Westmoreland suppliers scramble to get de-icers for home use

Dave Andrako of North Huntingdon was filling seven buckets with rock salt this week at Norwin Landscape Supply for the spreader he uses to keep his driveway and sidewalks clear after a snowstorm.

“It’s easier to use the loose salt” rather than the bags, said Andrako, who was joined by his 11-year-old son, Aiden.

For customers looking to buy a bag of de-icer for their homes, Norwin Landscape Supply co-owners Alfie and Eileen Idele have been able to tap various suppliers, including Morton Salt Co. and American Rock Salt Co.’s storage site along the Monongahela River in Rostraver, to get what customers want.

Some people were so desperate this week, about 300 customers flooded the North Huntingdon businesses Monday to get bags of salt after Eileen’s son, Dave Andrascik, publicized its availability on social media.

“We had cars lined out to the street,” Andrascik said.

At Bortz Hardware in downtown Greensburg, the spot in the store where they keep white calcium chloride pellets — the kind of de-icers that won’t pit a concrete driveway — was bare Thursday, and store owner Gary Adams said he is not sure when he will get another load.

Adams says he checks his supplier’s inventory in the mornings to see what is available but has had no luck recently.

His supply went quickly in the latest bout of winter weather.

“The ice was the wild card. They (customers) needed it” and bought it, as people were taking care of their own homes, and sometimes their parents’ homes, Adams said.

Add in that March, when businesses are looking toward spring, is just around the corner, and supplies will become a little bit tighter.

“It is getting late in the (winter) season, and a lot of suppliers are not willing to commit” to ordering a large amount of de-icing material, Adams said.

At Hepler’s Hardware in Youngwood, winter has been good for their sales of rock salt and other de-icers.

“We’ve been selling the pallets left and right,” said Dylan Grindle, assistant manager. The store is out of calcium chloride and will not be getting any more this season.

Grindle said the business was able to get a rock salt/magnesium mix that is better for concrete than rock salt.

“We have not had supply chain issues. Our supplier keeps us informed about what is available,” Grindle said.