The snow has been falling hard the past few months, and although it may be a beautiful sight, it can pose significant issues for homeowners! Since we’re in the middle of winter, we thought we would share our best snow removal tips to help you make it through to the spring!
Prepare for the Task at Hand
Before tackling the snow, make sure you are dressed appropriately! Dressing in layers allows you to take off article of clothing when you get warmer from working hard, and still be comfortable. Snow removal can be hard on the body, so make sure to stretch your arms, legs and hips before going outside.
Invest in Quality Equipment
Even though we would all prefer to see light and fluffy snow all around us, that’s definitely not not the reality of snow in Ontario. Heavy, mushy and wet snow all create a difficult removal process. Whether you purchase a durable shovel or invest in a snow blower, make sure you have equipment that can handle all types of snow and ice. When purchasing a shovel, look for one that is ergonomic and has a wide-grip handle – this will help avoid back injuries by reducing the weight of snow.
Stay on top of it
The more snow accumulates, the hard it is to remove. Make sure to shovel your driveway, sidewalks and paths to your home early and often to avoid heavy snow/ice. When shoveling, you should bend your knees, and lift with your legs to avoid injury. Look around your home and yard to see if anything that is covered in snow could break, including tree branches, shrubs or even your roof!
Don’t forget the salt and sand!
To avoid ice from forming or to get rid of ice, make sure to apply salt or sand to your driveway, sidewalk and pathways. Both these items have advantages and disadvantages; salt will only work in a limited temperature range and has a negative affect on the environment when used in large quantities. Alternative ice melters are available and work at lower temperatures. Sand, on the other hand, can be used at any temperature but can clump and freeze together, make removal harder.