One of the biggest challenges for many areas during the winter is how to keep the roads safe as ice and snow accumulate. Although road salt has been the standard for decades, pre-wetted salt has been growing in popularity among many snow plowing companies in recent years. This is de-icing salt that has been sprayed with a liquid chemical—such as sodium chloride, liquid calcium, or magnesium chloride—prior to being spread on a snow- or ice-covered surface.

The primary reason for this change in the tide is that pre-wetting salt already contains plenty of moisture. This makes it capable of releasing heat at any temperature in order to melt ice or snow. When snow plowing companies use standard road salt, it can be ineffective if the temperatures are below freezing and there is no moisture on the road to help it dissolve.

Wet salt also has the added benefit of sticking to the pavement instead of bouncing off the surface or being swept off by traffic like rock salt. This results in less displaced salt. This also means the snow plowing company has to use much less material, making it a more cost-effective option.

Since less materials are required to melt the ice or snow, pre-wetting does less damage to the road than rock salt. This means less potholes occurring in the pavement and less roadwork throughout the year, which can also be a plus for the environment.

When you need snow removal around your property, the landscaping and foundation experts at Hillside Landscaping & Excavating in Anchorage, AK, are there to help. Their snow plowing team will ensure the roads near you are safe to drive on. Call them today at (907) 522-4457 to discuss this or any of their other services, including basement waterproofing and water damage repair. You can also visit their website to learn more about their excavation and landscaping services.