Concrete Deicers - The Good, The Bad
Each year applications of "Salt" based ice melters cause millions of dollars in surface damage to concrete as the calcium hydroxide in the concrete reacts with the calcium chloride in salt which creates calcium oxychloride thus wreaking havoc on the concrete. Think of it as a concrete acid. This reaction is often witnessed on concrete that appears to have the top surface pitted or peeling away.
Get a free quoteConcrete surfaces that are sealed - or better have a high-quality concrete coating on them - fair much better as the surface porosity is closed and wards off the penetration of applied materials into the surface.
Typical Deicers
Typical ice melt choices for concrete are calcium chloride and magnesium chloride. While potassium chloride is good for the environment, it damages the concrete and typically costs 3-5 times more.
Another Option
Another good deicer is CMA - or calcium magnesium acetate - which doesn't wash away as easily as the others and has a lower environmental impact. Normal bacteria will eat CMA so Mother Nature will clean up and control CMA contamination. These products undergo a chemical reaction that produces heat when they get wet, which controls the ice. These deicers work at colder temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit.
Let's Compare
CMA, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride are most effective with CMA being the longest lasting. Potassium chloride and salt work at warmer temperatures above 20 degrees.
All deicers are best applied just before the snow falls, coating concrete surfaces to minimize the ice buildup. These deicers will not melt large quantities of snow or ice that has already fallen - for that you will need a shovel.
It is always suggested to use any product sparingly and not over saturate. Protect any concrete with proper maintenance and sealing, and remember to rinse any deicers off after their use. This information should be used for general guidance only, we do not endorse any brands/products or their usage.
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