For those of you living in warm climates stop reading now and bask in the glow of not having to do any of the things below. For those of you that do have to brace the snow, here is a winter weather checklist for all the work you need to do outside.
How To Prepare For Snow
- Buy two good sturdy shovels for snow removal. One that is a pusher and one that can scoop. Not all snowfalls are the same for lighter snow of say 1-4” a snow pusher will make quick work of clearing both the driveway, sidewalks and even steps. And if the snow is really light how about a powerful battery-operated leaf blower? Really! If no one steps on that light snow you can just blast it away no shovel needed.
- A motorized snow blower or snow thrower depending upon what you call it in your neck of the woods. I say motorized because you have several choices now. Gas powered both two-stage and single-stage. Two-stage units are for bigger jobs, heavier snows and longer worktimes. Single-stage units are plenty for most snowfalls for your home driveway and sidewalks. And in the single-stage area you have electric corded units and now powerful cordless units as well. Your local Ace can help you decide on what’s best for your home and job.
- Ice melt; this is a big one and you want to make sure you have the right stuff and are using it correctly. Rock Salt is the least expensive product to use and is very effective. But it can also be rough on vegetation and even concrete and asphalt so you it sparingly and when possible when things warm up broom off the excess. Calcium and Potassium Chloride are also very effective but are less harmful to the other areas I described. And these chemicals also have versions that are pet friendly. While you still need to wipe the paws of your outdoor pets when they come in with a damp rag, they are far less aggressive on their pads. There is also a liquid version, called Qik Heat, that is a great choice for homes with pets but to use a pre-treatment when you know the snow is coming. It leaves a layer on surfaces and for lighter snowfalls and ice it just won’t stick.
For more tips, go to Tips.acehardware.com
Published: 1/11/2021
