Finding Help in Melting Snow

If you live in a part of the country that has its fair share of winter, you probably are interested in finding the best products for melting ice and snow. Particularly in the Midwest, ice melt St Louis is important for driveways, sidewalks and public places such as parking garages and entryways. Depending on the situation in which you plan to use deicers, knowing what is available will help you make better choices.

Narrowing Your Choices

There are literally hundreds of brands and products that will melt ice and snow. However, the chemical ingredients in each product is the only useful thing to know when making your selection. Very few are actually different from each other. In fact, performance, chemistry mix and costs are what may differentiate one from the other.

Keep this in mind. Otherwise, the myriad of options can make narrowing your choices more confusing that it needs to be. To make things a little easier, understand the difference product ingredients make and how chemicals work makes your choice easier.

Understanding the Basics about Deicers

One basic factor to consider starts with the type of surface you need to clear. Additionally, knowing where the runoff from melted ice and snow will end up is useful on making the right decision. For example, chloride based products can present two hazards on a wooden deck.

First, chloride can attack the system that holds your deck together. As it becomes diluted, it will saturate the deck. Second, the mixture could attract moisture into capillary pores causing it to refreeze as black ice. You do not want either of these scenarios that can lead to serious injuries.

The Big Three Deicers

There are three commonly used deicers that fill nearly 100% of the market: sodium chloride, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride. 

Sodium chloride is the number one choice. Also referred to as rock salt, the abundance of this chemical in the earth makes it readily available and the least expensive option.  Magnesium chloride is very effective and considered a high performing deicer. Like sodium chloride, it is also a natural occurrence in the ground.  Calcium chloride is more expensive than the other two and is widely used.

Choosing the Right One

Making the right choice from all the deicer products on the market starts with getting as much information as possible. Spend some time talking to the experts. Ask specific questions about the products so you can separate different choices and select the one that fits your needs.