Application Rates: Deicing vs. Anti-icing

When water freezes on pavement, it forms a bond with the pavement. Once this bond forms, removing snow and ice becomes much more difficult. There are different salt application strategies that can be used to either prevent the bond from forming or break the bond after it has developed. This module won’t get into them in detail, but will provide a little information about each strategy. 

Deicing: The melting of snow and ice from surfaces using salt or another product after the snow and ice have stuck (bonded) to the pavements. Deicing with granular products is the most common strategy used by homeowners. Rock salt and other products are readily available to homeowners. 

Example: After shoveling, apply a granular salt deicer to a sidewalk to melt the remaining ice and break the bond to the pavement.

Anti-icing: The prevention of snow and ice sticking (bonding) to pavements using liquid salt (brine) before snow has fallen. Anti-icing is not a common practice for homeowners, but is often used by contractors and transportation departments. 

Example: A few hours before the snow starts, apply a liquid deicing chemical to prevent the bond of the ice to my driveway. 

There are liquid deicers in gallon containers for home use available through hardware stores and other retailers if you want to try anti-icing. Anti-icing agents are usually applied in lines. Don’t anti-ice when it is too cold or near 32°F in high humidity. Calcium and magnesium in the products absorb moisture and may cause the pavement to get more slippery. There is a learning curve to the use of liquids, so try experimenting in a less-used area.