De icer

[Jackie]

Originally Posted by BlueTang<3

I was in a pinch and used instant ocean as my sidewalk salt. Melted the ice in record speed but also melted the concrete

Wow, I did not know salt eats away concrete!!
The problem is I have a big block of ice sitting right between the driveway and the road. I am trying to find a easier way to remove it. Maybe set a fire beside it?

[MitchM]

For our office sidewalks I use an "environmentally friendly" melter that we get from W.E. Greer (near Blackfoot and Glenmore). I'll probably be in at the office on Sunday, so I can get the name of it then.

Mitch

[Myka]

If you pour saltwater on your driveway you will only make more ice. Saltwater at 35ppt (approx 1.026) freezes at only -2 degrees Celsius.

[Madreefer]

Originally Posted by Myka

If you pour saltwater on your driveway you will only make more ice. Saltwater at 35ppt (approx 1.026) freezes at only -2 degrees Celsius.

She's right. I did this and created more ice. I also have RV parking on the side of my house made of that fancy crushed rock. Well there was alot of weeds and I poured old tank water on them and they did not kill the weeds or the blades of grass.

[Edmonton newbie]

i found that the best way to get rid of the ice is to shovel before the snow gets trampled lol

[phi delt reefer]

Originally Posted by Jackie

Wow, I did not know salt eats away concrete!!
The problem is I have a big block of ice sitting right between the driveway and the road. I am trying to find a easier way to remove it. Maybe set a fire beside it?

I have the issue but with the concrete patio out front. THe heavy snow and ice in Ontario knocked my eavestrough clean off and iceicles and water (from the snow on the roof + daytime sun) collects on my patio then flash freezes at about 6-7pm. its usually around 1-3" thick and no ice blade will even make a dent in it. I took fistfulls of road salt (sold at RONA in 40kg bags for $10) and covered the ice so you couldnt even see the ice (i used ALOT) - it was probably -10 out the time. A couple hours later and salt had eaten through almost all of it - you can actually hear it melting the ice - makes a poping noise. The key is to have enough salt on top to melt the middle and bottom layers of ice after the top layers are melted. I repeated this today and had the same results.


Its just a matter of using ALOT of salt and at $10 for a 40KG bag you cant go wrong. I rather waste $50 on salt a year than have the mail person slip and sue me or worse get permanently hurt. Also concerned about my wife carrying our 1 year old out to and from the car. There is some eco-friendly stuff out there but its like $20 for a 5kg bag.

[Jackie]

Originally Posted by phi delt reefer

I rather waste $50 on salt a year than have the mail person slip and sue me or worse get permanently hurt. Also concerned about my wife carrying our 1 year old out to and from the car. There is some eco-friendly stuff out there but its like $20 for a 5kg bag.

That's so true. We have to learn how to cover our a$$ to live in this country. Dumping all the $alt to melt a block of ice feels like burning money. And on the other hand, pouring all $altwater to the toilet feels the same.