The Lowdown on Pre-wetted Salt

We've dedicated several posts to different techniques and tools for removing snow. We've even done a whole post on knowing your deicers. One thing we haven't covered yet, however, is pre-wetted salt. Since we are in the thick of snow and ice removal season, you might want to know a little bit about pre-wetted salt.

In this post, we are going to talk about pre-wetted salt and its advantages versus regular rock salt.

What is Pre-wetted Salt?
Pre-wetted salt is actually much like its name implies. In short, it is just salt that is coated with a liquid chemical blend before it is applied to sidewalks, driveways, and any other icy areas. While the chemical blend comprises several different chemicals, the three that are doing the real heavy lifting are:

Liquid Calcium

Magnesium Chloride

Sodium Chloride

There are some real benefits to pre-wetted salt. First, it melts ice and snow on particularly slippery surfaces much better than traditional rock salt. That's because the pre-wetted nature of this salt allows it to cling to surfaces better and not bounce around like traditional rock salt. The implications for this are significant, because it allows you to target areas better and you don't have to worry about the salt being moved around by foot or vehicle traffic. This means you can actually use less pre-wetted salt than regular rock salt, because you need not worry about displacement. This is also helpful for minimizing damage to your landscaping come the spring thaw.

Another notable benefit of pre-wetted salt is that you can use it in just about any temperature without worrying about the level of moisture in the air. Because the salt is pre-wetted, it contains enough moisture to work in even the driest of conditions. This is ideal for when the temps get down to those bone-chilling levels.

Is Pre-wetted Salt Right For You?
Everyone's situation is unique, so there isn't really a blanket statement with regards to whether pre-wetted salt is right for you. There are a few factors to consider, such as:

how cold does it get where you live?

how long is your driveway and sidewalk?

how much foot or vehicle traffic do you get?

Pre-wetted salt is more expensive than traditional rock salt, so you might want to consider having both on hand and employing whichever one is sufficient to meet your needs at different times and locations. While the pre-wetted salt costs more, you could still end up saving money, because you generally have to use less of it to get the results you want. Also, as mentioned above, the ability to target areas with pre-wetted salt could help stem off problems with your landscaping that could cost your money in the spring.

Of course, if you are looking for commercial snow removal services, we'd sure appreciate it if you would give E.P.M. LawnScape and Supply an opportunity. Simply contact us online or call us at (517) 990-0110 today!

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