There are plenty of enjoyable things to do in the wintertime. Many people like sitting by the fireplace and drinking hot chocolate while they watch the snowfall. Some even venture out to go ice skating and even have snowball fights in the backyard. Whatever your favorite winter activity is to do while it’s snowing, one of the most frustrating parts about winter is the need to shovel the snow.
Whether you are planning to leave the house, or need to use your walkways, snow can become an obstacle. If you decide to wait for the snow to melt, you could risk the chance of ice on your driveway or walkway. If you are tired of wasting time and effort to remove snow every winter and want to enjoy the better things, here are 6 removal snow tips that will make the job easier, more effective, and less painful.
6 Residential Snow Removal Tips
1. Use a Good Shovel
Shoveling snow during the winter can be an annoying and tedious task. If you don’t have a quality shovel to use, it’s going to be harder to shovel snow and be painful on yourself and your back. The first rule is to not cheap out on a shovel, but instead, spend extra money on a quality heavy plastic or aluminum blade shove. Investing in a nicer shovel will get the job done quicker, easier, and less painful. However, keep in mind that bigger shovels aren’t always the best despite their size. They can cause even more back pain and arm stiffness than a cheap shovel. If you are looking into finding a perfect shovel for heavy snowfall, buy an S-blade shovel. For lighter snows, buy a C-blade shovel.
2. Avoid Placing Snow Near the Foundation
Most foundations are built with concrete, stone, and brick. Even with strong foundations, water can infiltrate into the cracks of your house. When homeowners make the mistake of not considering where they should remove the snow, pilling the snow next to the side of the house can cause major issues. These issues involve the cracking of the walls, bowing walls, heaving, and frozen pipes. To prevent damage to the house, shovel snow away from your house to protect its foundation.
3. Take Precautions When Shoveling
Shoveling snow can be an exhausting activity, especially as you get older. If you don’t plan on hiring a snow removal service, it’s best to take extra precautions. Follow these safety tips:
- Bend your knees and lift with your legs. This will ease pressure from your back and prevent you from slipping
- Kee the blade close to you as you lift the snow.
- Switch between shoveling with your left hand and right hand to avoid overstraining one side of the body. By switching hands, also switch your grip between overhand and underhand.
- When there is heavy snowfall, don’t try to clear the entire depth at once. Take smaller portions to clear out the snow instead of trying to lift a huge pile of snow.
4. Shovel Often
Even when you are done removing snow, the reality is that shoveling needs to be done frequently. If the snow doesn’t stop, more snow will pile up over time. This will make your job harder the next day. If you leave removing snow until the next day, the snow will stick to the ground and even freeze. Shovel periodically when snow begins to build again and repeat the process of shoveling to keep the snowfall manageable.
5. Invest in a Snowblower
This may be an option for some, but if you are done with shoveling snow in the winter, invest in a snowblower. Snowblowers can eliminate the tedious parts of removing snow, but you will still need a shovel for your deck. Snowblowers are a faster and less labor-intensive way to remove snow, however, it is also a more expensive option. Snow blows can cost up to $500.
6. The Impact of Ice Melt
When the snow begins to melt, but the temperatures continue to drop, melted snow causes driveways to become slippery and even walkways. The way to eliminate ice is to sprinkle salt to melt the ice. Salt lowers the freezing point of water and starts melting the ice when in contact. However, there can be potential consequences of using salt to melt ice. You could damage plants, flooring, and harm your pets.
HydroClean
When snow and ice hit Asheville, NC, HydroClean has been plowing for customers for over 21 years. If you want to skip out on the hassle of shoveling snow and maintaining safety and access to your business or home, contact us for more details.