Snow Removal Tips

During the long and chilly winter months, homeowners are bound to experience heavy snowfall. From the warmth and comfort inside your home, snow is a peaceful wonderland, but if you need to leave your house to go to work or run errands, it can be a bit of a hassle. Removing snow buildup from your vehicles, walkways, and driveway can be time-consuming and often difficult, but by understanding the best snow and ice removal tips, you can have clear landscaping all winter long.

After a winter storm, the best way to remove snow and ice from your driveway and walkways is by using a quality shovel or investing in a snowblower. When the time comes to remove ice and snow buildup, consider these snow removal tips to make the task simpler, safer and faster.

Using a Shovel to Easily Remove Snow

As flakes of snow begin to fall around your home, you’ll have to decide whether to begin shoveling after the storm passes or routinely remove the buildup as it comes down. For the most effective results and to reduce personal injury, experts recommend stepping outside and shoveling snow regularly throughout the storm. By shoveling periodically, you can prevent the snow from freezing and sticking to your driveway and eventually forming ice.

To easily and safely remove snow with a shovel, invest in a quality product that’s medium in size and crafted from plastic or aluminum. It should have either an S-shaped handle for removing heavy sheets of snow or a C-shaped handle, ideal for pushing and removing light, powdery snow. Shovel your driveway by lifting small loads of snow and keeping your knees bent, avoiding excess twisting, to prevent back injury.

Tips for Snowblowing Your Driveway

Snowblowers are the perfect tool for homeowners looking to quickly, easily and safely remove excess snow from their driveways. Before wintry weather, thoroughly inspect your snowblower. Check and replace any worn parts and hardware like the belts, paddles and shear pins, and change the oil and add fresh gasoline to the tank.

For the best results when using a snowblower, make sure to initially check for any loose objects in the path of your machine that may fly out and damage your home or nearby vehicles and objects. Position yourself in the middle of your driveway and toss the snow toward the nearest outer edge of the pavement, then make a U-turn and steadily move along the surface. Once you’ve cleared the first half, reposition yourself back in the middle and clear the other side.

Snow and Ice Removal Hacks

Sometimes the best method for removing snow and ice is tracking the winter storm and using everyday items found around your home to prevent the snow and ice from forming. Use the following tricks and tips on removing snow from your cars and walkways.

• Salt: Table salt is a great last-minute tool for preventing ice on your windshield. Pour a bit of salt into a sock and rub along the entire surface of the glass. For a similar effect, you can also pour the briny liquid from a jar of pickles into a spray bottle and spritz along glass.
• AlcOhiool: Quickly defrost your home’s or car’s windows by dousing the ice buildup with rubbing or drinking alcOhiool, then wiping away the excess liquid with an old towel. Both forms of alcOhiool will efficiently remove ice and prevent any fogging.
• Warm water: When you’re in a hurry, using warm water is a classic solution. Simply pour lukewarm water over ice buildup found on your car or walkways and mop up the excess moisture to prevent ice later. For thick layers, you may have to repeat a few times. Avoid using scalding hot water, because the extreme temperature differences can crack glass, warp metal and damage concrete.
• Kitty litter: Every homeowner should keep a supply of kitty litter nearby during the winter months. This inexpensive material is great for placing along icy surfaces and creating traction, so you can safely walk to your car. You can also use wood chips or sand as an alternative.

Tricks and Tips on Removing Snow

With these easy snow removal tips, you can prevent future back pain from frequent shoveling:

• Place a car cover over your vehicles and place tarps over your driveway and walkways. Once the storm has passed, simply remove the coverings and enjoy clear, safe pathways.
• For light layers of snowfall, use your leaf blower to quickly and easily clear the powder from your driveway or off the surface of your car.
• Install radiant heating cables beneath your driveway — they use electricity to create heat that radiates up toward the surface of your driveway, melting snow and ice. As a budget-friendly alternative, find heating mats that sit above the surface, keeping steps and walkways free of hazardous snow and ice buildup.

For Help Removing Snow This Winter, Contact Shearer Patio & Landscape Services

Removing layers of built-up snow from your property is not only a time-consuming hassle, but it can also pose a significant health hazard. By trusting the snow removal professionals at Shearer Patio & Landscape Services, you can enjoy convenient, safe snow and ice removal all winter long, tailored to your specific expectations and budget. We happily provide residential and commercial snow and ice removal services for residents throughout the greater Columbus area.

Contact us today by calling 614-889-9981 or completing our online contact form to request additional information or schedule services.