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Essential Snow Removal Tips and How to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Essential Snow Removal Tips and How to Prepare Your Home for Winter

October 31, 2024

Snow & Ice Removal

At Yardly, we recognize that, at this time of year, many people in Alberta are still enjoying colorful leaves and warm temperatures, making them less inclined to think about snow removal.  As families plan their outdoor activities to take advantage of the remaining weeks of good weather, homeowners are also reflecting on how much time they have left to clean up their yards before snow arrives. The long Alberta winter can feel exhausting and overwhelming due to all the shoveling it requires.

That’s where Yardly steps in to help. Our professional lawn care and snow removal crew are ready to handle the heavy work, whether it’s cleaning up the yard, or removing snow.  Our crews can take care of it, allowing you to dedicate your energy to the things you love most.

Book Your Fall Cleanup and Snow Removal

Our schedules are filling up quickly.  Don’t miss out on the opportunity to have Yardly’s professionals get your yard back into top shape before the winter.

Snow and Ice Maintenance Tips!

How to prevent packed snow on hardscape surfaces

Just imagine not having to shovel packed snow or scrape away ice from your driveway. For fortunate homeowners with heated driveways, this is a reality. Unfortunately, many still face the regular challenge of snow and ice build-up on hard surfaces from either tire tracks or footprints

  • If you don’t have time to clear the whole driveway or city walkways right away, consider shoveling a pathway on the driveway for your vehicle tires and a narrow pathway on the city walkway for pedestrians to walk safely through
  • If it is a skiff (a light snow dust) or trace of snow (less than 1 cm), and you have a leaf blower, that can do the job. Just make sure you avoid blowing the snow onto the neighbor’s side
  • If you don’t have the time or the equipment consider contacting Yardly to take care of it for you

CAUTION: How physically demanding the activity is will rely on the compactness of the snow. If this isn’t something you do regularly or if you’re not very physically active, be sure to take regular breaks and keep hydrated with water.

How to remove packed snow 

  • If the packed snow has not yet turned into ice and it is less than 1 cm thick, a snow/ice scraper, ice chopper or the edge of a shovel (scoopside down is most effective) can remove it with reasonable effort
  • If using a scraper, approach the area with the scraper handle on an angle to get underneath the snow to lift it up
  • If after applying the scraper, there is still some packed snow stuck on the surface, you can use the chopper to break up the top layer and apply the scraper again
  • A thin layer of ice melt product can also be applied to the area to soften it; making it easier to remove

What if the packed snow is really thick?

  • If the packed snow is more than 1 cm thick and has formed an ice layer next to the surface, it will require a combination of shoveling, scraping, chopping and an application ice melting product to clear surfaces down to concrete
  • And in a lot of cases, this process can take more than one day to complete

How to remove packed snow 

  • If the packed snow has not yet turned into ice and it is less than 1 cm thick, a snow/ice scraper, ice chopper or the edge of a shovel (scoopside down is most effective) can remove it with reasonable effort
  • If using a scraper, approach the area with the scraper handle on an angle to get underneath the snow to lift it up
  • If after applying the scraper, there is still some packed snow stuck on the surface, you can use the chopper to break up the top layer and apply the scraper again
  • A thin layer of ice melt product can also be applied to the area to soften it; making it easier to remove

What if the packed snow is really thick?

  • If the packed snow is more than 1 cm thick and has formed an ice layer next to the surface, it will require a combination of shoveling, scraping, chopping and an application ice melting product to clear surfaces down to concrete
  • And in a lot of cases, this process can take more than one day to complete

Some of the common mistakes made when applying Ice Melt

  • Unless the ice is thick (more than 0.5 cm), applying clumps of Ice Melt will only cause the product to bond to itself
  • Applying the product without having any intention of returning either the same day or next day to remove it.  Ice Melt will melt snow and ice in freezing conditions. And it will refreeze if not remove in time
  • Not considering turf edges.  Ice melt is intended for ice not grass.  
  • Excessive use can negatively impact surfaces and pets.  Some more serious conditions will require it.  But these should be managed carefully and regularly

The correct way to use Ice Melt

  • Handled with gloves.  
  • Choosing the right gloves
    • Rubber gloves with an inner lining would work fine.  But just the rubber on its own would not be the best option as they will stiffen up as temperatures get colder
    • Utility gloves can be a good option as long as it’s not too cold and you’re not outside too long.  They can work for temperatures above 0 deg C.  
    • Professionals can use a variety of glove types depending again on the temperatures
  • For residential application, the most common ways to apply Ice Melt are:
  • It should be spread out evenly for each granule to contact the surface
  • Use only when necessary
  • Remove as much loose snow or packed snow as possible before applying Ice Melt
  • Apply the product within the recommended temperature range

What’s the best temperature range for Ice Melt?

  • The optimum temperature range for applying Ice Melt is between minus 15 deg C and 0 deg C
  • Most Ice Melt products can be applied at colder temperatures down to minus 25 or 26 deg C.  As long as it is removed a short time later – 1 to 2 hours.  Any longer will cause the melted ice or snow to refreeze

What equipment would best prepare me for snow removal?

  • Shovel
    • A standard snow shovel with a straight handle works just great.  If you’re concerned about lifting heavy snow, choose a narrower shovel scoop that will pick up less snow – a 21 inch width would help.  
    • Or you can try the ergonomic style shovel with the curved handle.  The curved handle is designed to allow you to keep your posture (back) straighter with your hands parallel to the ground, as opposed to bending forward on an angle lowering your front hand toward the ground, putting strain on your back  
    • The newer the shovel, the more effective it will be at scraping down the surface for a cleaner finish
  • Scraper – most hardware stores carry lots of these.
    • When it comes to choosing the right scraper, there are a few things to consider:
      • The weight of the scraper
        • Some prefer a lighter scraper, while others prefer something heavier
        • It depends on the user’s physical strength and condition
        • If it’s lighter, it will be easier to carry 
        • It’s like a light hammer
        • If you have a heavier hammer you can apply more pounds per square inch
      • The thickness of the scraper blade
        • The thinner the blade, the easier it will be to wedge underneath snow and ice. As long as the blade is made for Canadian winters (Greggs Distributors design scrapers for this purpose)
      • The blade type (metal, steel)
        • Metal blades are thinner
        • Steel blades are thicker
      • The width of the blade
        • Wider blades cover more surface area and increase the weight of the tool
        • Wider blades require a more even surface. But they can remove more snow and ice at the same time
        • Narrower blades can reach most surfaces
      • The sharpness of the blade
        • Metal blades tend to stay fairly sharp compared to steel blades
        • Flipping the blades over periodically during use helps to keep both sides of the blade sharp
        • Steel blades can be sharpened with a grinder (manual, hand-held or table grinder)
      • The length of the handle
        • The handle length is very important 
        • A handle that’s too short puts more strain on the back
        • And if it’s too long, it’s awkward to work with and not great for tight quarters
    • How to use a scraper the right way
      • The purpose of using the scraper is to drive the blade deep underneath the packed snow or ice, in contrast to the more top-down approach of an ice chipper.
      • It’s similar to the process of removing old vinyl from a floor. The blade is intended to cut through the vinyl and slip underneath, breaking the adhesive’s grip and allowing the vinyl to be lifted off the floor.
      • So in order to get the blade underneath the snow or ice, it needs to be held on a fairly steep angle – around 30 degrees off the ground
      • The motion used with the scraper is a chipping motion.  It’s just more horizontal
  • Ice chipper – check your local hardware store
    • How to use an ice chipper the right way
      • The ice chipper can be used the same way as a scraper.  But it’s really designed to chop downwards to break up hard packers snow and ice
  • Leaf blower – for small amounts of light snow
    • Is it really effective?
      • It depends on the following conditions:
        • The amount of snow
        • The conditions of the snow (wet, dry, heavy or light)
        • The newton power (pushing power) of the air flow at the hose nozzle and the air speed
        • The width of the hose nozzle 
    • What are the optimal conditions for using a leaf blower on snow?
      • Snow thickness should be no more than 2 cm
      • The snow is dry and light

As winter approaches, it’s essential for homeowners to prioritize snow removal to ensure safety and accessibility. With Yardly’s professional services, you can alleviate the burden of snow management, allowing you to enjoy your winter activities without the hassle. Don’t wait until the first snowfall; book your fall cleanup and snow removal today to keep your home safe and welcoming all season long.