As I write this I am watching a steady rainfall melt what is left of a recent snowfall, which blanketed our lawn. I can’t help but smile as I watch the falling drops slowly eat away at the remaining piles of dirty snow (what can I say I’m from Hawaii). We were lucky, this last storm only brought us a few inches, while our neighbors to the south saw up to 20 inches of the white stuff fall in less than 24 hours. Back then snow removal was the talk of the state.
Today I sit and watch as Mother Nature does her part to rid us of snow and ice. However, most days we aren’t as lucky and are forced to use other tools to clear paths to our mailboxes and sidewalks.
If you live an area that receives snow then you probably own a snow shovel (or two or three). However, an alternative worth considering if you live in a region, which receives heavy snow is a snow blower. There are three basic types, with differing uses and capacities.
· Stage One Snow Blowers. These machines are good for most urban and suburban areas. They are lightweight and maneuverable and handle wet, heavy snow very well. However, they will not handle the thick, hard, icy accumulation left behind at the end of your driveway by the snowplow.
· Stage Two Snow Blowers. These are good for larger driveways or snow drifts (a.k.a. the bane of my existence). It has an auger that breaks up the snow and an impeller that throws it.
· If you have a lawn tractor, it may be able to accommodate a snow blower attachment. Check with the machine’s manual.
Whether you remove the snow via a snow blower or a shovel you will still have to deal with the ice left behind. Ice does not just freeze on the pavement, it freezes to the pavement. Keeping it from forming in the first place is another challenge. This is where chemical de-icers or anti-icers come in.
A de-icer is a chemical that you spread on snow or ice. Its main purpose is to seep through to the surface of the pavement and melts the ice there, thereby making it easier to remove the snow. The most common de-icer is rock salt. It is effective and affordable.
In contrast, an anti-icer is a chemical that is applied before the snow starts to fall. If you are reluctant to use an anti-icer because you are concerned with how it might harm the environment consider using it sparingly. Too much of any chemical can damage vegetation; even those products claiming to be made from fertilizing ingredients can cause harm. If you apply the chemicals just as the precipitation begins, their effectiveness is increased and you won’t have to use as much.
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