Are you ready for another tough winter? In addition to unpacking all of your warmer clothes and weatherstripping your windows, it’s important to stock up on ice melt.
Although most people know that rock salt can lower the freezing temperature of water and effectively remove ice and snow, many don’t realize that they have other options. In reality, there are plenty of different types of deicers, all designed to meet very specific needs.
This post will explore the various demands that you might have for an ice melting product and the rock salt alternatives that will cater to your every whim.
Why Choose Rock Salt Alternatives?
Everyone knows that rock salt is extremely efficient and effective when it comes to lowering the freezing point of water. When dissolved, the brine solution generated helps to melt existing ice that may have formed on streets, driveways, sidewalks and other surfaces while also preventing future ice from forming.
Rock salt isn’t the only material that is capable of achieving this goal, though. There are many premium rock salt alternatives on the market. What makes them different, though, and why should you pay extra for them?
Keep in mind that rock salt covers your most basic of needs. A premium deicer, on the other hand, can perform the same work faster, better and in some situations even safer than rock salt. To many customers, this is what makes other materials worth the cost difference.
Types of Rock Salt Alternatives By Need
We could list out all of the names of the various rock salt alternatives that we have in stock, but that wouldn’t mean much to you without some context. Instead, this index of common customer concerns and needs will help you to pinpoint the ice melting material that you should select for your property.
Sheer Melting Power
If getting rid of ice in a range of temperatures as quickly as possible is your priority, you’re in luck. There are many rock salt alternatives that work effectively in temperatures much lower than traditional rock salt.
The best materials will typically include calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), magnesium chloride or calcium chloride. Because there are many options, you may find it best to consult with a professional before making a decision about which to buy.
Safe for Children
For homeowners, schools, daycares and parks departments, there is no priority greater than protecting our precious little ones. This means finding and utilizing rock salt alternatives that have low toxicity levels and won’t cause harm to the touch or serious illness if ingested.
Safer Than Salt is an ice melt that is formulated to be safe for use around children. It is also tinted pink. Not only is this helpful in determining how much material you’ve applied, but it can also help you to keep an eye on whether or not your children are playing in areas with a high volume of deicer.
Safe for Pets
When some rock salt and other ice melting products find their way onto the paws and pads of your pet’s feet, they can cause severe irritation and even chemical burning. Equally harmful is the possibility that the stuff might be mistakenly eaten by your furry friends.
This is where Safer Than Salt Breeder’s Prefer comes in. This type of deicer is created especially for animal lovers who want to go the extra mile to ensure that the canine and feline members of their families are just as safe as the rest.
Safe for the Elderly
Hospital, nursing and care center campuses have to consider the safety of their patients and residents when applying rock salt alternatives during the winter months. While pelletized deicers can certainly reduce the risk of slipping and falling on ice, the rounded texture of the pellets could actually create a hazard in and of themselves.
DowFlake Xtra Calcium Chloride is an excellent choice here. The flakes are just as fast and effective as other materials but are a lot easier to walk across before they are dissolved.
Safe for the Environment
There are many people who are concerned about the corrosive nature of rock salt and other ice melting alternatives. In addition to wreaking havoc on concrete and steel, this can cause harm to vegetation and even the groundwater supply. Fortunately there is a solution for green property owners.
Environmelt is a highly effective deicer that is also significantly less harmful to grass, trees and other plant life than competing products. In fact, you will be pleased to note that the compound is really only about as corrosive as tap water.
Non-Residue Forming
After walking across a parking lot or sidewalk that has been covered with ice melt, pedestrians have a tendency to track the stuff indoors. Even if you utilize large rugs, you may still end up with an unsightly white residue ground into your carpeting that is very difficult, if not impossible, to clean up.
For those concerned with this, calcium chloride crystals and magnesium chloride pellets are typically the best for the job – so long as they are applied in the correct quantities. The compounds are so quickly absorbed that they don’t leave a trace behind.
Traction Only
For some people, the idea of actually melting snow and ice isn’t as important as creating traction for foot and vehicular traffic. You might not be interested in utilizing chemical compounds on your property, for instance, but still want to be able to pull into your driveway and make it to your front door safely.
In this case, you might benefit from utilizing a non-icemelting material like sand or stone grits. Both of these alternatives to rock salt are readily available in landscaping supply stores and are a very affordable and effective means for improving the slip-resistance of the various surfaces throughout your property.
When to Buy Rock Salt Alternatives
In case you haven’t already heard, El Nino is projected to extend through spring of 2016. This means that we could experience some rather unpredictable weather patterns this winter, resulting in high volumes of precipitation, freeze-and-thaw cycles, etc. To avoid facing overinflated prices and empty shelves associated with an ice melt shortage, it’s wise to get your order in now and stock up before the cold really hits.
Not only will this ensure that you have what you need when the snow begins to fall, but you’ll also be able to avoid driving out in nasty weather in order to get what you need. Just take care to store your ice melt alternatives in a sealed container that cannot be penetrated by moisture. Deicer also keeps best in temperatures above freezing.
Where to Buy Rock Salt Alternatives in NJ
Braen Supply is the top supplier of rock salt and rock salt alternatives throughout NJ and its surrounding areas. Even if you’re not sure which deicer is best for your needs, our expert staff has the knowledge and experience required to help you make the right decision.
We can even help you to calculate how much material to purchase. Our ice melting products are available at the most competitive rates around and can be picked up or bulk delivered to locations throughout NJ, NY, PA and CT.
