As resolutions go, using less deicing salt is pretty painless. Follow the link to learn how to stick to this good habit…
Salt aids ice removal by lowering the freezing point of water, but excessive amounts of salt can also harm fish in our lakes and streams if it runs off into the street stormdrain. Listed below are some back-saving tips that will keep the fish happy by reducing your salt use:
• Shovel promptly and remove snow before applying deicers (salt) to reduce ice buildup.
• Try removing ice with a scraper or chisel first before trying salt.
• Use less than 4 pounds (about 4 coffee mugs) of salt for every 1000 square feet of driveway or sidewalk.
• If you see leftover salt crystals after you’ve removed ice, you’ve over applied. You can sweep the extra salt up and reuse it later.
• Salt becomes less effective below 15°F. Consider switching to sand at temperatures below 15°F. Sand will not melt ice but may provide some traction.
• If you know you will be using a deicer, applying a solution of 1 cup salt dissolved into two cups water before it snows can prevent ice from bonding to the pavement.