Calcium Chloride for Snow Removal on Concrete

Types of De-icers

• Communities and homeowners have a range of choices for removal of ice and snow from their properties. Sodium chloride (common road salt), calcium chloride, potassium chloride and magnesium chloride are the most commonly used materials for snow and ice removal on concrete roads, driveways and parking lots. These materials are sometimes used in combination to enhance their de-icing capabilities or to reduce cost.

About Calcium Chloride

• Calcium chloride comes in the form of rounded white pellets that are spread on concrete roadways after plowing, to melt the underlying ice. It melts snow and ice eight times faster than sodium chloride and is effective down to minus 59 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Virginia Tech University. Calcium chloride also remains active for long periods of time. It works by breaking the bonds between concrete pavement and the ice, releasing heat as it melts. Calcium chloride is available in flake and liquid forms, as well as pellets.

Advantages of Calcium Chloride

• Calcium chloride's high rate of effectiveness results in a 40-percent reduction in de-icing material, saving money for both communities and homeowners. It is easy to clean up and does not cause a sediment residue. Calcium chloride also attracts and retains moisture directly from surroundings, allowing it to dissolve faster to begin the melting process, according to Iowa State University horticulturalist Sherry Rindels. Though all de-icing compounds cause damage to concrete surfaces, calcium chloride is among the least damaging of materials to both concrete and metals.

Disadvantages of Calcium Chloride

• The repeated used of calcium chloride for de-icing can severely damage concrete that is not formulated or installed properly, according to AskTheBuilder. This damage occurs when the water that soaks into the upper surface of concrete repeatedly freezes and thaws. De-icing compounds increase the number of freezing-thawing cycles that expand the concrete, causing the breakdown of weak construction. Calcium chloride use also releases chloride ions into the environment, which causes pollution in nearby waterways and causes roadway metals to corrode. Calcium chloride is irritating to the skin. Use protective gloves when handling it, and avoid leaving the material in contact with bare skin.