There are a few indicators winter is well underway. You see more and more bulky, burly coats and stocking caps, your vehicle’s windscreen is frozen in the morning, and you see salt all over the roadways and walkways as you head out for the day.
But why is salt placed on roads in winter months? Is this safe for your vehicle, and more importantly, the environment as a whole? Or, are there disadvantages of using salt on roads?
This is a matter of public safety. Salt prevents ice formation, and in some cases, can even melt existing ice from the roadways, preventing vehicles from sliding across the road and causing accidents.
It’s a cost-effective way to keep roads safe but it’s not without its drawbacks. Excess usage of salt for roads can have a corrosive effect on cars and roads themselves - and if that salt residue makes its way into water sources or vegetation, it can have adverse effects.
Learn more about why use salt on roads below, as you may need to use it in your own driveway and walkways. If so, you can trust you’re getting safe, effective de-icing salt here at Jennychem. We even have salt spreaders so you can streamline applications to save time and energy!
So why is salt placed on roads in winter months? To understand the purpose of road salt, we need to take a step back and explain what happens when you put salt on ice.
We mentioned earlier that salt is among the best defences against ice formation, but why - how does salt melt ice, exactly? It’s all thanks to a process known as freezing point depression. This is a fancy way to describe salt’s ability to lower the freezing point of water.
Salt dissolves ice or snow into the thin layer of water that’s present even on frozen surfaces, forming a brine solution. Water molecules are unable to form solid ice.
This keeps the road surface clear in temperatures down to about -7°C (for sodium chloride). Different types of salt will have different capabilities. For example, calcium chloride is able to work in conditions as low as -30°C.
We probably don’t need to remind you how dangerous icy roads can be. They’re the leading cause of winter accidents. This is why salt is placed on roads in winter months.
It melts the slippery ice and creates a rougher slip-resistant surface that improves traction for vehicle tyres. This not only reduces the risk of skidding but also shortens stopping distances, which rise dramatically on icy roads.
Areas with high traffic need consistent salting to prevent layers of compacted ice from forming. It empowers drivers to maintain better control of their vehicles even in freezing conditions.
Even if there is salt on the roads, it’s best to stay at home during ice storms so you don’t have to take any chances. However, that’s not an option for emergency vehicles and other forms of public transportation. Keeping roads accessible is essential.
Fortunately, salt-treated roads enable ambulances, fire engines, and police vehicles to respond to emergencies without delay. Buses also rely on clear roads and paths so essential services continue to run without widespread disruptions.
So, why do they put salt on roads in winter months as opposed to any other de-icing agent? After all, salt is the only option at your fingertips, which you’ll know if you read our comparison of sugar vs salt for melting ice.
That being said, salt is far and away the most affordable and effective solution. It isn’t always the ideal choice, though. Magnesium chloride and calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) are also used for eco-friendly applications since they have a lower environmental impact.
However, these alternatives are generally reserved for sensitive areas because they cost more and are less readily available in bulk. Salt remains the go-to choice for keeping roadways safe and sound during harsh winter storms. On that note, why is road salt bad in some cases?
Despite its ability to clear ice in a cost-effective manner, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the few disadvantages of using salt on roads.
In the interest of transparency, here’s why salt may not always be the best approach - particularly in more sensitive settings with water sources or vegetation.
Salt serves its purpose of melting ice - but that brine mixture it creates can dissolve on the road and make its way into nearby soil and waterways, where it may alter the natural balance of ecosystems.
Excessive salt in soil damages vegetation by drawing water away from plant roots, ultimately causing dehydration and even death for sensitive plants. As it turns out, this is why using salt to kill weeds works so well, and why it’s one of the best homemade weed killer recipe choices.
Salt can also take a toll on aquatic life, disrupting the osmoregulation processes of fish and amphibians so they struggle to maintain necessary fluid levels. In other words, it can negatively impact survival rates in some species.
Over the course of time, repeated exposure to salt in water bodies can be detrimental to local flora and fauna, and it may also impact drinking water supplies in some regions.
You might already be aware that salt, while great for keeping your vehicle on the road, can ironically cause problems in your vehicle as well. Its corrosive nature can speed up the degradation of metal components on vehicles’ undercarriages, brake lines, and more.
This is why vehicles along the coast tend to have shorter lifespans, as they’re constantly exposed to salt in the air. The same is true for vehicles that drive on roads where salt is needed every single winter.
But, those corrosive properties can extend to expensive roadway infrastructure as well. That includes bridges, guardrails, and road barriers.
Even concrete can weaken as salt infiltrates its surface, leading to cracks, spalling, and structural damage over time. This is the cost of keeping roadways safe.
Although salt for roads can work exceptionally well in climates that don’t get below -7°C, it starts to lose its power as temperatures drop lower than that.
This means salt may become practically ineffective in very cold regions, leaving roads as slippery as they would otherwise be without salt application
Alternatives like calcium chloride or magnesium chloride are sometimes used in these conditions, as they work at much lower temperatures. But as we touched on earlier, they’re far more expensive than traditional sodium chloride.
While there are definitely disadvantages of using salt on roads, it’s a necessary solution for public safety. The benefits it brings to our roads outweigh the concerns.
Plus, you can alleviate some of the drawbacks of salt for roads with stricter sourcing standards. Municipalities, businesses, and even large residential properties should be more meticulous in what salt they use and how they go about using it.
For starters, it should conform to the British Standard BS3247:2011, which defines key specifications for de-icing salt in the UK. This includes particle size, purity, and the use of anti-caking agents, which prevent clumping and enable even spreading.
Salt that doesn’t meet these standards can result in uneven ice melting, inefficient use, and increased wear on spreading equipment along with concerns for our infrastructure and vehicles.
You should also make sure any salt you put down on the roads has anti-caking properties. This detail can streamline storage and spreading, preventing clumping that could clog or damage machinery.
Your supplier should provide guidance on handling, storage solutions, and effective spreading techniques so you can make the most of your salt, spreading a little a long way.
Fortunately, you won’t have to look far. Here at Jennychem we’ve curated a collection of safe, effective salt for roads that meets the British Standard BS3247:2011 - all at low prices and backed by world-class customer service. Here are a few options to consider:
You can also count on us for all the other winter essentials, from our salt spreaders to the best windscreen de icer, the best antifreeze, and anything in between.
Not sure which salt is right for you? Our customer service team is a click or call away ready to talk about your needs and help you pick the perfect salt for roads. Don’t wait any longer and risk being caught unprepared when that first freeze rolls in. Stock up today at Jennychem!
So, why is salt placed on roads in winter months? In closing, they put salt on roads to help prevent ice formation or melt existing ice, allowing for safe transportation. It enhances traction on slipper surfaces.
That being said, we’ve also examined the disadvantages of using salt on roads. Despite these challenges, salt is still the best approach to melting ice and keeping surfaces safe. You can do your part by always using high-quality salt from a reputable supplier, like Jennychem.
You can learn more about how to use a salt spreader or how to melt ice on concrete in our blog. We have resources like how to build a salt spreader DIY, how much is a salt spreader, how to make windscreen de icer, what is antifreeze made of, how to unfreeze screenwash, and more.
Or, take the next step towards protecting your roadways and walkways with our unparalleled selection of salt for roads at Jennychem. Keep your roads clear and protected with Jennychem’s trusted range of BS3247:2011-compliant salts today!
