HOW TO SPREAD SALT ON SNOW

Winter brings snowfalls and all the related inconveniences, such as icy roads and driveways. At this time of year, salt comes to our aid to melt snow, however in order to use it effectively, we need to answer a number of questions, such as: What type of salt should be used for snow? When should salt be spread on roads? Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about spreading salt on snow.

1. Why salt is used on roads and pavements

Salt melts snow on contact and prevents the formation of ice: this is because sodium chloride or other salts have the property of lowering the freezing point of water. On contact with water, salt molecules break down into ions, which bind to water molecules electrostatically. As soon as the temperature drops below zero, water begins to form the first ice crystals, but the presence of ions interferes with the formation of individual crystals so that the freezing point of water is lowered.

2. What type of salt is used to melt ice on roads?

Two types of salt are generally used on roads:

• sodium chloride (table salt): this is spread on roads still free of ice as a preventive measure when low temperatures are expected. It is corrosive;
• calcium chloride: it is spread over existing snow and/or ice, as it is more efficient than sodium chloride. Calcium chloride is never used BEFORE snow or ice forms. Otherwise there is a risk that it will form a kind of slippery patina, which is potentially more dangerous for cars and pedestrians than ice itself.

It quickly melts snow and ice at temperatures as low as -25°C, when sodium chloride is ineffective. Although it is clearly more expensive than table salt, it should be handled with care, since inhaling it directly is harmful to our human respiratory system. Here are some of its features:

• up to 8 times more;
• it does not corrode concrete or marble (but it can be corrosive to metals);
• it creates heat on contact with water, helping to quickly melt ice and snow;
• effective at temperatures as low as -25C°;
• How to spread salt

We can use a manual salt spreader: different models and sizes are available, and we can choose the one best suited to our needs. General speaking, we can consider about 1 kg of salt enough to cover 30-40 square metres, whereas the same quantity of common sodium chloride covers about 10 square metres.

If we use a salt spreader on our paths before it snows, we can prevent ice from forming. If, on the other hand, we have to clear the streets after a snowfall has taken us by surprise, we should first clear them of snowdrifts using a suitable snow shovel, and then spread salt and wait for it to take effect and melt the ice.

For further informations, contact as https://www.bellon-mit.it/en/contacts/.