Metal is very sensitive to extreme temperature changes. While it's one of the strongest manufacturing materials available, wintertime can literally be its breaking point. That isn't just bad news for metal, but potentially dangerous for people, too.

This winter, Metalico Rochester, Rochester's leading scrap yard and metal recycling facility, wants to warn you about the following wintertime metal hazards:

• Brittle Metal: Metal can get so brittle that it snaps, even at the slightest pressure. Be very careful when dealing with metal this winter, as even simply opening your car door can cause the handle to come right off. You can even break your key off in your front door! (So be sure to have extra copies and keep a locksmith's number handy.)

  

• Hidden Metal: Snowfall can blanket scrap metal on your property, creating an invisible hazard to children and animals who might wander into the area. Why not get it removed while it's still visible? Metalico Rochester offers routine scrap metal pick up services to commercial clients, and even provides their own containers.

• Sticking to Frozen Metal: You may know all about the dangers of getting your tongue stuck on a frozen flagpole from the cult hit, A Christmas Story – but they're worth reiterating for the newest generation of children. Essentially, the reason why your tongue sticks to ice is that your saliva freezes on contact. Metal materials are highly conductive, and will rob your tongue and/or skin of heat so rapidly that your body heat won't be able to stop your saliva / perspiration from freezing. Materials like wood and plastic are less conductive, which is why you don't get stuck to them when they're cold. So warn your children about the dangers of touching or licking metal structures this winter.

Metalico Rochester accepts used car parts, old computers, and other scrap metal. To learn more about their metal recycling services, give them a call at (585) 436-0713 or visit their website.