Here are some of the myths and realities of deicers.

Myth: All deicers are the same.

Reality: All ice melters are not the same, and most differ dramatically. Six primary deicing chemicals are on the market today, each with individual characteristics and ice-melting capabilities (see chart). Each deicer’s characteristics make it useful for specific situations that you may encounter at your facility. Consider all information available about the deicers in making a decision about which to buy and use for your facility.

Myth: Deicers will not harm vegetation.

Reality: All deicers will harm grass and vegetation if used improperly. Some deicers such as urea and potassium chloride contain fertilizers, which manufacturers claim will cause less damage to vegetation. However, those deicers are less effective in melting ice and snow. It can lead to over application of the deicer and potential damage during extremely cold conditions.

For best results, follow manufacturer guidelines for application and removal.

Myth: Deicers deteriorate pavement.

Reality: Deicers do not directly damage pavement. However, deicers can contribute to damage caused by freeze-thaw cycles, which can result in chipping or flaking of low-quality pavement. This effect is known as scaling.

To avoid scaling, be sure the pavement at your facility gets the proper amount of air entrainment during installation. It is important to always follow the deicer manufacturer’s application and removal instructions. While this may not completely prevent scaling, it can reduce the potential for such damage.