University Place Potassium Chloride Application
Potassium chloride application offers a chloride deicer choice for properties avoiding sodium near sensitive plantings and turf.
Potassium chloride is a deicer we apply to walks, lots and drives in University Place, Pierce County. University Place averages 5.4 in of snow per season, but it logs 36 freezing nights from Oct to Apr. Most of the trouble here is thin ice, not deep snow.
Washington Snow Removal is licensed, bonded and insured. We work out of Bothell, WA. Call 206-809-9669 to talk through your property and set up an application.
Ice and freezing nights in University Place
Ice storms and freezing rain near University Place
- Dec 23, 2022: Ice Storm; Freezing Rain reported at Lakewood; Freezing Rain reported at 1 N University Place
- Jan 19, 2012: Ice Storm; Freezing Rain reported at 3 NW Lake City; Freezing Rain reported at 5 N Fort Lewis
- Jan 17, 2024: Freezing Rain reported at 2 ENE Fox Island
Sources: NOAA and National Weather Service records for University Place, 2005–2026.
Potassium Chloride Application in University Place, WA
Potassium chloride is a granular ice melter. We spread it on pavement before or after freezing weather so ice does not bond to the surface. It suits entrances, sidewalks, parking areas and driveways where a thin glaze is the main hazard.
The local pattern shapes how we use it. University Place has snow on the ground only 3 days a year and 1.5 days with 1 in or more. Light-snow days that need deicing average 2.84 a year. With 36 freezing nights from Oct to Apr, refreezing of wet pavement is the more common problem. Freezing rain has also been reported nearby, including at 1 N University Place on Dec 23, 2022, and 2 ice storm reports have been logged since 2005. Those events can glaze a surface fast.
What the job involves:
- Walking the property to find shaded spots, ramps and drainage points where ice forms first
- Spreading the product by truck or by hand, depending on the area
- Hand work on steps and sidewalks
Pricing follows our posted rates. Bulk salt applied is $300 / ton, bagged ice melt is $45 / 50 lb bag, and crew members for hand work are $110 / person-hour. A spreader truck with driver is $325 / hour. University Place is zone C, with a $350 / dispatch trip charge and a 2-hour minimum per dispatch. Our yard is 82 minutes away, so call 206-809-9669 to plan ahead.
Prices in University Place
Billed by the hour for the crew and equipment on site, plus materials.
| Plow and spreader truck with driver (Ram 5500) | $325 / hour |
| Ice melt, bagged | $45 / 50 lb bag |
| Bulk salt, applied | $300 / ton |
| Crew member (shoveling, sidewalks, hand work) | $110 / person-hour |
| Trip charge for University Place (zone C) | $350 / dispatch |
- 2-hour minimum per dispatch.
- University Place is 82 minutes from our Bothell yard.
Prices approved Oct 2026.
Service Area
University Place
Benefits
Avoids the sodium load that damages salt-sensitive turf and shrubs; Suits properties with wells or organic-certified landscaping; Blends effectively with sand on colder mornings; Matches the mild ice events common in the Puget Sound lowlands
