Category: Winter maintenance

According to the Peters Chemical Company, mixing calcium chloride and rock salt can produce a more effective de-icing agent, capable of melting ice at temperatures as low as -25°F (-32°C). This combination is widely used to enhance the melting power of standard road salt, but can you mix calcium and salt in other contexts?

Studies show that traditional rock salt (sodium chloride) can severely damage concrete by exacerbating freeze-thaw cycles. This has led many to question: is calcium chloride safer than salt for winter de-icing and overall application?

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, a mixture of 80% salt brine and 20% beet juice is often used in winter road treatments. This sweet solution is the answer to the question, "What is the sugar on icy roads?" and is part of an increasingly common strategy to fight snow and ice more effectively.