You might think there won’t be a massive difference in the effects of salt and de-icers on a particular property. However, when used in the long run, these substances probable impact on the soil, plants, concrete, and infrastructure is pretty expansive. This article explores how salt and de-icers affect the buildings and how this damage can be minimized.

The Damage to Surfaces

One of the significant effects of salt and de-icers is that they can practically eat away at hard surfaces such as concrete, asphalt, and bricks. Coming across these surfaces, salt or de-icers act by depressing the freezing level of water and, therefore, melting ice. However, it does so at the cost of causing water to be absorbed at a deeper level, which causes the surface to crack and/or break.

Concrete

Chemicals, especially salt and de-icers, are a great concern to concrete, especially when experiencing the freeze-thaw cycle. It worsens when water enters the tiny spaces in the concrete, and on freezing, the water turns to ice, thus widening the crack. This action by water gradually erodes the concrete components, causing cracks and breakages. This damage is seen in parking lots, sidewalks, and driveways.

Asphalt

Asphalt is another popular construction material that gets harmed by salt and de-icer. Like concrete, water gets into the tiny pores in asphalt, and as they freeze and expand, the pores become wider. In the end, this results in the formation of potholes and other forms of pavement damage.

Brick

Salt and de-icers are also dangerous for bricks, such as when water penetrates the gaps between the bricks. It finally results in breakages and loosely placed bricks, which danger people strolling around the place.

Impact on Plants and Soil

De-icing salts rust and pollute and ruin your plants and gardens. Unfortunately, when such substances are washed over the ground, they find their way into the soil, harming other plants around. In some cases, the solution can be so concentrated that it dries, leaving plants dead because water and nutrient uptake necessary to sustain life are cut off.

Soil Contamination

During snowmelt and rain, salt and de-icers can be washed away from surfaces applied to the soil. Gradually, this builds up salt in the soil and can be unhealthy for some plants.

Plant Damage

Salts, especially de-icers, can harm plant foliage, stunt its growth, or even kill it. Some ever-green perennials and shrubs react negatively to salts that are usually present in the soil. In locations where these plants are present, particularly during peak periods, one should either protect the root areas or exclude the de-icer directly from the plants.

Environmental Impact

Aside from that, some other harmful effects come as the salts and de-icers pollute the surrounding water bodies and hurt the wildlife around them.

Waterway Pollution

When salts and de-icers are washed away from the surfaces of roads and cities, they may find their way into the waters. Excess saltwater ionizes the aquatic life forms and vegetation, which in due course degrades the health of any watercourse.

Wildlife Impact

Consumption of salt by any animal, especially cattle, has adverse effects on the animal; they dehydrate, have salt poisoning, and may even die. Pets, mainly running on these surfaces, are in extreme danger by merely licking salt from their paws. Wildlife is also affected by salt and de-icers as they get affected through their contaminated environment.

Prevention for Loss Reduction

As a necessity for clearing ice from properties during winter, precautions have to be taken regarding the use of salting and deicers, but their effects must be controlled.

The use of the Different Products

There are several other related products that can assist in reducing the effects on surfaces and the environment. These are calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), which is safe to be used instead of salt and sand. This offers the traction needed without affecting the surface of pathways. However, there are biodegradable de-icers, which are much safer for the environment, on the market as well.

Proper Application

Another fact that one has to remember to counterbalance the side effects of these products is to use them properly. In this case, these substances should be used relatively sparingly and selectively in order to prevent damage to the surfaces, plants, etc.

Drainage Solutions

To minimize cases of soil and waterway pollution with salt and de-icers, the proper drainage systems should be working appropriately to channel the salts away from water sources.

Safeguards for plants

To reduce the effect of salt and de-icers on plant life, it is necessary that these elements do not reach the root regions of plants. This can be done, for instance, by wrapping the base of the plants with burlap, through siphoning the de-icers, or placing barriers round the plants.

Regular Maintenance

Entirely eliminating damage from salt and de-icers may not be possible, but proper care of surfaces subjected to such Chemicals will go a long way in reducing long term effects. Thus, in limiting the penetration by liquid water, it can mitigate some of these substance’s negative impact, for example by sealing cracks in the areas cemented from asphalt, and mending broken bricks, as removing debris such as excessive de-icers, among other things.