Salt Brine Calculator: How to Make the Right Concentration

Salt brine is an effective way to clear away snow and ice. In many cases, it can be more effective than conventional rock salt alone. However, salt brine needs to be applied properly for maximum effectiveness. Luckily, we have a convenient road salt brine calculator to help you determine exactly how much to apply.

Getting your salt brine right can be as rewarding as it is challenging, and with some expert insight from Ninja De-Icer, you'll be on your way to a proper mixture that you can use with confidence.

Why Use Brine Over Rock Salt?

There are many advantages to salt brine compared to regular road salt.

• Salt brine adheres more readily to the pavement and sticks to it longer.

• Salt needs to be in a liquid state to activate its snow and ice melting properties; salt brine is already in a liquid state therefore can start melting snow and ice faster.

• Liquid brine can be used to pre-treat surfaces before a winter storm.

• The operating temperature of salt brine is lower than that of a standard rock salt product.

If you want to use salt brine for your property without the hassle of making it yourself, you can get pre-made salt brine from Ninja De-Icer. We also offer liquid additive products like Headwaters HOT or Mineral Well Brine that can be combined with salt brine to enhance the melting capacity. 

Making a Salt Brine

The most basic principle of salt brine is this: you need salt (sodium chloride) and water. When mixed at the right proportions, you boost the snow and ice melting properties of salt and make it easier to apply to surfaces. Use our brine calculator to get the exact salt amount needed to cover a specific area.

While simple on the surface, it's vital that you get the exact ratio of salt to water. It should have a 23.3% concentration of salt in the brine, and without it, you lose effectiveness.

Salt Brine Calculator

Enter any value to calculate missing one

Salt Amount (lbs)

or =

Water Amount (gal)

Need a Quality Brine Ready to Use?

Get a special quote from us! Serving nationwide, we can offer you the best prices and delivery options.

Name *

Email *

Phone *

Best time to reach*

Our office is open from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm.

Please verify your request*

Submit

or
Call 920-824-3071 today!

Need Quality Salt Brine Ready to Use?

Get a special quote from us! Serving customers nationwide, we offer the best prices and convenient delivery options.

Get a Quote

Calculate Salt Brine Carefully

Let's get into how to calculate salt brine. The most common brine proportions are 23.3% salt concentration to 76.7% water. Once you have your salt brine mixture, you can also add either magnesium chloride or calcium chloride to enhance its effectiveness. Keep in mind that the concentrations of these chemical additives are drastically different.

By adding either calcium or magnesium chloride to your salt brine, it will increase the melting effect of your brine solution. The brine calculator ratio for this concoction is usually 90% water and 10% calcium or magnesium chloride.

The chart below displays the relationship between temperature and the salt amount, or concentration, present in salt brine.

Understand the Basics of Brines

The most basic principle of salt brine is this; you need salt and water. When mixed at the right proportions, you boost the snow and ice melting properties of salt and make it easier to apply to surfaces. Use a brine calculator to get the exact salt amount needed to cover a specific area.

While simple on the surface, it’s vital that you get the exact concentration of salt amount to water. It should have 23.3% concentration of salt in the brine, and without it, you lose effectiveness.

Understanding Salt Brine Concentration

1

Eutetic Point

of Nacl Brine = 23.3%

At -6 Degree F

2

Freezing Curve

defines the amount of ice at any given temperature

3

Solubility Curve

represents the point below which salt will come out of solution

The following figure explains the effect of brine concentration and temperature on anti-icing operations.

Impact of Brine Concentration
on Anti-Icing Operations

Green is Good!

Peak ice is melting potential

Red is Bad

• Too diluted causing reduced ice melting ability!
• Dangerous and Icy with refreeze potential

Orange is Okay

• Over saturated with too much salt
• This is wasteful and does not help to melt more ice

A

Dilution

From snow & ice following application

B

Evaporation, Over Application

By air following application
Over application of solids

Use a Brine Maker

While some of us enjoy the rustic life and prefer to mix a brine by hand, others simply don't have the time or don't want to get too involved in the chemistry. Brine makers remove all of the guesswork from your brine creation. Typically, a brine maker features two reservoirs; a holding tank for rock salt and a finished tank for your brine.

After hooking up a source of water, a brine maker will use a powerful jet pump to dissolve your rock salt and give you an instant reading of your brine strength. Brine makers are the best way to make a lot of brine while ensuring a consistent result.

Don't Forget About Brine Additives

Additives can be a great way to boost your brine. The most effective commercial additives include:

• Calcium Chloride or Magnesium Chloride (No more than 10-20%): Boosts melting power at lower temperatures. 

• Biodegradable dyes: Improves visibility for application tracking, increasing efficiency and reducing waste.

• Organic additives (10%): Solutions like sugar beet juice and other carbohydrate based additives improve brine adhesion, helping it stay on the pavement longer and reducing reapplication needs. These are commonly found in high-performance, pre-mixed/ready to use liquid de-icer products.
  

Anti-Icing Application
Decision Process

1

Review / Monitor weather forecast

2

Don’t apply anti-icing material if:

• The rain is predicted before the snow
• The snow is predicted within next 3 days

3

Apply anti-icing material if:

• The dew point at least 3 degrees below the air temp
• The pavement temp 15 °F or greater
• The relative humidity level 70% or less
• The pavement is dry
• Winds are less than 15mph if loose snow is presented
• Sufficient time exist for pavement to dry before pavement temps 20 °F
• A visual inspection or RWIS confirmed sufficient anti-icing material residue doesn’t exist on the pavement

Get the Best Brine for Your Operations

Making your own salt brine for commercial and municipal properties the correct way, is the most reliable way to ensure the efficiency of your de-icing efforts. Depending on the volume needed, it might be cheaper to purchase pre-made salt brine (or other liquid de-icer products) rather than investing in the equipment and knowledge to make your own liquid products.  

At Ninja De-Icer, we specialize in high-quality salt brine and other liquid de-icers designed for commercial and municipal applications. Get a quote today and keep your roads and properties safe this winter.