The Problem With Salt Based Snow Melting Products

Businesses have to worry more than most about the harsh wintry conditions that we sometimes suffer from in the UK. They have to consider the safety of their staff; their customers, suppliers and how an icy pathway or snow blocked road can have a negative impact on their sales. For those companies with company vehicles to content with the effectiveness of an ice melting product as part of their winter supplies takes on even more importance.

We’ve all seen the big gritters out on the roads the night before a predicted heavy snowfall and we’ve no doubt all used salt and/or sand as a home based remedy for ensuring our back yards and driveways remain clear from dangerous ice and compacted snow, but are they really that effective as a commercial ice melting product?

Of course, finding that balancing act between your budget and the best available winter products is always difficult, but the following might make you realise salt and grit based ice clearing and ice melt products aren’t the best option.

The Right Mix

Very often salt based ice melters use a mixture of salt, sand and grit. Sand, grit and other abrasives aren’t actually a benefit to the de-icing process, only providing traction. In terms of production value and appeal to companies with a lower budget these types of ice melting products are an interesting proposition but for sand in particular you are in fact risking the environment it is being used in.

Any product that uses fillers and other materials can cause dangerous clouds of dusts once they are spread, they can also block natural basins and drains in the ground and cause untold damage to vegetation in the surrounding areas.

Danger To The Area And You

Harmful chemicals used in many de-icing products can cause harm to vegetation within the area being used, killing plants and trees and poisoning the soils in some cases. Not all products are like this of course, but traditional products will use corrosive elements within its production.

Conventional, salt based ice melting products can also be harmful to the surfaces they are used on, with long lasting residue left behind and potentially damage in the form of potholes and cracks that could lead to the necessity for resurfacing. This isn’t something you consider when snowfall is expected, but it can happen.

If a product can harm plants and wildlife, imagine the potential hazard to you, the user.  For the sake of your health it is worth looking into the alternatives as ice melting products will keep your staff and customers safe.

Choosing The Right Ice Clearing Product

It is good to remember that ice melting products are for just that, melting ice and removing the dangers of leaving it present. It shouldn’t be used as a snow removal product also. The best way to use an ice melter is to first shovel away excess snow and then look to remove the ice left on the surface.

At APT Chemicals we have years of experience in helping businesses purchase the right commercial ice melting products. Ice Break Extreme is the best on the market and ticks all the boxes. It is widely used throughout the UK, Scandinavia & Germany and is essential for winter maintenance planning. It is highly, and rapidly, effective against ice, is non-toxic so won’t damage the environment, the surfaces applied to or you, and is easy to use, forming a layer that breaks the bond between ice and surface and prevents it from reattaching.

To find out more about Ice Break Extreme and other parts of our winter supplies catalogue please feel free to contact our customer service team today.

You can purchase Ice Break Extreme from our website or watch our Youtube video for more information.