Ready or not, winter is here! That means it’s time to start thinking about how you plan on handling snow and ice. If you’re like most NJ residents, your primary means of dealing with the slippery stuff Mother Nature throws your way is by making use of rock salt.
But when, exactly, should you start stocking up on rock salt or other ice melting materials? Is there a right time to buy rock salt? This guide will lay down three simple rules for when you should purchase your ice melting product this winter.
Rule #1: Buy Before It Snows
One of the biggest mistakes that people make is to wait until snow starts to fall before heading to the store to buy rock salt. Once a winter storm has already arrived, you’re going to be forced to go out into dangerous and potentially icy conditions in order to pick up your de-icer.
At the same time, many other drivers will be out on the road trying to do the same thing that you are. The combination of inclement weather and high volumes of traffic is a recipe for car accidents. It’s just as bad to wait until the local weather announcer tells the community that a big storm is on the way.
Although you won’t have to drive in snow or ice, you will still have to navigate the streets and the stores when they are filled to capacity with frantic shoppers trying to buy rock salt before the storm arrives. The better, smarter and safer thing to do is to stock up on rock salt and other ice melting compounds before the winter season actually starts.
Having rock salt on hand before your hour of need (or before any surprise storms hit) will leave you with peace of mind and a sense of calm. It’s easy to store rock salt in sealed containers at temperatures above freezing, so there’s no reason not to buy your materials early and enjoy the ability to relax for the rest of the season.
Rule #2: Buy While It’s Fresh
Although you may think that rock salt has an unlimited lifespan, it’s actually much fresher and more effective at the beginning of the season. The longer the material sits on the shelf, the more time it has to clump together and settle, thus becoming less effective.
Some stores also fail to store their rock salt properly, allowing the storage areas to fall below freezing temperatures, or allowing the rock salt to come into contact with moisture. This can cause serious damage to the product and decrease its effectiveness and efficiency.
It’s wise to buy rock salt early in the winter in order to ensure that you get the best and freshest materials possible. From here, you’ll have control over the storage conditions of your materials so that they will continue to stay fresh throughout the winter and last through the entire season.
Rule #3: Buy While It’s In Stock
Many people tend to take rock salt and other ice melting compounds for granted. It took a lot of folks for surprise when in previous seasons, all of the local stores ran out of inventory.
NJ and its neighboring areas are prone to freezing conditions and high volumes of precipitation. At the same time, our cities are densely populated and the masses are all in need of rock salt in order to get through the winter.
Waiting until the last minute to buy rock salt could mean that you find the shelves empty when you arrive at the store. Don’t get caught off guard in your hour of need. Buying early will help you to ensure that you and your family will be protected this winter.
Other Tips for Buying Rock Salt
In addition to knowing when to buy rock salt, you also need to know how to choose the right materials and how much to buy. Traditional rock salt has been a staple for residents in freezing climates for centuries.
The simple sodium chloride compound is able to effectively lower the freezing temperature of the water so that snow and ice melt away. Although very reliable, there are also many great alternatives to rock salt.
Ice melting compounds that contain calcium chloride, magnesium chloride and calcium magnesium acetate are also extremely powerful, and some of these products are specifically designed for use around plants, pets and children. It’s a good idea to do your research and talk with an expert in order to choose the right product.
Calculating how much rock salt to buy is also an important part of the process. This will allow you to stock up on the materials you need without overspending. Be sure to spend some time talking to your supplier about how to go about calculating your rock salt needs, and look for a supplier that offers a discounted rate on bulk rock salt orders.
Buying Rock Salt in NJ
It’s very important to buy rock salt at the right time. In order to simplify the process of purchasing rock salt and other ice melting materials, Braen Supply is proud to offer a massive inventory of powerful products at the most affordable prices in the area.
The Braen Supply team is knowledgeable about the many materials it sells and can answer all of your questions about rock salt and ice melt, and will help you to choose the right product for your unique needs.
We can also help you to calculate how much to buy. Our rock salt can be picked up at our convenient locations or can be bulk delivered to areas throughout parts of NJ, NY, NYC and limited parts of PA and CT.
