Salt Spreader Buying Guide

The upper United States experiences its fair share of heavy winter snows, which leave roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and driveways coated in white slush that makes it impossible to walk or drive. But people have to get out to work, school, and appointments, so swift and easy snow removal strategies are necessary. A salt spreader is a great way to quickly melt the snow on any surface, although it’s important to consider certain factors when you buy one to ensure you get the right machine for your work.

Materials

There are a few options when it comes to the salt you spread on snow and ice. Certain machines are capable of handling certain types of salt. Typical salt deicers include magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and standard sodium chloride. While all of these salts can damage metal and concrete, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride tend to do less harm to concrete than your average table salt.

Another common deicer is sand, which is inexpensive, but lacks melting capabilities. A mixture of salt and sand can offer traction for foot and vehicle traffic while still getting the snow melted down to where it’s more manageable. Choose a spreader that can spread the material you want to use without becoming clogged up or damaged. Make sure that your machine can handle coarse, wet, or heavy deicers if that’s what you’re planning to use.

Capacity

The overall capacity of your salt spreader is another important factor in the buying process. If you only need to deice small areas like a few driveways or a small lot, you don’t want to get a high-capacity salt spreader that’s designed for use on interstate highways and massive parking lots. Consider the route you’ll take, the jobs you’ll handle, and the amount of salt you’ll need to spread when selecting your spreader.

Stop by one of our four locations in York or Hanover, PA, and Frederick or Hagerstown, MD, to take a look at our wide stock of new and used salt spreaders and other equipment for sale.  Crownstone Equipment is proud to serve our customers in the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland.