9 Tips for Liquid and Granular Ice Melt Application

Winter can sneak up quickly, and it’s important to be prepared. Your business and staff must be equipped with proper liquid or granular ice melt to manage the snow and ice that inevitably comes from winter weather. But where do we begin?

We are sharing all the ice melting tips to weather the upcoming winter. Check them out!

Choose the Right Ice Melt

It may seem like the most expensive ice melt granules on the market are the most effective, but this isn’t always the case. Instead, it’s important to find the right ice melt for your needs, which often breaks down into exothermic and endothermic deicers.

• Endothermic deicers – absorb heat from the sun to break down the ice. This is a slower option and only is effective within a specific range of temperatures.
• Exothermic deicers – work to melt ice by releasing heat. This is the fastest, most effective choice in a number of temperatures.

When using your ice melt, be sure to always reference the specific ice melt instructions on the label. This will ensure you follow the right process, not using too little or too much to clear your walkways.

Clear Snow, Then Add Deicer

No matter your means of snow removal, whether you’re shoveling it yourself or have a snowblower to assist in the process, you must first remove the snow before putting down the ice melt. If you choose to skip this step (and we hope you don’t!), you’ll only be wasting product as the ice melt can’t handle burning through a lot of snow plus ice.

Plow Before Applying Deicer

Wondering how to apply deicer? In addition to clearing snow, you must also plow before putting down deicers, otherwise, you will end up overusing the product. It’s important to avoid diluting the ice melt wherever possible, and this is why plowing is so important.

Use Protection

You not only want to follow the application instructions but the safety ones, too. Some ice melts require protective gear like gloves or goggles to prevent any harm to your skin. When applying your ice melt, keep these safety considerations in mind:

• Read all instructions to prepare your own protective equipment and the outdoor space before beginning.
• A shaker spreader is a good, safe option to evenly apply the ice melt and avoid touching it.
• Check if there’s a warning about where the product cannot be used – you don’t want to damage your property!

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More Deicer Isn’t Better

Yes, there is such a thing as too much when it comes to ice melt application. Instead of an abundance of ice melt working faster or better, it will only end up being tracked throughout your property, ultimately damaging your indoor space. And it’s not just the indoors that can see the damage, but landscaping, too. Ice melt can burn vegetation, so you don’t want to overdo it!

To avoid using too much and wasting the product, follow the directions and use the right amount for your area.

Use Your Anti-Ice Before the Storm

Wondering, “should I put down ice melt before it snows?” That’s a great question – you can! Anti-icing before it snows, is a wonderful preventative measure to avoid ice bonds from forming. It’s best to apply your anti-ice around 48 hours before a storm to get the most out of your proactive efforts.

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