BLOG NUMBER 25.33
Snow experts are great at removing snow from commercial and residential properties, but many people want to avoid the cost and remove the snow themselves. But where do you start? What’s the best way to prepare your property for a snowstorm? Snow experts recommend a few steps to get you ready:
1. Add Salt Prior to a Snow Storm
It is actually much more beneficial to use salt and de-icing chemicals BEFORE the snow starts to fall, even though most homeowners salt their driveways and walks AFTER they have cleared their snow. To avoid ice, rock salt and de-icers function by raising the freezing point of water. Snow that has just fallen can become compacted and treacherous, especially if you walk on it. Snow removal is made simpler, and walking is made safer by using salt before it snows.
2. Place Tarps in Strategic Areas
Before the snow starts to fall, lay down drop cloths or plastic tarps to make it simple to remove snow from important areas fast. The path leading from your front door to your automobile, the area next to your car’s driveway, or your porch steps could all be considered important places. Drag the tarp away and place the snow somewhere else in your yard when you’re prepared to leave the house or start snow cleanup.
3. Avoid Snow Buildup
It is far simpler to start clearing snow immediately rather than waiting for the storm to pass. Snow gets heavier as it accumulates, increasing the likelihood that it will stay on the ground and become much more challenging to remove later. Make regular rounds of your home’s high-traffic areas, such as the front stairs, main pathways, and driveway, rather than waiting to start clearing the snow.
4. Set Up Stakes Around the Perimeter of Your Sidewalks and Driveways
Expecting a snowfall of more than six inches where you live? With tall stakes, outline the perimeter around your driveway and walkway. This will make it much simpler to start your snow removal operations, whether you choose to shovel the snow yourself, use a snowblower, or even hire a snow removal professional. This approach is particularly useful after severe storms when it is impossible to remove snow gradually.
5. Purchase a Snowblower
Have you grown weary of manually removing snow each winter? When dealing with huge areas like sidewalks or your driveway, a snowblower can save you a lot of backbreaking labor. Although snowblowers can appear pricey, you’ll understand their strength when you can easily dig out of your first significant snowfall.
Snowblowers are a very useful item to have on hand for moving even a small amount of snow.
6. Invest in a Snow Roof Rake
Your roof may suffer damage from a lot of snow. The structure of your roof can be harmed by too much weight, leading to cracks and possibly eventual collapse. Ice dams are formed when the snow melts and then re-freezes, endangering your gutters and causing further damage. It is crucial to clear your roof of heavy snow as soon as you can because of this.
While clearing snow from a flat roof might sometimes be rather simple, doing so on a sloped roof is much more difficult. A roof rake can be quite helpful for swiftly and safely clearing snow from your sloped roof while you remain safe on the ground. You can find helpful videos on YouTube to show you how to safely and effectively operate a roof rake.
7. Implement Safe Snow Removal Habits
It takes a lot of effort to shovel snow, especially as you get older. Don’t put too much strain on your body by doing too much at once. Here are some tips for keeping your joints and muscles protected while shoveling snow.
- Remember to bend your knees and lift your body with your legs instead of your back while keeping the shovel and snow as close to your body as possible.
- Avoid twisting motions, which can cause your back a lot of stress. When dumping snow, try to turn your entire body.
- Never try to dig all the way to the ground while shoveling snow that is deeper than a few inches. In order to keep the weight reasonable, shovel a few inches at a time. Better yet, shovel your surfaces as soon as there are 3-4 inches of snow on the ground. If you let it get deeper prior to shoveling, you risk hurting your body.
- Switching between shoveling with your right and left hands will allow you to rest each side of your body. You can also switch from an underhand to an overhand grip to reduce muscle soreness and strain.
- Take breaks and measure your heart rate often. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Conclusion
Even though clearing up after a winter storm is definitely not on your list of enjoyable activities, we hope these suggestions can make the process go more quickly and make shoveling snow less miserable this winter. Even if you are not a snow expert, you can be prepared for success! Contact Swenson Consulting.
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