After you clear your driveway - whether you use a snow blower or a shovel - ice will form. Using de-icers can prevent this; we recommend chemical de-icers for the best effect, but you should always read the manufacturers’ instructions to ensure they’re right for your driveway.
That’s the short answer; for the long answer (and just about everything you need to know about de-icing), keep reading!
As you shovel or snow blow your driveway, the snow melts, leaving behind a thin layer of water. This is caused by the pressure, friction, and heat from your shovel or snow blower; radiant heat on a sunny day can also contribute to melting snow. Of course, if you’re shovelling snow, it’s probably below freezing outside; that means water doesn’t stay liquid for very long. The melted snow will quickly freeze, causing ice to form.
An icy driveway is a dangerous driveway, both for people and vehicles. Once you’re done shovelling, you should take steps to prevent ice from forming!
Chemical de-icers lower the freezing point of water to the point that ice cannot form. The water on your driveway will then run off or evaporate.
There are a number of different chemical de-icers on the market; the most common one is rock salt, which is made of sodium chloride, table salt. Rock salt can lower the freezing point of water to around -21°C, but on your driveway, it will be hard to reach the level of salt saturation necessary to achieve that freezing point. Practically, rock salts usually only work well to about -10°C.
In some climates, traditional rock salt is fine as a de-icer, but here in Winnipeg, it’s often a good idea to use stronger stuff. Here’s what you might consider:
Each of these de-icers has its own advantages and disadvantages; affordability is a big consideration, and it’s worth it to monitor sales on some of the more effective de-icers. Many chemical de-icing products use a combination of two or more de-icers (including non-chemical de-icers); most manufacturers will tell you the effective temperature range of the product.
Use chemical de-icers immediately after shovelling for best results!
Non-chemical alternatives to de-icers don’t melt ice; instead, they create traction, helping boots and wheels move across icy areas without slipping. There are several different non-chemical de-icers available; sand or sawdust are typically the most effective. Other alternatives, like kitty litter and coffee grounds, will do in a pinch - but they tend to leave more of a mess.
Non-chemical de-icer alternatives are more environmentally friendly than their chemical counterparts (which can harm animals and corrode driveways), but they’re also less effective.
Sand, gravel, sawdust, or any other traction-boosting non-chemical alternative to de-icing is a great way to keep your driveway safe after the snow falls. These non-chemical alternatives are best if you have a concrete driveway; chemical de-icers tend to damage concrete more than they damage asphalt.
Regardless of the type of driveway you have, you want to avoid using chemical de-icers too often; a mix of sand for traction and chemical de-icers to get rid of ice is typically best. Apply the chemical de-icer first, then apply the sand.
Let’s get something out of the way: Heated driveways are expensive. They’re expensive to install because the heating mats are located under the driveway; you’ll need to install a new driveway or pave over your existing driveway.
They’re also expensive to run; you’re basically installing a heated floor, but outside. Definitely not the most economical; the cost to install and run your heated driveway system can easily be thousands of dollars.
Most people are better off hiring someone to do snow clearing for them; most snow removal providers also offer de-icing as part of their services.
For those who have the means, however, heated driveways can be an incredible boon; you’ll never have to shovel another snowflake off your driveway again!
Liquid de-icers can be applied directly from a bottle or by using a sprayer. These de-icers are typically a mixture of de-icers, corrosion inhibitors, and water; they’re easy to apply and less prone to clumping. They are, however, often more expensive than solid chemical de-icers.
Typically, liquid de-icers are used in commercial applications; airports, municipalities, and businesses will use them to melt ice on roadways, runways, and large parking lots. There are a few advantages to liquid de-icers; they can be used on dry surfaces as a preventive measure before a snowstorm, and they can be applied from spray trucks to quickly cover an area.
In many cases, a combination of liquid de-icers and solid de-icers will be used; the liquid de-icer can even be sprayed onto the solid de-icer to improve application.
For most readers, using solid, salt-based de-icers is the best choice; they’re more affordable, and for most driveways, they’re easy enough to apply. Once you’ve shovelled away all of the snow from your driveway, apply your salt-based de-icer. This will prevent ice from forming. You can then apply sand, sawdust, or another non-chemical product for traction.
Some salt-based de-icers actually come with traction agents in their formula; in these cases, you may not need to apply more sand.
We highly recommend researching de-icers before purchasing them. Most modern de-icers will contain an anti-corrosive agent, but many still cannot be applied on newly paved driveways (especially if they’re concrete). You also want to avoid overusing salt-based de-icers; even the most non-corrosive formulas will eventually start to damage your driveway with overuse.
When snow melts, ice forms. Even without your shovel, radiant heat will slowly melt the top layer of snow on your driveway. That trickles down and freezes, forming ice.
This means you have to shovel every time it snows, or you will develop a thick layer of ice on your driveway. We know that can be exhausting; that’s why we offer snow-clearing services. Our team will handle it for you, so you can spend your time on the things that matter most to you.
You should also apply de-icer (chemical sometimes, non-chemical alternatives other times) when it snows. It’s helpful to check the forecast; if you know it’s going to snow all day long, you might want to avoid applying de-icer until your last shovel of the day.
We also highly recommend getting a snow blower; it’s the most efficient way to remove snow (other than hiring a company to do it) for most people in Winnipeg.
Want to keep your driveway ice-free this winter season? Cleanr Property Maintenance can help. Our team clears snow, applies ice melt, and takes care of ice removal for stubborn ice. Our snow and ice clearing service will keep your driveway clear even in the harshest winter weather. We book up fast, so call us today!
