Will it still melt the ice underneath. I have about a 3 ft. part of my sidewalk that has very slippery ice under at the deepest point about 8" of water. By the way I am not being redundant when I say "very slippery ice", because there is actually some ice you can walk prettily easily on. I am from Alaska so have seen all kinds of ice. I would really appreciate any advice.
2007-02-02 07:04:34 · 2 answers · asked by ginger 4 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Slippery ice is related to the the amount of pressure placed upon the ice. The colder the ice, the less slippery it is because more pressure is required to melt the ice. Ice skates work because the blade exerts pressure on the ice in the area the blade is in contact with the ice. Pressure on the ice melts the ice producing a thin layer of water. The melted water makes the ice slippery. Try ice skating in 40 below weather. Like trying to skate on sandpaper because more pressure is required to melt the ice. The weight of a person on the skates is not enough. The same when walking about on ice. The lower the ice temperature the less chance of slipping. Your water covered ice is really slippery because it is already covered with water and is at the melting point without much pressure on it at all.
To get rid of you water puddle icy spot is to melt the bottom gripping ice layer. So melt the ice layer by adding salt, sugar, alcohol to the puddle water. Salt and alcohol can damage any plants that are in the run-off area. Sugar won't hurt the plants.
2007-02-02 09:07:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will take several pounds of ice melt to do anything since it will dissolve in the standing water. Sounds like you need to get some drainage issues resolved for the sidewalk.
2007-02-02 15:12:14 · answer #2 · answered by bugs280 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋