Salt shortages are hardly uncommon. Midwestern states last year suffered a severe salt shortage which caused problems for businesses that didn’t have snow management plans or hadn’t already hired a team of snow removal experts.
Earth Development, throughout that shortage, provided businesses of all varieties with reliable and regular snow removal and deicing services. However, for companies that didn’t hire us, the salt shortage meant that many parking lots became unusable.
Those salt shortages could well impact businesses and homes during winter 2020-2021. As demand for salt has increased, supply had been impacted by a strike at a Goderich, Ontario. What’s more, a mine operated by Cargill experienced significant flooding in its shafts. As a result of North American supplies being impacted, salt started being imported from Chile and Egypt.
This year with the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the supply of all kinds of goods, and with the lingering impact of this shortage, businesses should be prepared for another shortage.
Earth Development has four great tips to help you survive it.
Conserve Your Salt
The first strategy is to conserve the salt that you have. This involves taking steps to minimize the amount of salt you use, while also enjoying the benefits of salt as a deicing agent. There are a few ways you can do this, and we’ll start with mixing salt with sand.
By combining these two substances, you’ll enjoy the deicing qualities of salt combined with the increase in friction on the ground that sand offers.
If you don’t have enough salt to pre-salt outdoor surfaces, then don’t. Also consider plowing or shoveling more snow, rather than relying entirely on snow. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s the best you can do if you don’t have enough salt at hand.
Also use treated salt where possible, as you get the same effect as with regular rock salt, but while also using less.
Rely On A Professional Snow Contractor
Easily the best way to survive a salt shortage is to rely on the professional services of a snow removal company like Earth Development. With our hundreds of vehicles and tools readily available, we can help your business throughout the winter months. We also have sufficient supplies of salt to ensure we can keep your business functioning this winter, or your home driveway clear and safe to use.
Talk to us about your concerns for the winter, and we’ll discuss the options available to you, and the details of our salt supply.
With Earth Development, you get a reliable service no matter the weather, and even during salt shortages. We even have fantastic alternatives that we deploy depending on the weather, temperature, and the type of outdoor surface we’re treating.
Always Review Your Snow Management Plans
Don’t just wait until the bad winter weather wreaks havoc on your business…take action now!
If you don’t already have a plan in place for ad winter weather, be sure to make one now. If you do have one, be sure to review it frequently. Look at the high-traffic areas of your property and ensure you have enough resources to treat those areas and consider potential trip hazards in your entryways, parking lots, and pavements.
Consider the tools that you need and the resources you require if you haven’t hired the excellent services of a snow removal company like Earth Development.
As part of your snow management plans, consider your supply of salt. As long as you have a dry and cool place to store your salt, it’s always worth keeping a supply in case the weather gets particularly bad.
Use Alternatives
Finally…why not use alternatives? Where possible, use alternatives like sugar beet juice, alfalfa meal, coffee grinds, or kitty litter?
Sure, they’re not ideal, but they’re handy if you’re stuck with nothing else.
Why Not Leave It to the Experts?
The best way you can avoid a salt shortage impacting your business this winter is to trust the experts at Earth Development to handle your snow management plan.
Call us today at (866) 618-7082 and we’ll arrange a visit to your property where we will draw up a custom management plan, and plan for our snow removal team to attend your property before, during, and after adverse weather events.
We’ll even give you a free, no-obligation quote!