We’re having an icy winter in NH this year, and everyone is doing their best to de-ice their driveways and sidewalks. But did you know that you can use too much de-icing salt? With all the ice on the roads and walkways, you might think that’s impossible, but it’s true. After you spread de-icing salt on your driveway, it doesn’t just disappear. The salt might dissolve, but it still goes somewhere. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t use de-icing salt. It’s an effective way to make your walkways safer in the winter, and you can find it at your local Ace Hardware store in NH. However, you should be careful about how much you use.
You can use de-icing salt from your local NH Ace Hardware store to make your driveway safer, but use it responsibly! Here’s what happens when you use too much.
Salty Residue
De-icing salt removes ice by dissolving it and lowering its freezing point. This process breaks up the surface, making it easier to break up and remove and safer to walk on. However, it also leaves salty residue behind. That residue stays on the surface of the ice or pavement until it’s washed away, usually by rain. You have no control over where the salt residue ends up, and the salty water can wash into the soil, harming the environment around it.
Concrete Damage
Because de-icing salt lowers water’s freezing point by turning it into salt water, water goes through the freeze-thaw cycle more frequently. Water continuously freezing and thawing on top of concrete can cause it to crack and deteriorate. As the salty water seeps into the concrete, it can also cause a chemical reaction, causing damage to the interior of the concrete as well as the surface.
Metal Corrosion
Salt is corrosive, and too much of it on your driveway can damage the undercarriage of your car. If you park your car on your driveway for extended periods, exposure to excessive salt can cause severe corrosive damage. It’s not just your car that you need to consider. If salty sludge is going through your snowblower as new snow piles on top of old, it can cause the internal components to corrode.
Everything You Need to Survive the NH Winter at Ace Hardware
Although excessive de-icing salt can cause problems, it’s fine to use it in moderation. Just be aware of how often you use it and only use as much as you need. If you need to restock, come to Aubin Ace Hardware in NH, where you’ll also find shovels, scrapers, and everything else you need to survive the winter.
