WHY SHOULD I USE LIQUID DE-ICERS?
WHAT IS FREEZGARD?
-
When winter throws its worst at your roads, you need more than just a basic deicer—you need a proven solution. FreezGard® Magnesium Chloride is the go-to liquid deicer for transportation pros across the country. Known for its unmatched low-temperature performance and superior melting power, FreezGard gets to work fast, delivering safer, clearer roads when it matters most.
-
FreezGard is made from 100% natural minerals harvested from the Great Salt Lake—giving you an eco-conscious way to fight winter storms. It prevents snow and ice from bonding to pavement, helps protect your concrete and equipment, and reduces spalling and scaling. You’ll cut down on the need for sand and gravel, saving time on messy spring cleanup. Use it for anti-icing, pre-wetting, or treating your salt and sand piles—it’s built to perform.
-
Independent research backs what winter professionals have known for years—magnesium chloride is the smarter, safer choice. In a study by Purdue University for the Indiana Department of Transportation, concrete treated with calcium chloride broke down twice as fast as concrete treated with magnesium chloride. FreezGard helps you preserve your infrastructure while delivering top-tier ice-fighting performance.
WHAT IS BRINE?
-
Unlike dry rock salt—which needs time, moisture, and friction from vehicle traffic to break down and start working—brine is already in a liquid state. It requires no ambient heat to activate and begins melting snow and ice the exact second it hits the pavement.
-
Brine is the ultimate preventative tool. When applied as an anti-icing treatment before a storm, it coats the pavement and physically prevents snow and ice from bonding to the surface. Because it maximizes the surface area of the salt while using less raw material, it is an incredibly economical way to manage massive commercial properties and municipal roads.
-
For the vast majority of winter weather, standard brine is all you need. At a 23.3% concentration, sodium chloride brine is at its absolute optimal chemical composition (the eutectic point). As long as pavement temperatures stay above 15°F, it delivers peak melting performance and reliable safety.
WHY IS COMBINING THE ULTIMATE STRATEGY?
-
Brine’s only real weakness is extreme cold; when temperatures plunge below 15°F, standard brine risks freezing and forming dangerous black ice. Blending in Freezgard (liquid magnesium chloride) acts as a thermodynamic booster. It drastically lowers the freezing point of the mixture, ensuring your brine stays liquid and keeps melting ice even in sub-zero deep freezes.
-
Standard brine can eventually dry out or become inert once it finishes its initial melting cycle. Freezgard is highly hygroscopic, meaning it continuously pulls ambient moisture out of the air. By mixing the two, you give your standard brine the ability to stay damp, active, and on the pavement for days longer than it would by itself.
-
When standard brine turns ice into water, that salty water can seep into the pores of your concrete. If the temperature drops below 15°F, that water can refreeze, expand, and chip the concrete (spalling). A Freezgard-enhanced brine interrupts this destructive freeze-thaw cycle. Because the blended mixture won't freeze at those temperatures, it protects your concrete from internal pressure while delivering top-tier melting power.
HOW DO I USE FREEZGARD?
1. Anti-Icing (Before the Storm)
Application: Sprayed directly onto dry pavement in advance of a storm.
Purpose: Prevents snow and ice from bonding to the surface, making plowing more effective and reducing post-storm cleanup.
Method: Typically applied using liquid brine sprayers mounted on trucks.
Recommended Rate: 30–50 gallons per lane mile
2. Pre-Wetting (During Salt Application)
Application: Sprayed onto solid salt or sand as it’s spread on the road.
Purpose: Activates the solid material faster, improves adhesion to the pavement, and reduces bounce and scatter.
Method: Integrated into spreader systems with pre-wet spray bars.
Recommended Rate: 6–10 gallons per ton of salt
3. Stockpile Treatment (Before the Material Hits the Road)
Application: Applied directly to stored salt or sand piles.
Purpose: Keeps material workable in freezing conditions and enhances melting effectiveness when deployed.
Method: Sprayed or mixed in while loading or during stockpile setup.
Recommended Rate: 5–8 gallons per ton of material
HOW DO I USE BRINE?
1. Anti-Icing (Before the Storm)
Application: Sprayed directly onto dry pavement up to 48 hours before winter weather arrives.
Purpose: Forms a preventative barrier on the concrete that stops snow and ice from bonding to the surface, allowing plow blades to scrape clean down to bare pavement.
Method: Applied using dedicated liquid brine sprayers or spray bars mounted on trucks, UTVs, or tractors.
Recommended Rate: 30–50 gallons per lane mile (or 0.5–1.0 gallon per 1,000 square feet for parking lots).
2. Pre-Wetting (During Salt Application)
Application: Sprayed directly onto dry rock salt or sand as it is being discharged from the spreader truck.
Purpose: Activates the dry salt instantly, giving it the moisture it needs to start melting ice immediately while preventing the salt from bouncing or blowing off the road into ditches.
Method: Applied using on-board pre-wetting kits and saddle tanks attached to standard salt spreaders.
Recommended Rate: 8–12 gallons per ton of dry rock salt.
De-Icing / Direct Liquid Application (After the Storm)
Application: Sprayed directly on top of thin ice or packed snow after plowing is completed.
Purpose: Burns through the remaining hard pack and breaks the bond of black ice, rapidly clearing the pavement to ensure a completely safe, slip-free surface.
Method: Applied via truck-mounted sprayers using targeted stream nozzles to punch holes through the ice layers.
Recommended Rate: 50–80 gallons per lane mile (or 1.5–2.0 gallons per 1,000 square feet, depending on ice thickness).