If you’re like us and spend your days pondering the nuances of different chemical solutions, get ready for the best 1-2 minutes of your life. If not, it’s only 1-2 minutes. We promise you’ll learn a lot!
This season, we’ve got de-icer on the mind. It comes in two unique options: granular and liquid. Which is best, you ask? Well, lucky for you we’ve put together a comprehensive guide so you can be informed going into this winter.
Granular De-icer
The head honcho of de-icing for decades, granular ice melt, is widely available in a variety of forms and blends. Trusted for its ability to break up thick layers of ice and snow, granular de-icer is often preferred by contractors and professionals.
Advantages
- Granular de-icer works fast on tough snow and ice deposits.
- While liquid de-icer requires less labor, granular is much easier to apply.
- It’s easy to deliver, buy, and store. Granular de-icer is available pretty much everywhere and can be stored for long periods of time.
Disadvantages
- Granular de-icer can easily be scattered or bounced off roads by traffic. This makes it a less viable anti-icing option and results in more waste if applied at the wrong time.
- The solution process requires time to take effect, especially in colder weather. Because a chemical reaction between the granular de-icer and a liquid must occur, it can take a while for the de-icer to begin working.
Liquid De-icer
Relatively new to the winter road maintenance scene, liquid de-icer has grown in popularity as the price of salts and granular de-icers has fluctuated. Liquid ice melt is a fast-acting and cost-effective option that can be applied to surfaces following snow accumulation (de-icer) or to pretreat surfaces before a big storm (anti-icer).
Advantages
- Liquid de-icer yields immediate results. Because it is already in the brine stage, it begins work on ice and snow as soon as it hits the ground.
- Liquid residue embeds in ice for lasting de-icing power.
- With a higher sticking power, liquid ice melt stays where it’s laid. Because less liquid de-icer is required to achieve the desired results, it’s easy on the wallet and the planet.
Disadvantages
- Once it’s diluted, the effectiveness of liquid ice melt is drastically reduced. It should not be used if any rainfall is expected as it will both dilute and be run off the roadways.
- Liquid de-icer is less effective as a de-icer on snowpack or thick ice. We recommend using it primarily as an anti-icer or in tandem with a granular de-icer.
- On sloped surfaces, liquid de-icer can create slippery conditions.
- Liquid de-icer is limited to a specific pavement temperature range and is best deployed by professionals.
Real talk? You can’t go wrong with either option. It might take a bit of trial and error to find the right option (or combination of the two) for your property. At MSNW, we are committed to finding the right solution for each and every client. We prefer using a combination of eco-friendly liquid and granular de-icers to pretreat facilities and maintain them throughout the season.
So, if you decide to hire a professional, be sure to contact MSNW. We’ll get the job done.