Have you ever wondered why we feel cold?  A quick look at human physiology provides the answer. Continue reading →

What is Blended Ice Melt and How Does it work?

Ice melt blends are popular because they are economically priced while maintaining the ability to work quickly at extremely low temperatures.  Typical blended ice melt contains a combination of sodium chloride, magnesium chloride or calcium chloride.  These chlorides work in different ways to melt ice and snow. Continue reading →

This time of year can be beautiful but winter weather hazards are lurking.  Be aware of the dangers and take precautions.  Here are just a few threats to avoid. Continue reading →

Two dreaded winter weather conditions are freezing rain and sleet.  Countless commutes, road trips and walks across parking lots have been complicated by these headaches.  In addition to being inconvenient, both can create hazards on roadways and walkways.  Although they are both nuisances, there are differences between the two.  Continue reading →

Do you understand the alerts issued by the National Weather Service?  What’s more serious – a warning, watch or advisory?  Continue reading →

Why Does Salt Melt Ice

Salt is the primary ingredient in most ice melt products because it lowers the freezing point of water.  This is referred to as “freezing point depression.”  In its pure state, water freezes at 32°F.  Even though it may not be visible, molecular water is always present on the surface of ice. When salt comes in contact with water, it starts to dissolve creating a solution referred to as brine which subsequently lowers the freezing point and melts the ice around it. Continue reading →

What is It

Anti-icing is the application of liquid brine (salt water solution) to surfaces before a winter storm hits.  This proactive approach focuses on combating ice before it has the chance to stick.  Properly applied, liquid brine prevents ice from bonding to surfaces and lowers the temperature at which water freezes. Continue reading →

For Immediate Release: April 14, 2017, by the Salt Institute

Naples, FL- A new study published in the Proceedings of the Natural Academy of the Sciences (Salting our freshwater lakes) purports to sound the alarm about rising chloride levels in North American lakes. The study actually found that chloride levels in the majority of the examined lakes either stayed the same or declined and that chloride levels were far below EPA toxicity standards. Chloride concentrations across all 371 lakes in the study had a median of 6 milligrams per liter, while the EPA standard is 230 mg/L.  Continue reading →