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| SALT DEPOT AND OPERATIONS FACILITY: 2075 Kenney Warren, MI 48091 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1389 Brighton, MI 48116 Phone: 855-377-9311 Fax: 855-270-0479 E-Mail: info@icemelters.biz |
| Icemelters.biz |
| ROCK SALT - TREATED SALT - SALT BRINES - BAGGED SALT - EDUCATION |
Melting snow and ice requires a basic understanding of how chemicals work and practical working experience to be as efficient and profitable as possible. Salt works in two basic ways. First, it lowers the freeze point of water effectively "melting" snow and ice. Some chemicals lower the freeze point more than others. Second, it works to prevent (anti-ice) or break (de-Ice) the formation of hard-pack on pavement. Anti-icing is a pro-active approach where pavement is treated ahead of a storm. Anti-icing makes plowing easier and cleaner and often reduces the amount of salt needed after plowing. It creates a "Teflon" coating that keeps hard pack from forming. Anti-icing may melt some of the early snow "buying" some time before crews are needed on site. Anti-icing can sometimes eliminate the need for additional salting after plowing. De-icing is a re-active approach and is done after snow has fallen or ice has formed. Salt works its way to the pavement surface and spreads out laterally along the pavement surface lowering the freeze point through the chemical reaction, and using heat generated by vehicle traffic, ultraviolet rays, etc. With enough salt, minor accumulations can melt without plowing. Larger accumulations should be plowed off first, usually 1 to 2 inches depending on the type of snow and temperature combinations. Chemicals have different melting capacities and are very dependent on temperature. As the temperature decreases, so does a chemical's ability to melt ice. In other words, it takes more chemical to melt the same amount of ice at 25 degrees than it does at 30 degrees, more at 20 degrees than 25 degrees, more at 15 degrees than at 20 degrees, so on and so forth. Some chemicals cease to work at 20 degrees while others work down to -25 degrees. What is relative, is that an applicator must know that a pound of salt that was effective at 30 degrees, will not be as effective at 20 degrees. Although the same amount of snow or ice may be present, the temperature will play a role in how well the chemical works. Some other factors that play a role in the effectiveness of various chemicals are: the type of snow or the moisture content of the snow, the ground temperature and not just the air temperature, the amount of snow or ice to be melted, and the timing of the application - how much time there is before the desired results can be achieved. Depending on the amount of snow/ice, type of snow, ground and air temperatures, snow plowing professionals need to assess each situation and take appropriate action to achieve the desired results. The time of day may play a role in whether to plow, salt, or both. Applicator's and business owners/managers must take all of these factors into account to not only achieve the desired results that the customer is looking for, but to make the job as profitable as possible. |
| On-Site Liquid Storage Tanks |
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| Peladow & Dragon Melt |
| Salt Dome |
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