The Pros and Cons of Brine and Salt

Brine
Brine is a liquid solution typically composed of salt and water. The optimum brine blend is a 23,3% salt solution. The brine mixture offers a lower freezing point than traditional rock salt, allowing for faster ice and snow melting. Brine is often applied as a pre-treatment before a winter storm to create a barrier on road surfaces, preventing the adhesion of snow and ice. The trend in the industry is toward more brine used for anti and de-icing needs. Please read this research and approach the University of Wisconsin applied to their campus.

Pros:

• Faster melting action due to the liquid form.
• Effective at lower temperatures compared to traditional salt.
• Reduces overall salt usage, minimizing environmental impact.
• Lower yearly salt costs

Cons:

• Initial setup costs for brine production equipment.
• Storage challenges due to the liquid form.
• It may be less effective in extremely low temperatures.

Salt
Salt, usually in the form of rock salt (sodium chloride), is a common de-icing agent. When applied to icy roads, salt lowers the freezing point of water, causing ice to melt. It’s not the most cost-effective de-icing agent, but it is a widely used solution for winter road maintenance.

Pros:

• Lower initial equipment investment to spread the de-icing agent.
• Suitable for a wide range of winter conditions.
• Easy to store and handle.

Cons:

• Slower melting action compared to brine.
• Higher environmental impact due to excess chloride runoff.
• Ineffective in extremely low temperatures.

When to Use Brine or Salt

Choosing between brine and salt depends on various factors, including temperature, precipitation, and budget constraints. Brine is ideal for pre-treatment in anticipation of a storm, while salt is more effective after heavy snow storms for post-storm application to melt existing ice and snow. The most effective is a mix of them both for post-storm application, meaning pre-wetting with 30% brine onto the salt being spread.

Best Practices for Application

To optimize the use of brine or salt, consider the following best practices:

• Calibrate equipment to ensure accurate application rates.
• Monitor weather forecasts to apply treatments at the right times.
• Consider using advanced equipment such as Hilltip’s salt spreaders for precise application with ground speed control.
• The Hilltip combi spreaders and brine sprayers with STRIKESMART- PLUS controller have weather forecast dependent application rate control and a 2-way online communication channel as a standard feature.
• Use spreader technology that takes the guesswork from the driver and supervisors to know what and how much he should spread based on live and forecasted weather info.

Conclusion

In the battle against winter weather, the choice between brine and salt is not one-size-fits-all. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages. Winter road maintenance professionals can make informed decisions to enhance safety and efficiency by carefully weighing factors such as cost, effectiveness, environmental impact, and climate. Hilltip recommends using the mentioned machines and de-icing methods in the diagram below, based on current weather and forecast information on hand as well as ice thickness on the road.

As you navigate through your winter road maintenance plans, explore Hilltip’s advanced salt spreaders and de-icing sprayers. Our cutting-edge solutions are designed to complement the application of both brine and salt, ensuring optimal results for your operations.

Visit our product pages to discover how Hilltip can elevate your winter road treatment strategies. For expert advice, get in touch today!

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How to store your HILLTIP ICESTRIKER Spreader?

When Spring has arrived and the snow and ice are nothing but a memory, it is safe to say you won’t be needing your IceStriker salt spreaders anytime soon. When storing your IceStriker salt spreaders for the summer break, follow these steps to assure your equipment will be ready for the next season.

1. Unload the hopper. Back the vehicle up to a place where you want to deposit the material. Swing the spinner chute to an upright position and lock it in position with the pins. Detach the power supply to the spinner motor by separating the harness. Let the auger rotate until the hopper is empty.

2. Remove the Spreader from the vehicle using the lift/tie-down points.

3. Wash and rinse the entire unit with (cold) water only. If your unit is equipped with the HILLTIP Pre-Wet system, make sure the whole liquid system is properly cleaned.

4. Insert a good amount of grease into all bearing(s) by the nipples. If the bearing(s) seems to be in bad shape, contact your HILLTIP dealer in order to get replacement parts.

5. Clean and grease the pintle chain (for pintle-chain models). Check the length of the chain for broken or cracked welds where the pintles (cross bars) meet the chain. If the chain seems to be in bad shape, contact your HILLTIP dealer in order to get replacement parts.

6. Clean all exposed connectors and apply dielectric grease to them. Make sure you have the endcap kit H23361 available to apply after the grease treatment.

7. Remove the controller from the vehicle and store it in a clean, safe and dry place.

These simple steps will help ensure your sand and salt spreader is kept in good condition and ready for the next season when the temperature drops and it’s time once again to keep our communities safe on the roads.

If you are also putting your Snow Plows away, be sure to check out the blog Prepare your Snow Plow for Storage.

Wish you the best!

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HILLTIP SNOWSTRIKER Snow Plow

HILLTIP SNOWSTRIKER snowplows are designed to give rugged and reliable service with minimal maintenance. Preparing your snow plow for storage over the summer break will extend the life of your valuable HILLTIP SNOWSTRIKER and ensure that it gives you the highest performance season after season.

These steps will properly prepare your SNOWSTRIKER V-Plow or Straight Plow for storage so you can rest assured that your equipment will be ready to battle the snow next season.

1. Give the Plow unit a proper wash. Apply grease at any exposed chrome and on the lift cylinder rod. Straight Plows: Set the blade in a fully right-angled position and apply grease on the left side cylinder rod. V-Plows: Set both wing blades in a fully angled position (backwards) in order to get the angle cylinders inserted and protected. Dismount the plow unit from the vehicle.

2. Follow the normal procedure for dismounting the unit from the vehicle. Treat the connector on the vehicle side with dielectric grease and mount the cover H25798 on the connector. Mount the pushbeam cover H25943 on the vehicle in order to protect the pushbeam during summer season.

3. Disconnect all electrical plugs and treat all connector with dielectric grease. Lights, valves, pump, etc.

4. Touch-up eventual rust spots or chipped paint. Contact your HILLTIP dealer if you are in need of repair spray bottle paint.

5. Treat the Spring assemblies and the Trip edge mechanism with grease. Check the rubber dampeners for any damage and contact your HILLTIP dealer to get replacement parts.

6. Insert a good amount of grease into all nipples. You will find nipples on the center-pin, tilt-frame and lift-cylinder.

These simple steps will help ensure your equipment is kept in good condition for next season when the snow arrives and it’s time once again to keep our commuities safe on the roads. If you are also putting your Spreader away, be sure to check out the blog Prepare your Spreader for Storage.

Wish you the best!

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