b4tn
Valuable Member
Its that time again, my BRS solution is running low and I am realizing I can make this stuff myself for a fraction of the price. I can get baking soda cheap at walmart but I am having a real hard time sourcing calcium chloride. Dowflake xtra is not available in my area but I can get prestone driveway heat, also super cheap from walmart. It seems many have had success using the prestone but I have 2 concerns.
1. I would much rather use food grade Calcium Chloride just because I feel like its safer
2. I love the BRS 2 part simplicity. It comes in pre measured packs per gallon and I am at a point where I am truly dosing equal parts of each and parameters are perfect. I am worried that by making my own mix I will screw that simplicity up.
That being said Randy's formula calls for 500 grams of dowflake or 1/5 less if using prestone driveway heat so thats 400 grams seems simple enough. So some math, driveway heat is $7.97 for 9.5lbs or 4309 grams. 4309/400 would make 10.77 gallons of calcium solution. Divide $7.97 by 10 gallons and Its roughly $.80 per gallon vs $7.49 +shipping per gallon from BRS.
Baking soda is $3.08 for 5lbs or 2268 grams divided by 594 grams is 3.8 gallons of solution. I will round down and say that it makes 3 gallons so its about $1 a gallon vs $7.49 plus shipping for BRS soda ash.
Thats a huge saving! Like round about 87%! I never did the math till today but I am still a bit sceptical... usually if something is to good to be true it is. Using the prestone/baking soda ash are people having undeniable success? Has anyone done any ICP tests after long term use?
1. I would much rather use food grade Calcium Chloride just because I feel like its safer
2. I love the BRS 2 part simplicity. It comes in pre measured packs per gallon and I am at a point where I am truly dosing equal parts of each and parameters are perfect. I am worried that by making my own mix I will screw that simplicity up.
That being said Randy's formula calls for 500 grams of dowflake or 1/5 less if using prestone driveway heat so thats 400 grams seems simple enough. So some math, driveway heat is $7.97 for 9.5lbs or 4309 grams. 4309/400 would make 10.77 gallons of calcium solution. Divide $7.97 by 10 gallons and Its roughly $.80 per gallon vs $7.49 +shipping per gallon from BRS.
Baking soda is $3.08 for 5lbs or 2268 grams divided by 594 grams is 3.8 gallons of solution. I will round down and say that it makes 3 gallons so its about $1 a gallon vs $7.49 plus shipping for BRS soda ash.
Thats a huge saving! Like round about 87%! I never did the math till today but I am still a bit sceptical... usually if something is to good to be true it is. Using the prestone/baking soda ash are people having undeniable success? Has anyone done any ICP tests after long term use?
