Always use the minimum amount of deicer necessary for conditions. Over application will never speed-up ice melting. It will only lead to increased waste, higher costs, and undesirable runoff of excess deicer into the environment.
Melting Ice - Sidewalks
Responsible use of ice melters is essential to protecting the natural environment and the significant investments made by property owners in pavement, landscaping, interior flooring and other facility infrastructure. Best practices should be followed including using the minimum amounts of calcium chloride necessary to achieve desired results and avoid over-application.
STEP 1
Clear snow
STEP 2
STEP 3
Spread at recommended rate
STEP 4
Clear slush
STEP 5
Melt more snow and ice with less time, cost and waste.
Learn more about proper application rates, spreader calibration and managing impact to metal, pavement & concrete, pets, vegetation, and water & nature.
Melting Ice - Sidewalks FAQs
Melt Responsibly®
For the best results, follow these steps:
- Clear the snow.
- Set your spreading equipment to spread the calcium chloride at our recommended application rate of 28 pounds per 1,000 square feet, or 4 ounces per square yard. Refer to our Spreader Calibration Guide for setting instructions on some common spreaders.
- Spread calcium chloride.
- After giving the calcium chloride time to work, clear off any remaining slush.
- Recycle the empty packaging in accordance with your local recycling guidelines.
Refer to Earth911 to find out where you can recycle.
Please note our recommended application rate is a starting point. Adjust application rate based on ice thickness and outdoor temperature. Removal of thick ice may require higher application rates to penetrate and undercut the ice layer.
Yes. However, a liquid deicer has significantly less melt capacity than a solid deicer because a liquid is already diluted with water. This makes a liquid best suited for use in anti-icing or pre-wetting applications, but it can be used for deicing thin layers of snow or ice as well.
The most common liquid calcium chloride concentration used in winter applications is 32%. Solutions of this strength can be purchased directly from a LIQUIDOW® distributor or by dissolving solid calcium chloride products in water. See: “How do I make solutions by mixing solid calcium chloride products with water?”
The most appropriate liquid application rate depends on a variety of factors, including weather conditions, surface type, amount of snow/ice present, etc. Because conditions can vary significantly, each user must determine the application rate best suited for the situation.
For additional information, see Typical Chemical Application Rates for Anti-icing Activities.
PLEASE NOTE THAT LIQUID DEICERS SHOULD NOT BE USED IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. For example, if a liquid deicer is applied to a surface under humid conditions prior to a winter storm event, it may absorb enough moisture from the air to dilute to a concentration that will freeze as the temperature drops, possibly resulting in slickness. Further, over-application may result in slickness.
OxyChem calcium chloride products deliver reliable, effective deicing performance on concrete surfaces that are at least one year old and properly designed, constructed, and cured for winter conditions. When concrete meets these standards, it is better equipped to handle deicing applications. Surfaces that are more porous or not fully cured may be more vulnerable to natural freeze–thaw cycles, where absorbed moisture can refreeze and potentially lead to spalling or scaling.
For expert guidance, we recommend consulting the American Concrete Institute Committee 201.
