There are many urban legends and myths when it comes to maintaining snow and ice. If you’ve lived in Massachusetts for a while you’ve probably even heard one or two. At Cassidy Paving we understand that most folks aren’t asphalt pavement experts, so we are here to help point you in the right direction when it comes to snow and ice removal for your driveway, parking lot, or other asphalt surfaces. Here are the most common tales that we hear about snow management and what you can do to practically maintain your asphalt pavement.
Myth #1: Chemical Deicers Are All You Need
This is one of the most common misconceptions that we hear in the asphalt paving business. Chemical deicers are helpful, of course, but they won’t do 100 percent of the job 100 percent of the time. Each chemical deicer is different from the next. You will really need to read the labels on the products you buy to see what you can expect for snow and ice management. For the most part, deicers only work at certain temperatures and they don’t actually melt ice. It works by making ice release the grip on its pavement so if it is already stuck on, it won’t help much. While they aid in snow and ice management, they aren’t the complete answer. You will still need to shovel or have professional commercial ice removal.
Myth #2: Using Salt Is Harmless
While salt is a favorite in most northern states, it doesn’t come without consequences. Using salt is a great way to provide a certain level of ice management, but also it can have negative outcomes on our environment and other types of pavement like concrete. Salt is great for asphalt use, but it can get into local waterways and expose wildlife to fatal levels. It also attracts animals like deer closer to roadways. Salt can cause concrete to deteriorate at a much faster rate than with normal usage without salt being used all winter. The best thing you can do is to consult a professional before using salt to manage snow and ice on your property.
Myth #3: Removing Snow and Ice Is Best at Night
We do think that there is a best time to do ice and snow removal, but the legend of removing it at night is simply not true. If it snows throughout the morning, you should definitely not wait until nighttime to remove it. The longer you wait to shovel snow, the harder it will be to remove. You want to give snow as little chance as possible to stick and compact on your asphalt pavement. Best practice suggests that removing snow when it happens will help you spend less time on this important task.
Myth #4: Hot Water Is the Safest Snow Removal Choice
Yes, hot water will in fact melt snow and be safe for our environment, but it can also make things much worse. In continuously cold climates like we see in Massachusetts, once the snow comes it’s here to stay for a while. Once you melt it and it becomes a liquid, you can be assured that the new water will turn into layers of ice. This is extremely dangerous for drivers and pedestrians. Also, you would need large amounts of hot water to remove snow at any helpful level. We advise you not to try this.
Get Snow Management Advice
If you have an asphalt parking lot or driveway, make sure you have done your research on the best snow and ice management plans. Sometimes friendly advice can make it worse before it gets better. Give Cassidy Paving a call today at 866-978-9788 for professional commercial snow removal and advice.