The weather in the UK has well and truly taken a turn over the past month, with the milder weather replaced by freezing cold winds. As such, we expect to see more ice and snow hitting our areas soon, so being prepared for the coldest of conditions is crucial.
With some help from our customer service and sales team, we have put together a short 101 on grit bins and grit based on questions they get asked by our customers around this time of year.
How to store a grit bin
Storing a grit bin correctly is crucial for ensuring both the bin and grit is long-lasting.
Our grit bins are made from UV-resistant polyethylene that means they won’t be damaged by direct sunlight. This makes them ideal for leaving out during summer months.
If you do wish to store your grit bin away to save space, our range of grit bins can be stacked to save space. If you store the grit bins outside, you can use a waterproof cover to protect the grit and grit bin from any damage caused by the rain.
A grit bin, if stored in the right conditions, will last several years before it needs replacing. In most circumstances, grit bins are made to be long-lasting as they often face heavy-duty, outdoor use over their lifespan.
Before refilling a grit bin, we advise drying the grit bin just to protect the grit from any water that may be in the grit bin.
How long does grit/salt last?
Salt lasts forever, it can be washed away by liquids or if exposed to moisture when the salt dries it will stick together making it harder to spread. Storing the salt in a clean, dry grit bin with the lid closed is very important.
Top tip, before the first frost of the year, open the grit bin up and give the lid a wipe dry and stir up the salt, so it’s ready to use.
If you leave brown salt in a grit bin for a long time, you will find that the larger salt particles raise to the top and small grains of sand go to the bottom. Again, by giving the grit a mix will ensure you’re not left with just sand in the bottom of your grit bin on a frozen morning.
Can anyone use a public on-street grit bin?
On certain streets, you might find a grit bin idly waiting for winter each year and wonder to yourself ‘who can use that grit bin?’ Well, the answer depends on what the person using the grit wants to use it.
On-street grit bins are there for residents to spread grit on walkways or roads that councils don’t cover on their routes. The grit in the grit bins is not for personal or business use, anyone who uses it for such uses can be punished by the police.
If you are planning to clear land that is owned by your business, you will need to ensure you have your own supply of grit and a grit bin to avoid punishment.
What are my obligations as a business owner?
As a business owner, you need to ensure your business and land is gritted to prevent ice forming.
The first thing to do is to find out the borders of the land you own. By doing this, you are ensuring that you grit the areas that you own and are therefore responsible for. If there is a slip or fall on your land due to ice, the person can put a claim in against you. Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, occupiers of a property have a ‘common duty of care’ towards visitors. This duty can stretch to keeping areas free from ice and snow that may cause an accident.
You need to be prepared. If the weather is showing signs of snowfall or freezing temperatures, then get gritting to keep it safe for visitors. Keep regularly checking weather apps throughout the day, as the weather can change at any time.
It is also beneficial to ensure you have enough grit salt just in case there is an unexpected snowfall, and you need to quickly get out and grit.
Where to purchase grit and a grit bin?
Gritbins.net offers you the largest collection of grit bins online in the UK, so there is no better place to look for a grit bin than on our website.
We offer a special range of 48-hour delivery grit bins that can come in handy when snowy and icy conditions catch us by surprise.
As well as a vast array of grit bins, we have a wide range of grit available for you to spread. You have several options when you decide what grit you’d prefer, including brown rock salt and white rock salt.
For your every-winter-day needs, we have the standard grit bins, which offer the ideal solution to storing grit. Most of these are popular with small businesses that need to ensure their land is gritted over winter periods.
Here are a few examples of these:
- 2 Cu Ft Household Grit Bin - 60 Litre / 60 kg Capacity
- 3.5 Cu Ft Grit Bin - 110 Litre / 110 kg Capacity
- Large 400 Litre Yellow Grit Salt Bin
In a school, you may prefer to purchase a lockable grit bin to prevent any grit related incidents during school time. These come with small locks on the front, which will prevent children from opening the grit bin.
Here are a few popular lockable grit bins:
- 6 Cu Ft Lockable Grit Bin - 175 Litre / 175 kg Capacity
- 14 Cu Ft Heavy Duty Recycled Grit Bin - 400 Litre / 500 kg Capacity
- 30 Litre Mini Grit Bin
We recently started offering grit bin winter packs. Each pack differs, but as a norm, you will receive a grit bin and rock salt. Some packs may also include salt spreaders, a shovel or a hi-vis vest. These offer you everything you need to fight off the winter freeze.
If you’d like to find out more about the grit salt and grit bins we have available, please contact our sales team on 01777 858009 or email sales@kingfisherdirect.co.uk.
