Common Misconceptions About Steam Weed Control
At Weedtechnics we speak with hundreds of people a year about their weed control and why they want organic alternatives to glyphosate. There are a number of alternatives, Satusteam™, unique to Weedtechnics, is an important tool in the organic weed control toolbox. Steam weed control is not new, various methods of steam and hot water weed control have been around for decades. Some have been pretty inefficient, unsafe or just basically useless. So it’s no wonder there are some common misconceptions about steam weed control and Satusteam™.
The biggest misconception
So the biggest misconception we see when it comes to Satusteam™, is that it is slow and needs many applications in a season. However, when you get to the truth of the matter, you realise that with each application, the process is quicker. There’s reduced weeds, reduced species, the persistent weeds are weak and the seed bank is depleted. It’s impossible to achieve this with herbicides without the risk of contaminating water courses and exposing people to toxins. For this reason, with Satusteam™, costs drop over time and presentation improves. In the Sydney climatic zone in urban streets, after an initial 1st year, treatment frequencies per annum are just 6-8. Even in a wet year, it is equivalent to herbicide applications.
Is steam weed control dangerous?
The next most common misconception is that steam is dangerous to use.
This comes from a perception that steam weed control uses a pressure boiler with water at extreme pressure and temperature and that any rupture will be catastrophic.
The difference of Satusteam™
Limited PPE necessary when using Satusteam™
The Weedtechnics process does not use a pressure boiler. We simply heat the water as it flows through a heat exchanger. So while Satusteam™ is delivered at 100ºC, it is emitted at just 60psi, 4 Bar, which is equivalent to heavy rain. The insulated hoses, Cool Touch lances, straight forward controls and built in safety switches, make Weedtechnics machines easier and safer to use. So, they are easier than lawn mowers, brush-cutters and chainsaws. So, as far as being scolded by the Satusteam™, you wouldn’t pour boiling water from your kitchen kettle onto your skin and nor would you direct the Satusteam™ towards yourself.
The risks associated with applying Satusteam™ are much easier to manage and pose NO RISK of cancer. Compared with the insidious nature of toxin absorption through skin or inhaling the vapour of glyphosate based products.
