities of ice or snow.
4. Magnesium Chloride
Magnesium chloride works at low temperatures and can be used in dense vegetation. The deicer does not harm pets or vegetation and is gentle on all surfaces. The main drawback of Magnesium Chloride is that it is a bit costly.
5. Calcium Magnesium Acetate
Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) combines dolomitic lime and acetic acid. CMA is considered the safest deicer as it is less corrosive, does not damage vegetation and ponds, and works at low temperatures down to 20°F or -7°C.
6. Sodium Acetate
Sodium Acetate operates quickly when compared to other deicers and is also non-corrosive. Sodium acetate disintegrates itself to produce heat and melt snow or ice quickly. Sodium acetate can operate at low temperatures and is approved by FAA to be used on airport runways. Along with calcium magnesium acetate, sodium acetate is also considered one of the best and safest deicers.
Deicer Tips
When using a deicer, following some of these tips are important
- Always use the recommended deicer, as excessive amounts can damage vegetation or harm your pets.
- Try to use a non-chloride deicer to minimize the damage to surfaces
- It is not a good idea to use fertilizers instead of deicers
- Using natural products like sand, wood chips, ash, sunflower seeds, and cat litter can be useful for applying traction to slippery surfaces
- Before even applying the deicer, removing as much snow or ice as possible is advisable.
- Hold off the application of deicer if the climate is looking to get warmer.
Conclusion
The choice of deicer decides the safety of your property, plants, and pets. In this winter season, it might be a tough decision to pick the right deicer that can effectively remove snow or ice that gets accumulated on driveways or pathways, or parking lots. You must talk to an expert salt supplier to help choose the best deicer for your area. Canada Salt is the most reliable and trusted supplier of liquid deicers throughout North America. Contact us for more details.