If you’re like me than you haven’t
quite lost that childish excitement when the snow begins! I have many fond
memories of waking up to see the world covered in a beautiful layer of white
and an unexpected day off of school spent playing with my friends. As an adult
however, snow has taken on a slightly different meaning. Although I still love
the snow it also means that I have the arduous task of “digging out” and trying
to make my appointments on time.
Shoveling the snow is hard work but
if it is packed it becomes almost impossible to remove, that is why time is of
the essence. Once the snow begins to melt it becomes quite heavy and the
somewhat simple task of shoveling takes on an entirely new meaning. If you are
able to shovel than remember not to pile the snow up next to your house.
Melting snow can cause leaky basements and a host of other problems so be sure
to make your snow pile away from your home. It also helps to shovel away from your home and sidewalks. You
don’t want to move a snow pile twice so “inside out” is the proper method to
use.
It’s also important to choose the proper
shovel. Very large shovels are also very heavy when filled with snow. A smaller
more manageable size might save you a lot of wear and tear on your back! If you
have the option, a snow blower is the best choice for all types of snowfall
from light to heavy and will save you a lot of time and trouble. Not only does
it move the snow in record time but it can even help with wet snow. Of course,
this is an expensive proposition if you live in an area that does not
experience frequent snowfall during the winter months.
Rock salt is a wonderful tool when
it snows but it won’t do much against hardened ice that may form around stairs,
downspouts and the like. For this nothing less than an ice chopper will get the
job done. Simply applying salt to solid ice will take time and usually won’t
melt it completely. Ice requires elbow grease, there are no shortcuts. Make no
mistake about it, this is very hard work and depending upon your age and
general health it may be a better choice to pay someone else to assist you. Be
careful when removing ice. An ice chopper (or pick) is sharp and the ice is
very slippery so take care when performing this wintery task!
Rock salt is great for moderate snow
and thin sheets of ice but can be hazardous to your pets. You can purchase
pet-safe salt but it’s not quite as effective as the standard variety. Either
way you will need a ton of salt for
heavy snows and thick ice. Salt can save you a lot of effort but more severe
snowfalls require good old fashioned physical labor!
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