Snow removal 101 for homeowners
Winter can be a wonderful season with cozy evenings by the fireplace, festive holidays and tons of fun snow-related activities. However, as beautiful as snow is, it can complicate the lives of many homeowners across the country, requiring additional upkeep and preparations.
Luckily, there are tips and hacks that may help you deal with snow and sleet. From small hacks to use while shoveling to unexpected uses of cooking spray, you may consider adopting some of them to hopefully make snow removal a bit easier in the winter months.
Snow-removal preparation
If you take certain steps before the first snowfall, you might thank yourself later for making snow removal faster and easier. Some tips to prepare for snowy weather include:
Cleaning out gutters before winter
It may seem counterintuitive to start snow-removal preparation with something not entirely related to snow. However, clogged gutters may lead to ice build-up (sometimes called ice dams) during winter, which could possibly damage the roof. Gutters clear of leaves and debris allow for a better water flow from melted ice and snow and could possibly make it easier to keep your roof in good shape through the winter. DIY-inclined homeowners may be able to do this themselves, though it does involve getting up in high places that you may choose to hire a professional for instead.
Potentially investing in a snowblower
Having a snow blower at hand may significantly decrease the effort you put into snow removal. It could be especially beneficial for those who live in a climate with heavy snowfall or those who need to clear large areas. Several types of snow blowers are available on the market, such as single-stage, two-stage and three-stage models. Single-stage snow blowers are usually the lighter and easier-to-operate options suitable for an average-sized sidewalk or driveway. Following that logic, three-stage snow blowers are generally the most powerful and suited for the most challenging tasks.
If you're on a budget or the first snowfall caught you off-guard, you may want to try using a leaf blower instead. It could be helpful for removing some light snow from your steps and walkways.
Applying ice melt beforehand
Another step in successful preparation is applying ice-melting agents just before the snow starts to fall. This may help prevent ice from attaching to surfaces and helps make shoveling easier. You might want to repeat the process on the areas you've just cleared of snow as well to melt any leftovers and prepare the surfaces for the next round of ice and snow.
There are many ice melts available on the market, and you could shop around to find options that work best in your situation. For example, only certain ice melts are safe for pets and plants. Also, depending on the components, some might work better for very low temperatures or be safer to use for certain surfaces, such as concrete or metal.
Picking the right shovel
The right tool may make the snow-shoveling process less exhausting and prevent you from being sore the next morning. Thankfully, the market offers many ergonomic options among snow-removal tools, and anyone can find a shovel that works best for their height. You may want to opt for a shovel that reaches your elbow at the minimum when placed on the ground, so you don't have to bend too much.
Help make snow removal a breeze
These next few tips and techniques won’t miraculously do all the hard work for you, but they might ease your snow-removing process and let you get back to the warmth of your home faster.
Don't let the snow build up
It may sound tempting to wait until the snow is over to go outside and clean it all up in one go. However, you might end up with a thick layer of heavy, dense snow that would be difficult to remove. Instead, try shoveling briefly every couple of hours, depending on the severity of the snowfall. Also, it helps to plan your path and avoid walking or driving on the snow, as it’s generally harder to remove packed snow.
Take care of your driveway
A driveway is a larger area that might require the most work for some homeowners, so you could try to approach it accordingly. If using a snow blower, choose one side of the driveway to discard all the snow onto. You could also start in the middle of the driveway and, after reaching its end, make a U-turn and continue working on the second half. Also, when clearing up snow, it could be worth paying attention to the wind, as it can either help or hurt your job.
Use cooking spray for the shovel
Do you have a lot of work with wet, heavy snow ahead of you? Try lubricating your shovel blade with cooking spray beforehand. This trick may prevent snow from sticking to your shovel, making the shoveling faster and less arduous.
Shovel safely
Before taking a shovel or snow blower into your hands, you may want to warm up for a few minutes to prepare your muscles for hard work. When dealing with snow, try to push it instead of lifting and throwing it aside, to help reduce the strain on your back.
In summary
Homeowners who live in areas that experience all that winter has to offer will likely have to deal with snow removal. However, it doesn’t have to be difficult if they’re prepared in advance and approach the process correctly. Having the right tools, following safety rules and putting some thought into the process could help make snow removal easier and let you enjoy the winter months to their fullest.
