Bulk Salt and De-Icing Products: Preparing for the First Frost
As the chill in the air becomes more pronounced and the first frost looms on the horizon, fall is the perfect time to begin winter preparations. One of the most crucial steps in safeguarding any property is ensuring you have the right de-icing products on hand. Today, we’ll help you understand the importance of bulk salt for de-icing and outline steps to ensure landscaping professionals and snow removal contractors are well-prepared for winter, ensuring efficient operations and minimizing costly disruptions.
Why Bulk Salt for De-Icing?
Bulk salt is one of the most cost-effective and efficient ways to manage ice and snow on various properties. When the temperature falls and the snow settles in, having bulk salt on hand can significantly help maintain the safety of paths, driveways, and car parks.
Benefits of Bulk Salt
- Cost-Effective: Buying salt in bulk reduces the cost per unit, making it an economical choice for large areas.
- Effective: Water’s freezing point is reduced by salt, which helps to melt ice quickly and prevent new ice from forming.
- Easy to Apply: Bulk salt can be easily spread using standard salt spreaders, making the application process straightforward.
Exploring Bulk Ice Melt Options
While bulk salt is a popular choice, other de-icing products can complement your winter strategy. Bulk ice melt products often contain a blend of salts and other chemicals designed to work in lower temperatures and offer faster-melting properties.
Types of Bulk Ice Melt
- Calcium Chloride: Works in extremely low temperatures and provides quick ice melting.
- Magnesium Chloride: Less corrosive than other salts and safer for use around vegetation.
- Blended Ice Melt: Combines various salts to offer a balanced approach to ice melting, providing quick results and long-lasting effects.
Safety and Environmental Considerations
While de-icing products are crucial for safety, it’s also essential to consider their environmental impact. Choose de-icing products that are labeled as environmentally friendly and always follow the usage instructions to minimize harm to plants, pets, and water sources.
Ten ways to prepare before the first frost:
Equipment Maintenance and Inspection
- Ensure all snow removal equipment, such as plows, blowers, and spreaders, are in proper working order.
- Perform preventative maintenance on landscaping tools (mowers, trimmers) that will be stored for the winter. This includes oil changes, blade sharpening, and battery checks.
Stockpile De-Icing Materials
- Purchase de-icing materials like salt, sand, or environmentally friendly alternatives in advance to avoid supply shortages as the season begins.
- Store these materials in a dry, accessible location.
Evaluate and Update Contracts
- Review existing contracts with clients to ensure they cover winter services, including snow removal and ice management.
- Reach out to new and existing clients to offer early-bird deals or schedule services in advance to guarantee coverage.
Train Staff
- Conduct refresher training on safety procedures and equipment usage to ensure the team is well-prepared for winter work.
- Train staff on winter-specific tasks like snow shoveling techniques, ice melt application, and how to handle emergency situations.
Assess Irrigation Systems
- Inspect and properly winterize irrigation systems by draining water to prevent freezing and bursting.
- Install frost-proof backflow devices to avoid damage to the system.
Update Fleet Vehicles
- Equip trucks and other fleet vehicles with winter tires, snow chains, and emergency kits (shovels, blankets, flares).
- Schedule routine maintenance such as brake checks and fluid replacements to ensure vehicles perform optimally in winter conditions.
Plan for Snow Removal Routes
- Create or update snow removal route maps for efficient coverage.
- Identify priority clients, such as hospitals or schools, and make sure their service needs are met on time.
Communicate with Clients
- Send reminders to clients about the upcoming season, including winter services you offer and recommendations for preparing their properties.
- Provide helpful information about winter property care, such as clearing pathways and applying ice melt.
Prepare a Snow Removal Contingency Plan
- Formulate an emergency plan for severe weather conditions, lack of personnel, or equipment failures to guarantee uninterrupted service.
- Establish partnerships with other contractors to handle overflow work in case of heavy snowfall.
Inspect and Reinforce Hardscapes
- Evaluate hardscapes such as walkways, patios, and driveways for cracks or weak spots that could worsen during freeze-thaw cycles.
- Make necessary repairs or apply sealants to protect these surfaces from frost damage.
Preparing for winter involves more than just stocking up on warm clothes and hot cocoa. Ensuring you have the right bulk salt and de-icing products can make a significant difference in maintaining safety and accessibility on your property. By understanding the benefits of bulk salt and exploring other effective de-icing options, you and your snow removal team can confidently face the first frost.
Are you ready for winter? Contact FSI Landscape Supply today and get ahead of the winter rush! We welcome landscaping professionals and snow removal contractors to find and inquire about bulk salt for snow and other de-icing products!