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The Challenges of Snow and Ice for Canadian Homeowners
The Challenges of Snow and Ice for Canadian Homeowners
Canadian winters aren’t just about shoveling snow. Ice accumulation can create hazards across various parts of your property:
- Roof and Gutters: Due to snow melting and later freezing, ice dams on roofs are a common complaint. People who own homes, too, use ice salt for melting such a mass, but it will lead to the wearing and damaging of gutters, roof shingles, and flashing.
- Driveway and Sidewalks: The constant freeze-thaw cycle during winter months leads to an increased slipping hazard. Although snow salt does great work in melting snow and its crust they do tend to destroy concrete and asphalt resulting in cracking and sinking.
- Deck and Steps: Wooden decks and outdoor steps are particularly vulnerable to snow salt. Salt can erode the wood’s protective finish, causing rot and shortening the lifespan of the wood. In addition, metal railings on steps are prone to rusting when exposed to salt.
- Basements and Foundations: As snow salt liquefies due to heat, the resultant runoff may be absorbed into the soil close to your house, and this will in time cause cracks into your foundation. In addition, the water filling in both floors and cellars will be rich with salt and will increase the basement flooding probabilities during and post thawing.
Each part of your home faces specific challenges during winter, and the methods you use to handle ice and snow can make or break the long-term durability of your property.
Get ready for winter with Safe Paw: The Pet-Friendly Ice Melter that cares – for your home, pets, and planet.
The Negative Impact of Snow Salt on Your Property
For many years, snow salt (or ice salt) was seen as the go-to solution to tackle winter ice. It’s inexpensive and readily available, making it an easy choice. However, it also comes with some serious downsides:
- Corrosion: Snow salt is corrosive by nature. It causes long-term damage to the materials it comes into contact with, including concrete, asphalt, wood, and metal. Driveways crack, decks rot, and metal railings rust, often within just a few seasons of repeated salt use.
- Environmental Harm: When snow salt melts, it doesn’t just disappear—it seeps into the soil and local waterways. The salt raises the chloride levels in rivers, lakes, and groundwater, which has been shown to harm aquatic life and contaminate drinking water. This is a growing concern in many regions of Canada.
- Health Risks to Pets and Children: The granules of snow salt can be harsh on pet paws, causing irritation or chemical burns. If pets or children accidentally ingest snow salt, it can lead to gastrointestinal distress or other health issues.
The combined effect of these issues makes snow salt a less-than-ideal solution for maintaining your home during winter. So, what’s the alternative?
Enter Safe Paw: The Salt-Free Solution
With the dangers of snow salt clear, it’s no surprise that more Canadian homeowners are turning to salt-free ice melters. One of the leading products in this category is Safe Paw, which offers numerous benefits without the risks associated with traditional salt.
- Safe for People and Pets: Safe Paw is completely free from salt and chloride, which makes it non-toxic and safe for pets and children. You no longer have to worry about your dog’s paws getting burned or your kids accidentally ingesting harmful chemicals.
- Non-Corrosive and Safe for Surfaces: Unlike snow salt, Safe Paw is non-corrosive, meaning it won’t damage your concrete, wood, or metal surfaces. Whether you’re treating your driveway, sidewalks, or deck, Safe Paw won’t cause cracks, rot, or rust, making it an ideal choice for maintaining your property.
- Effective in Extreme Cold: Safe Paw is designed to work in extremely low temperatures, down to -2°F (-19°C). This makes it particularly effective for the harsh winters in Canada, where temperatures often drop below the effective range of traditional snow salt.
- Environmentally Friendly: Safe Paw’s formula doesn’t contribute to environmental damage. It won’t add harmful chloride to nearby waterways, ensuring that your ice-melting efforts don’t come at the expense of local ecosystems.
- Cost-Effective and Long-Lasting: Safe Paw has a superior spread rate, meaning a little goes a long way. Its long shelf life ensures that you won’t need to constantly reapply it, saving both time and money.
Safe Paw
It is a pet-friendly, eco-friendly ice melt that is safe for your family, pets, and property. It is made with a unique formula that is gentle on paws and concrete, and it melts ice and snow quickly and effectively.
Safe Paw is the perfect choice for winter weather!
Why Safe Paw is the Better Choice for Your Home
Get ready for winter with Safe Paw: The Pet-Friendly Ice Melter that cares – for your home, pets, and planet.
Get ready for winter with Safe Paw: The Pet-Friendly Ice Melter that cares – for your home, pets, and planet.
Try Our Other Winter Safety Products
Safe Thaw
Safe Thaw was created as the ice management solution for tough winter environments. Ideal in commercial and industrial properties, shops, government agencies, bridges, construction. It’s 100% Salt-Free and Chloride-Free.
Walk On Ice
The slip and fall prevention solution, for any icy or snowy surface, on a handy portable package! Lightly spread around your walkway, driveway, vehicle, tires, and pathways. Turn ANY icy surface instantly, into a non-skid, slip-free surface.
