Are You Using Too Much De-Icing Salt? Winter Maintenance Experts Weigh In

De-icing salt, sometimes called “road salt,” is a type of salt (sodium chloride) ice melt product used to treat surfaces that are icy or may become icy. It can be spread as dry salt or combined with water to create a briny solution, which has a lower freezing point than water alone.

You may think the more de-icing salt you use, the better, as there’s less of a chance of ice forming, but using too much de-icing salt can have disastrous results. We’ve spoken to some pros about how to tell if you’re using too much de-icing salt and why you should use de-icing salt sparingly.

Salty Residue Is Left Behind

If you notice salty residue on your treated surfaces after ice melts and the surfaces dry, it’s probably because you used too much de-icing salt, Chrissie Handley, a de-icing solutions expert at Online Rock Salt, says.

Handley explains how it can be difficult to know if you’re using too much de-icing salt, which is why it’s best to use it in moderation and only as much as you need to clear the area.

“Once thawed, you may see a powdery salt residue left behind which could be a sign that you can use less salt and still effectively clear the snow and ice,” Handley says.

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Metal Corrosion Issues

Anyone who has owned a car in a place with regular snowfall can testify that de-icing salt causes immense damage. Due to all of the salt exposure from winter driving, cars can begin to rust out before they even approach the end of their drivetrain’s life.

The same is true for any metal surfaces near your treated surfaces. Repeated exposure to salt will wreak havoc on metal components, causing corrosion and eventually ruining them.

“When we excessively use salt on roads or walkways, it can splash onto nearby electrical equipment or metals, such as outdoor lighting fixtures, outlets, underground wiring, and your vehicle’s undercarriage,” Andrew Bates, COO of Bates Electric, explains. “Salt buildup can cause short circuits or damage and shorten the lifetime of these expensive components.”

Damaged Concrete Surface

Handley warns that de-icing salt can even lead to cracked concrete and asphalt. While this problem can occur with any level of de-icing salt use, it’s most common in frequent use cases.

The problem of cracked concrete due to de-icing salt comes down to the higher frequency of freeze-thaw cycles caused when de-icing salt is used to melt ice. The brine solution can also soak into the concrete, then eventually refreeze and crack the concrete.

Additionally, the introduction of salt to the porous concrete leads the concrete to soak up even more water, which can break the concrete once frozen. In extreme scenarios, the salt could even cause the rebar inside the concrete to rust.

Internally Damaged Concrete

Beyond surface damage and staining caused by applying too much de-icing salt to concrete, the salt can cause an internal chemical reaction with the concrete once it soaks in. This happens when the salt combines with the calcium hydroxide in the concrete, which then expands and causes micro-fractures throughout the concrete.

You may not notice this damage right away, but it can compromise your concrete and appear visually over time.

Environmental Effects

All that salt you pour on your driveway, sidewalks, and roadways has to go somewhere eventually. Typically, it will last on your surface until a steady rainfall occurs, washing it away. It is impossible to control where the salt ends up and an excess of de-icing salt in certain environmental areas can cause a serious threat.

“Salt overuse also causes major harm to the environment because this salty water leaks into marshes, streams, lakes, and other water bodies close to roads and highways,” Bates says. “When this fresh water turns to salt, it creates salty pockets of water that kill plants and animals.”