GET YOUR LIQUID GAME PLAN
Your free liquid deicing playbook for adding liquids to the fleet. See the hidden costs of salt, where brine saves you money and how to roll liquids out safely and efficiently. Download it free.
Liquid deicing puts salt brine to work before, during and after the storm. Pre-treat so snow and ice can’t bond, then post-treat to clear what’s left. You plow faster, spread less salt and cover more ground with every load. Liquid IQ gives you the numbers, the training and the game plan to make the switch. That’s the BOSS Standard.
Liquid deicing protects your property with salt brine instead of piles of rock salt. Less salt means less damage to your property and safer pavement before, during and after every storm. Liquid IQ shows you what rock salt really costs and how to ask your contractor to make the switch. That’s the BOSS Standard.
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SAVINGS BACKED BY THE NUMBERS
Salt prices climb. Supplies run short. Brine stretches every ton. Enter your region, acreage and salt price, and the liquid deicing savings calculator shows what switching saves you in a season.
I'M A CONTRACTOR
I'M A PROPERTY OWNER
PROPERTY REGION
PROPERTY ACREAGE
ROCK SALT COST PER TON ($)
ANNUAL WEATHER EVENTS
Determined by ZIP Code
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ANNUAL COST OF USING ROCK SALT
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ANNUAL COST OF USING LIQUID
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SAVINGS MADE FROM SWITCHING TO LIQUIDS
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For demonstration purposes only. Individual results and savings will vary. BOSS Snowplow suggests using a quality brine additive with your salt brine. This comparison does not include additives in attempt to best compare like products - straight white salt vs. straight salt brine.
SWITCH AND SAVE
Rock salt costs more than the invoice shows. Enter your region and acreage, and the rock salt damage calculator shows how much salt lands on your property every winter and the damage that comes with it.
I'M A CONTRACTOR
I'M A PROPERTY OWNER
PROPERTY REGION
PROPERTY ACREAGE
ANNUAL WEATHER EVENTS
Determined By Zip Code
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SALT APPLIED ANNUALLY
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SNOW AND ICE SOLUTIONS, SIMPLIFIED
How does liquid deicing work? Brine goes down before the storm to keep snow and ice from bonding, and after the plow to melt what’s left. In these liquid deicing videos, the BOSS Snowplow team breaks down the tools, the timing and the science.
LIQUID DEICING VS. ROCK SALT
Liquid deicing and granular rock salt both use salt to clear snow and ice. Liquid does the job with less salt, less mess and more control.
| Consideration | Liquid deicing | Granular rock salt |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Already in solution, so it starts working on contact | Must dissolve into brine before it starts melting |
| Salt per acre (typical) | 200 lbs or less, up to 70% less salt | About 800 lbs |
| Application | Sprayed directly onto the surface | Spread as individual granules |
| Coverage | Consistent liquid coverage | Can bounce or scatter |
| Stays where applied | Stays where you put it | Gets crushed, tracked and blown off target |
| Anti-icing (pre-treatment) | Stops snow and ice from bonding | Limited |
| Curbs and stair edges | Treats vertical surfaces | Can't properly treat vertical surfaces |
| Cold weather | Works well below 0°F with brine additives | Loses effectiveness around 10°F |
| Corrosion | Up to 80% less corrosive with corrosion-inhibiting additives | Damages concrete, steel and landscaping |
| Tracking and cleanup | Minimal tracking, less post-storm cleanup | Granules get carried indoors and need cleanup |
| Application control | Highly controllable, with rate control | Depends on equipment and calibration |
Actual results depend on weather, pavement conditions, application rates, equipment, timing and operator practices. Sources: Liquid Deicing vs. Salt and the Elevate Your Liquid IQ video series from BOSS Snowplow.
LIQUID LEARNING
Raise your Liquid IQ with Jordan Smith, the BOSS Snowplow liquid deicing expert. This free liquid deicing video course gives you six lessons on application rates and timing, making salt brine, the equipment you need and how to bring liquids to your property owners.
LIQUID LEARNING
A free liquid deicing video course for property owners: four lessons from the BOSS Snowplow experts. Learn why contractors over-apply salt, what it costs your facility and how to start the conversation with your contractor.
THE HIDDEN COSTS OF SALT
Rock salt does more than melt ice. From your property to the environment, it leaves damage behind. This free BOSS Snowplow guide for property owners shows the real cost of relying on rock salt. Download it free.
BOSS LIQUIDTECH SPRAYERS
Build the sprayer your operation needs. Choose a 305 to 1,600 gallon VSI by BOSS LiquidTech tank to match your truck, add the gas Powerhead and the accessories you want. Pre-treat, post-treat and spot treat with one system.
GET THE DETAILS
FIND A DEALER NEAR YOU
Your local BOSS dealer will spec the LiquidTech setup that fits your trucks and your routes, and back you up all season long.
FIND A DEALERTALK TO YOUR CONTRACTOR
You’ve seen what liquids can do. Now bring your contractor in and switch your property to liquids. Send them the details and start the conversation about liquid deicing on your property.
LEARN MORE ABOUT VSI BY BOSS LIQUIDTECH PRODUCTS
Liquid deicing FAQ: quick answers
What is liquid deicing?
Liquid deicing is the use of salt brine, or another liquid deicer, on pavement in place of or alongside rock salt. Applied before a storm (anti-icing or pre-treatment), it stops snow and ice from bonding to the pavement. Applied after plowing (deicing or post-treatment), it melts the snow and ice that is left. Brine can also pre-wet rock salt so it starts working faster. Either way, plowing goes faster and you spread less granular salt.
What is the difference between anti-icing and deicing?
Anti-icing, or pre-treatment, is applying liquid before or during a winter weather event so snow and ice can't bond to the pavement. Deicing, or post-treatment, is applying material after snow or ice has built up to break that bond.
What is salt brine?
Salt brine is salt dissolved in water. The standard concentration is 23.3% salt, about 2.28 lbs of salt in every gallon of brine. That is the eutectic point, where brine stays liquid at the lowest possible temperature. Mixing stronger than 23.3% raises the freeze point.
How much salt does liquid deicing save?
Up to 70%. A typical contractor applies around 800 lbs of granular salt per acre. With liquids, that drops to 200 lbs per acre or less, because brine skips the step where rock salt has to dissolve before it melts anything.
For contractors
How much brine should I apply per acre?
Pre-treat at 40 to 50 gallons per acre, ideally 24 to 48 hours before the storm. Post-treat at 80 to 120 gallons per acre after the lot is plowed. Add 20 to 40 gallons per acre for high-moisture snow, and skip pre-treatment when dry snow is blowing.
What brine blend should I use?
Use straight brine above 25°F or in sun. Use a 95/5 blend of brine and additive above 15°F, a 90/10 blend below 15°F, and an 80/20 blend on sidewalks, parking decks and areas next to buildings.
Should I charge less when I switch to liquids?
No. Keep billing per occurrence at the same price. You are investing in equipment and training, and your clients get cleaner properties, faster melting and less chloride damage.
How does the contractor savings calculator work?
The calculator compares one season of rock salt with one season of salt brine on the same acreage. It figures rock salt at 0.5 tons per acre for each weather event, and brine at about 182 lbs of salt per acre for each event, which is 80 gallons of 23.3% brine. Annual weather events come from the region you select. Results are for demonstration only, and individual savings will vary.
What equipment do I need to start liquid deicing?
A sprayer and a steady supply of brine. VSI by BOSS LiquidTech sprayers pair a gas Powerhead with a 305, 500, 750, 1,000 or 1,600 gallon tank skid, so you can match the system to your truck. Plan brine storage at two to three times your per-event use.
Which LiquidTech tank fits my truck?
The 305-gallon tank fits Class 2B through Class 6 trucks, the 500-gallon tank fits Class 3 through Class 6, and the 750-gallon tank fits Class 4 through Class 6. The 1,000-gallon and 1,600-gallon tanks are built for Class 7 and Class 8 trucks.
For property owners
Why do contractors over-apply salt?
Liability. To get bare pavement fast, contractors often spread 1,000 lbs of salt or more per acre, even though 160 to 200 lbs per acre is all the job needs. Liquids let them apply only what is needed without waiting 24 to 48 hours for results.
How much damage does rock salt cause?
Studies show each ton of salt applied causes $800 to $3,000 in long-term property damage to concrete, asphalt, curbs, door frames, flooring, landscaping and structural steel. Liquids cut salt use up to 70%, and brine additives make the solution up to 80% less corrosive.
How does the property damage estimate work?
The property owner calculator figures rock salt use at 0.5 tons per acre for each weather event, and salt-related property damage at $500 per acre for each event. Annual weather events come from the region you select. It is an estimate, and actual results will vary.
How do I talk to my snow contractor about liquid deicing?
Ask how many tons of salt they used on your property last season, and whether they will use liquids. Then start small: require liquid pre-treatment on parking lots and liquids on sidewalks. The Liquid Learning series for property owners walks you through it.