Ice Melt vs. Rock Salt
Ice Melt vs. Rock Salt:
Tips and Hacks
There is a big difference between ice melt and rock salt, but not many people know what it is. Rock salt is less expensive than ice melt, which saves you money in the long run if you have to use it often. It also melts at lower temperatures than ice does, which can be helpful during those cold winter months. But that’s not all! In this blog post, we will talk about 11 things you should know before deciding whether to purchase one product over the other.
The Ultimate Guide to Ice Melt vs. Rock Salt: Tips and Hacks
What is Ice Melt?
Ice melt is a salt-based product that freezes below the temperature of the water. It is typically used in ice and snow conditions to provide traction on icy surfaces, but it needs to be reapplied every day depending on how much precipitation falls during the winter months.
Types of Ice Melt
Several different types of ice melt on the market, and each one has its benefits. Some are more cost-effective than others, some provide better traction than others, so it’s important to know what you need before making a purchase decision. At NorthRock Minerals, we produce various ice melt products, including Wicked Snow & Ice Melter, Keep It Gree Snow & Ice Melter, and Snow of Fire Calcium Chloride Pellets. Check out our product page for information on our products.
What is Rock Salt?
Rock salt comes in large chunks that are not ground up. This makes it less expensive than ice melt and provides a lower level of traction on icy surfaces. It does have the benefit of melting at colder temperatures, though. So if you’re living somewhere where winter temps drop below freezing, then rock salt might be your best bet for getting through snow conditions without too much hassle.
Types of Rock Salt
The Rock salt use to melt ice, and snow is typically ground up to make it easier for the salt crystals to dissolve in water. However, there are some benefits of using larger chunks instead of finely ground rock salt. Some people prefer large pieces because they don’t have an unpleasant taste like finer rock salts do, and others say that you need less than with produce-ground rocks so your supply can last through a long winter season.
Tips on How to Pick between Ice Melt vs. Rock Salt
There is no one answer to which product will work best for everyone since each person has their own unique needs when choosing between ice melt or rock salt.
If you live in an area where winters get cold, then rock salt might be more helpful for melting ice without having to worry about it freezing again.
But live in an area where there is a lot of precipitation that falls during the winter months. Ice melt might be better for preventing your sidewalk and driveway from becoming too icy for foot traffic or vehicles.
The main question you need to ask yourself is, “How much precipitation falls during winter months?” If it’s a lot, then ice melt will be the better pick. But if there’s not too much rain or snowfall during those cold days and nights in January through March, then rock salt might work just as well for your needs.
If I have any other questions about these products, feel free to reach out. We’ll be more than happy to answer them for you.
We hope that this blog post has helped answer all of your burning questions on whether or not an Ice Melt vs. Rock Salt product will provide what you need for year-round traction on icy surfaces without costing a fortune throughout the winter months.
Ice Melt vs. Rock Salt