What Is The Best Salt For You And Your Driveway?

January 27, 2012

Welcome to Yeah, We Do That’s tip #20. We have been pretty lucky so far this year in regards to the ice and snow, but since we just had our first good ice storm of the season this week I thought I would cover the different types of salt that can be used on your concrete driveways and which ones are safe and which ones can damage your concrete, yard, plants and trees.

There are four main types of salt you can buy to melt ice and snow and I will cover each of them here along with their pros and cons. They are Sodium chloride (regular or rock salt), calcium chloride, potassium chloride and magnesium chloride. All of these are safe to use on wood decks and asphalt, I am addressing issue when these salts are used on concrete and vegetation.

Sodium Chloride: This is the most common salt sold for ice and snow melting, it is also known as rock salt, table salt and halite. It is commonly clear crystals but can light or dark blue, purple, pink, rust, yellow or grey depending on impurities present when the salt formed. This is also the cheapest ice melt out there but it becomes ineffective below temperatures of 14⁰F which can be an issue with our winters. This is also the ice melt that will cause the most damage to your concrete driveways as well as causes the most damage to the environment. Damage is caused by the release of chloride while the salt melts which pits your concrete and rusts your cars in addition to causing damage to your yard, plants, trees and watersheds if too much salt gets into them. This product is sold locally under the brand name of Safe Step Standard (Yellow Bag) and many other brand names so just ask for Rock Salt.

Calcium Chloride: This is another very common ice and snow melt salt. You probably have seen this salt as it looks like small white pellets. Calcium Chloride can be used effectively as an ice melt to temperatures as low as -50⁰F. It does this because calcium chloride generates heat when combined with water. It is also safer around your yard plants and trees with the exception of pine trees. It will still cause damage to your yard, plants, trees and concrete in large concentrations. Also you should wear gloves when handling this product as it is a skin irritant if your hands are wet. One of the names this product is sold locally as Safe Step Extreme 7300 (Orange Bag) and Prestone Driveway Heat.

Potassium Chloride: This product is sometimes sold as a safer salt to use around your pets and plants. While potassium chloride is used in fertilizer as a source of potassium it’s melting power is limited like sodium chloride as it becomes ineffective at 15⁰F. It will not irritate your skin and is safe to be used around your yard, plants and trees. One of the names this product is sold locally as is Safe Step Sure Paws Safe (Green Bag).

Magnesium Chloride: This is the newest ice melting salt on the market and is my choice. This product is being used more and more by state and local governments as a brine solution since it is less damaging to concrete, plants and trees. Magnesium chloride remains effect until -13⁰F and works very quickly eating through a ½ inch of ice in about 10 minutes at 0⁰F. One of the names this product is sold locally as is Safe Step Extreme 8300 (Red Bag).

You can also get a blended ice melt with both calcium chloride and magnesium chloride sold locally under the brand name of Roadrunner.

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--Greg

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