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Salt for Soft Water

Dissolved magnesium and calcium minerals make water hard, affecting the taste and feel of water. It also can reduce the efficiency and longevity of plumbing fixtures and rendering soaps and detergents less effective.

To eliminate these impurities, the most common technique involves passing the water through a water-softening unit. The water softener contains a resin tank that is filled with a bed of resin beads and a brine tank that holds a salt solution.

In a process known as an “ion exchange,” the positively charged calcium and magnesium ions in the hard water pass through the resin bed and exchange places with positively charged sodium ions that are on the beads. This leaves water that is “softer,” meaning the impurities have been detached.

As the resins attract more and more calcium and magnesium minerals, the beads begin to lose the ability to soften water. At this point, the softener needs to be regenerated. A brine solution is used to flush the calcium and magnesium minerals from the resin tanks and the beads, enabling the water conditioner to resume its full function.

Kissner has two professional grade water softener salts, Solar Salt and Solar Salt with Rust Remover

Highest Purity Water Softener Salt

  • Evaporated naturally by sun and wind
  • Ultra high 99.7% purity softener salt
  • Minimizes brine accumulation in tank
  • Resists bridging and mushing in tank
  • White, opaque appearance
  • Low insoluble content
  • Available in 40 lb., 50 lb., & 80 lb. bags

Contact Kissner Milling Company Ltd.

148 Manitou Drive, Suite 301, Kitchener, ON N2C 1L3

Phone: 1-800-434-8248 | Fax: 1-877-434-8250

Email: info@kissner.com

Website: www.kissner.com

Ice Melt 101: What you need to know about ice melt

When used correctly, ice melt is a powerful tool that can help keep ice from forming and reduce the risk of slips and falls.

Keep these key points in mind when using ice melt:

  • Ice-melt compounds are only effective down to a specific temperature
  • The temperature of the air, pavement, and the type of ice-melt compound used will affect the rate at which snow and ice meltsslick-sidewalk

Knowing what to use

It’s important that your organization assess your needs for application of ice-melt compounds.

Consider:

  • Where around your facility to use ice melt
  • Whether the area has access to traffic and sunlight, which affects the overall effectiveness of ice-melt compounds
  • All the methods for treating areas
  • Cost

What’s the science behind ice melt?

Ice-melting compounds lower the freezing point of water. These products attract moisture to themselves to form a liquid brine solution, which can generate heat and melt the ice. The amount of ice that is melted by a given quantity of ice-melt compound will decrease as the temperature of the mixture is lowered. As the ice melts, the compound solution’s concentration is reduced and the freezing point of the water starts to increase until such time that more ice-melt compound is spread on the ice and water.

The lowest melting point of the water and ice-melt compound solution is termed the “eutectic” temperature. At this limiting eutectic temperature, solutions of the ice-melt compound aren’t effective and the melting action on the ice will cease.

The quantity of ice-melt compound needed to lower the freezing point of ice to the eutectic temperature is called the “eutectic concentration.” At this lowest temperature, the rate at which ice melts is very slow. When this melting action slows, adding more compound has no impact on lowering the eutectic temperature, thus, the ice melts no faster.

salt-vs-snow

Tips for using ice melt

  • Do not use on concrete less than two years old. Freeze-thaw damage may occur.
  • Know what product to use by understanding its composition and lowest surface temperature at which it remains effective. Use an infrared heat gun to determine the surface temperature.
  • Apply in advance of a winter storm. Early attention before a storm will help prevent the formation of ice. When snow starts falling, the ice melt will create a brine solution, helping to prevent ice from bonding to the surface.
  • Disperse ice melt properly. Contrary to popular opinion, using large amounts of ice melt does not affect the speed which ice and snow melts. Using too much product can damage surfaces and harm the environment.
  • Use a mechanical spreader for accurate coverage. The proper coverage rate is about one cup per square yard. This coverage will fan out and undercut the ice, so that you can shovel the walkway clear.
  • Continue to disperse ice melt during a storm.  This helps to prevent snow from becoming hard-packed on surfaces.

Ice melt plays an essential role in many winter safety programs. Select the right ice melt and apply correctly to reduce the chance for slips and falls this winter.

Contact Kissner Milling Company Ltd. today for all of your Ice Melter needs.

148 Manitou Drive, Suite 301, Kitchener, ON N2C 1L3

Phone: 1-800-434-8248 | Fax: 1-877-434-8250

Email: info@kissner.com

Website: www.kissner.com