How to Melt Ice Fast on a Road
During the time, accidents increase dramatically, largely caused by icy roads and hazardous conditions. After an ice or snow storm, it is imperative to melt the ice on roads as quickly as possible so that cars can travel safely. The most common product used to melt ice on roads is salt treated with anti-caking agents such as sodium aluminosilicate or calcium silicate. Calcium chloride is another common compound. These materials work by lowering the freezing point of water, which causes the ice to melt. Unless you have an extremely long driveway, one bag of salt or calcium chloride will be sufficient.
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Instructions
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Chip away all the ice you can with the shovel. Sometimes thin sheets of ice can be easily displaced with some force.
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Spread the salt over the iced road surface. The heat trapped against the road along with the ability of the salt to lower the water's freezing temperature will cause the ice to melt.
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Spread calcium chloride over the road if the outside temperature is lower than 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Calcium chloride is more effective at more extreme temperatures.
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Tips & Warnings
To de-ice a road or highway, state workers typically used about 100 to 300 pounds of salt per single lane mile.
References
- Photo Credit icy street image by Judith Morrison from Fotolia.com
