Snow Shoveling: It Doesn’t Have to be Painful
Each winter in Wisconsin is a little different. Some years, there’s a lot of snow, others there isn’t that much. Sometimes, the snow blindsides us with a nice sheet of white powder on our driveways the morning we need to get to work on time. Though this can be a huge hassle it doesn’t have to ruin your entire day. So, here are a few tips on how to shovel your driveway the most efficiently, and without breaking your back!
The Right Tools
First, you’ve got to pick the right tool for your personal driveway experience. We know a lot about shovels, blowers, and snow pushers, so figure out which one will be best for your situation.
Shovels
There are a variety of shovels you can use to clear your driveway, but did you know that there are better and worse ones depending on the type of snow? For us in Wisconsin, we get a lot of thick, heavy snow, so the best type of shovel is going to be a wide barrel, with a medium handle and a metal lip for scraping ice. We found a nice version of this shovel, which you can purchase at Home Depot. To learn more about different types of shovels, check out Consumer Reports’ take on the different kinds.
Click here to learn more about preventing snow damage.
Alternatives to Shoveling
Don’t like shoveling? That’s cool too. We also know about snow blowers and snow plows. Of course, these can be rather pricey, so keep that in mind, but here are some of the best ones we found:
- Ariens – Explore their website!
- Craftsman Snowblowers
- Toro Snowblowers
- Cabela’s ATV Snowplow
To learn more about how snow blowers/plows work, and what you’ll need, visit Consumer Reports’ blog on How Much Snow Blower Do You Need?
The Method
There are a few different ways you can shovel your driveway. You’ve probably just been digging right in and shoveling the snow one scoop at a time away from the driveway and leaving piles of extra snow in hazardous places. We all know how painful it can be to slip on frozen snow, so try these methods to ease your pain.
- During a storm, shovel every few hours to decrease the amount you have to shovel each time. If you don’t have the time or patience for this method, you can of course wait until the end of the storm, but don’t just go out and start lifting heavy shovelfuls of snow. Instead, shovel by layers. Doing so will take the strain off your back, and will be more effective at clearing the snow completely.
- Push the snow to the side before going in with scoops. Flip your shovel over and start at the top of your driveway, pushing in half circles to clear the snow to the sides. Once your entire driveway is mostly clear, shovel the bulk of the snow into your yard to decrease piling. Then go back over your driveway with the scraping part of your shovel to get rid of that ice.
- Use a snow blower. If you live somewhere with light, fluffy snow, this can be a huge help. Snow plows also work if you’ve got the time and the money.
- Finally, hire a service. If you just really can’t stand shoveling all that snow, and don’t want to pay for a vehicle that you will only use 4 months out of the year, try a snow plow service. Try Winter Services Inc, as they are competitively priced, and have excellent reviews!
Hopefully you won’t have to shovel great amounts of snow this winter, but if you do, try out these cool methods. For other winter weather concerns such as leaking, roof caving from snow weight, and other damages, consider giving Kelmann Restoration a call. We are prepared and qualified to restore anything from small leaks to larger construction projects. Call us anytime at 414.774.3799 and we’ll get your home either ready for the impending weather, or fix any existing damage!