Archived News Release: November 30, 2022 - Winter means slippery driveways, walkways and sidewalks. This season also brings products and home mixtures that promise to keep surfaces safe and dry. Ultimately, each de-icing option has benefits, limitations and drawbacks.
*Salt can be the least expensive and most abundant material for ridding surfaces of ice, but its effectiveness drops as surfaces fall below 18 degrees Fahrenheit and overuse can pollute water supplies.
*There are all kinds of non-toxic materials available for purchase, which, if you have pets, can be a good choice. Some solutions, like products containing calcium chloride (CaCl2), can melt snow at lower temperatures, are less harmful to plants and animals, but eat into metal and concrete. In addition, CaCl2 binds to water and can't be separated, which has the potential to cause environmental impacts, such as harm to water quality.
*Potassium acetate products can block ice from forming at very low temperatures, are noncorrosive and biodegradable, however, these products lower oxygen levels in water and can harm fish and plants in our waterways.
*Some find various brines can help prevent ice from sticking to surfaces, while others use a bit of sugar in their salt to lower the temperature at which it's effective.
When in doubt, the best course of action is to use as little de-icer as possible and, if feasible, use physical means to remove ice or snow.
