Even those who use snowblowers often have to “touch up” later in certain areas with a shovel. Consult the snow shoveling tips below to the make the job go more smoothly–and to make it less boring, as well.
Preparing to Shovel Snow: Safety, Comfort, Efficiency
As for any yard maintenance job, priority #1 in snow shoveling is safety, followed closely by comfort and efficiency. Consider doing the following before you even step outside:
Staying Safe and Proper Shoveling Technique
The stretching you had you do above is just step #1 in snow shoveling the safe way. Once you step outside and start wielding your shovel, remember the following:
Snow Shoveling Tips for Those Who Park in the Driveway
Save yourself some time and trouble by clearing a path to the driver’s door of your car first. Once inside, start your car and turn on the defrosting mechanisms (front and back). Crank the heat full-blast, even though only cold air will come out initially (it will have a chance to warm up while you’re snow shoveling). By defrosting your windows, you make it easier to clean the snow (and ice) off them. By clearing a path to your car first, you avoid trampling down snow on the way. Trampled snow has to be removed later, anyway, and it’s tougher to remove than unpacked snow.
Have a Plan Before You Start Shoveling
Leave 2 areas for last: If you can afford the luxury of clearing a driveway in stages, that’s the way to go. If the storm’s over, divide the workload into sections. If the storm’s still in progress, make a preliminary sweep, then go back after the storm.
Shoveling the Same Material Twice Doesn’t Make Sense
When you’re snow shoveling, don’t create huge piles right along the edge of your driveway. For one thing, some of the chunks will end up tumbling down back into your driveway, meaning you have to remove them twice. Instead, heave each shovel-full a decent distance away from your driveway. Likewise, before you start making piles, take into account what areas should be left open. For example, don’t dump the white stuff in front of the door of an outbuilding, especially if you plan on clearing a path to it later.
Snow Shoveling Tip: The Icy “Mulch”
Jack Frost may be nipping at your nose while you’re snow shoveling, but there’s no reason for your mind to become as numb as your nose! That’s why you should keep your mind busy while you’re slinging Old Man Winter’s refuse around. Here’s something else to think about: Since snow is a great insulator (sort of a “mulch,” if you will), why not direct some of your tosses into a planting bed? Just be careful on 2 scores: Some plants are more salt-tolerant than others, but there’s no sense in taking a chance.
Don’t Forget Your Shrubs While Snow Shoveling
While on the subject of plants, keep an eye out for shrub branches that are groaning under the burden of excessive snow. To prevent such branches from snapping, gently brush the snow off them.
Create a Windbreak When Snow Shoveling
Along the same lines, a big snowfall can be turned into a nice windbreak, if you aim your tosses properly. When clearing the driveway in winter, make it a point to heave some shovel-fulls up against a fence or standing surface in your yard. This windbreak does double-duty since it also protects some shrubs on the house-side of the fence from wind damage.
Would It Be Better to Use a Snowblower?
What better time to evaluate your current snow shovel than when you’re out snow shoveling? If you find yourself in pain, it may be due to your equipment. Should you switch to an ergonomic snow shovel? Another thought they may enter your mind when snow shoveling is, “Should I buy a snowblower?” Don’t jump to any hasty conclusions. Old Man Winter may have you pretty depressed at the moment, while you’re in the process of cleaning up after him. Consider the following objections:
Safety Tip: Clear Snow From Your Dryer Vent
A dryer vent blocked by snow (or any type of debris) is a fire hazard. Denizens of cold climates should make checking that such vents are free and clear of snow build-up part of their snow-removal regimen. When the vent is clogged, it can overheat, resulting in a fire. Besides, that vent is there for a reason: namely, to vent fumes. Whether you use a traditional aluminum shovel or prefer one of those newfangled plastic ergonomic shovels, be sure to remove any snowfall from the area where the exhaust comes out that is deep enough to cause a blockage. This precaution—easily overlooked by the average homeowner—could keep your home from going up in smoke. Checking that your dryer vent is venting properly should be part of a more general winter checklist that would also include checking that:
Any other exhaust systems you may have around your home are venting properly.The fire hydrant (if any) near your property is being kept clear of snow so that the fire department has easy access to it in the event of a fire emergency.Your house number can be read clearly from the street, in case an ambulance has to find your house.Snow is removed from around street drains (remember, when the snowfall finally melts, the runoff can cause problems of its own unless drainage systems are kept up to par). Make sure you know exactly where the drain is before you need to get at it. By the end of a long, snowy, winter, a veritable glacier of ice and snow may have piled up in such an area, hiding it from view. When you’re hacking your way through ice, you don’t want to have to go on an expedition to locate the drain. That would mean a lot of extra shoveling. So, in fall, take note of what feature on your property the drain lines up with.Snow is removed from roof areas with a roof rake, as/if needed.
