Liquid Calcium Chloride In BackPack Sprayer

[Anonymous-0]

I know, I know, we're all TIRED of reading the words Calcium Chloride, but this is different. I read today that CaCl is an EXCELLENT de-icer, but it seems they only use it in flake or pellet form. Would I be crazy to mix up the flakes with water and run it through a Solo backpack sprayer for sidewalks? I would imagine the guts of that sprayer a fairly tough, mostly polyethylene, some brass looks like. Will it hold up to a CaCl solution? Would it melt ice/snow at all in liquid form? Ideas are more than welcome. Thanks!

 

[JT]

Yes it will melt ice, but it will probably destroy sprayer, and it will kill all vegetation it comes in contact with.

 

[Anonymous-0]

That's what I thought too, but the Calcium Chloride is LESS toxic that the regular rock salt(NaCl) that you can buy as "ice melter". You have to REALLY douse a plant with the stuff to see any damage. CaCl won't damage concrete either. Still questioning the durability of the sprayer, though.

 

[Mike M]

Ohio uses thousands of gallons of it in liquid a year on the roads. You guys think your rims get rusty ? Eats the heck out of our cars and trucks !

 

[HeyPigFarmer]

Michigan uses that nasty stuff also, it is about the worst thing I've seen for car bodies.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I'm just going to use it on sidewalks. I wouldn't dream of spreading ANY ice-melter of any kind on roads. Sand or gravel chips are the way to go. Alright, so we've determined it's bad on cars...how about a backpack sprayer? I can't find anything that says "Don't do it!" in the manual. It sounds like the innards are all plastic with "Viton" seals, which are supposedly corrosion resistant.

 

[PatMz]

Can you mix it strong enough to be effective and still spray through the backpack?

I used similar stuff (a borate salt) to protect the logs on my house, and it takes a lot to push that through the sprayer.

 

[Mike M]

If you rinse it all out it should be ok. Like you said it should be all plastic and or brass ?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Does the mixed up CaCl have a thicker consistency? I would mix it up really well and strain it. If it's any thicker than water I don't think it'll work. Thank you for raising that concern. Hmmmm.

 

[Jim in Ma.]

If you do that = make sure you put a little sand on it after as the chloride will dilute and refreeze

 

[Michael Soldan]

Nothing kills grass like calcium chloride so be prepared to have dead grass along both edges of your side walk. A bag of ice salt will work better, easier and less harmful to your lawn.

 

[RobMD]

little bit off the wall here, but if the highway dept. were to use CaCl on the roads, I would be driving a piece of red, flaky paper within a year.

 

[NBAllen]

Out here, the hwy dept uses MgCl - still some slimy, nasty goop - real bad for smearing on windshields. :-(

I just use a shovel and then follow that with a broom - depends on how "moist" the snow is.

But then lower elevations in SW Idaho only get a few inches of snow on a good year - and thats usually melted off inside of two days (sometimes two weeks).

Nathaniel

 

[Anonymous-0]

its my understanding they use calcium chloride where i live in western NY all the time. and yes our cars do end up like you said only it takes little longer than a year. bill m.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Why don't you just spread it on dry?

Mix it with some sand and broadcast it on.

 

[Anonymous-0]

You can easily purchase it in liquid form(s) at your local builder's /mason yard -- it is regularly used as an accelerent in concrete hydration.

Three types typically used: MgCl, KCL and CaCl to heat things up below 20 degrees F/or above

 

[msb]

Why not just use some fertilizer. Your grass will love it. Any analysis will work. The local Co-Op uses potash.

 

[Farmer Alf]

I hear it gives yer feet lots of extra traction with the extra weight, but my buddy got a leak in his an he didn't change and shower right away. The next thing ya know his back, butt, and legs got huge rust holes in them.

Sorry y'all, I couldn't resist. Merry Christmas.

Alf

 

[PatMz]

Yes, it is thicker. Viscosity depends on the strength of the solution.

Someone said to spread it dry, or mixed with sand. I like that idea.