Snow removal questions

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I have never heard of an electric shovel and I live in 'Winterpeg'. I can't think of any part of shovelling that can be motorized. It's all manual labour..

An electric shovel is essentially a small blower designed for doing smaller walk ways. It isn't really appropriate for a full driveway.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Does salt help? I've seen driveway salt sold before, although I understand it's pretty nasty once it runs off into soil and sprays on car bodies.

Salt isn't really for getting rid of piles of snow and it won't do that. Salt is more to keep the bottom ice layer from freezing solid so it can be removed. However, salt loses its effectiveness the colder it is. At 20 degrees, salt's effectiveness is but 1/5 of that at 30. At 10 degrees, salt does virtually nothing.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I should clarify when I use the icemelt stuff we own it's not for the driveway. I'm using it on my steps to my front door and my sidewalk. The sidewalk is the reason I chose to get a pet friendly one because my neighbors walk their dogs on the sidewalk and we have children that use the sidewalk a lot. We also have the cluster of mailboxes for our part of the street on our part of the sidewalk so we try to ensure it stays clear without damaging the concrete or the grass/trees/plants.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That is really to toss down on icey spots. It isn't like you can toss it on a pile of snow and have it take care of your driveway for you. Generally, you blow/shovel the driveway and porch and then toss salt down on the icey steps or sidewalk or whatever.

That depends on the forumla you get. The one I have can be used on top of snow that is up to 2inches (the one or two times I used it last year when it wasn't forecasted to snow but only snowed a inch or so I used it ontop of the snow and worked just fine though like I mentioned above I used it for the sidewalk and the front steps but the bag doesn't say "hey don't used for a driveway" it's just that people generally don't do it). If the snow is more than 2 inches then you shovel first. Granted in the OP's case it's doubtful they would get just 2 inches or less at a time given the amount of snow they get per year but in my area that's entirely possible. Though as I mentioned before it tends to work best if put down before it snows so it can help prevent icing up and helps melt the snow quicker.

 

[Turn the Page]

That depends on the forumla you get. The one I have can be used on top of snow that is up to 2inches (the one or two times I used it last year when it wasn't forecasted to snow but only snowed a inch or so I used it ontop of the snow and worked just fine though like I mentioned above I used it for the sidewalk and the front steps but the bag doesn't say "hey don't used for a driveway" it's just that people generally don't do it). If the snow is more than 2 inches then you shovel first. Granted in the OP's case it's doubtful they would get just 2 inches or less at a time given the amount of snow they get per year but in my area that's entirely possible. Though as I mentioned before it tends to work best if put down before it snows so it can help prevent icing up and helps melt the snow quicker.

Uh yeah, I said a pile of snow meaning more than a dusting of 2 inches. I was referring to when you get dumped on and the plow comes by and throws a foot of snow at the end of your driveway. Snow melt isn't going to help you out there.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Uh yeah, I said a pile of snow meaning more than a dusting of 2 inches. I was referring to when you get dumped on and the plow comes by and throws a foot of snow at the end of your driveway. Snow melt isn't going to help you out there.

To be fair you also said it's "really to toss down on the icy spots" which is true but can also be used on small amounts of snow depending on the type you get and I was elaborating on that.

I'm pretty certain most people understand icemelt/salt isn't designed to just magically melt a decent amount of snow;it has its limitations.

 

[Erzengel]

We have 60 feet of driveway at about 7.61% slope. We have a gas snow blower that is probably oversized for our needs but it like hurls the snow almost it seems onto our neighbor's property.

Even a 1-2' (live in NJ) and I'm done in an hour and a half. (Cleaning off cars and porch)

 

[Turn the Page]

We have 60 feet of driveway at about 7.61% slope. We have a gas snow blower that is probably oversized for our needs but it like hurls the snow almost it seems onto our neighbor's property.

Even a 1-2' (live in NJ) and I'm done in an hour and a half. (Cleaning off cars and porch)

We just got a 254cc two stage gas powered Husqvarna. It has an electric start and a headlight. I really don't know much at all about the snowblower, that is DH's domain. We had to replace our 6 month old washer this weekend also (thanks Samsung recall) and we pretty much agreed that the washer was my domain and the blower was his.

I asked him a few months ago what he was looking for in a blower and he very eloquently said he wanted one that would clear the snow faster than him peeing a stream would melt the snow. I feel confident that the new blower will be more effective at snow removal than his bladder. I think he secretly is excited to give it a try to see how far it throws the snow and all that. I am getting a bit of a Tim the Tool Man Taylor vibe off him right now. Argh, argh, argh.

 

[manning]

Shoveling stuff is no joke requires immense focus and effort. Plow with finesse. Make sure you never over exert yourself and do as much as comfortable for you. While using blowers make sure your fingers are not injured. In worst cases there has been cases of amputations. First and foremost be dressed properly for the job. Do not shovel into the wind. You have to be extremely careful while dealing with heavy equipments. Check this article on few safety measures to be followed http://infinitygardens.ca/blog/11-essential-safety-tips-for-proper-snow-removal/ . Shovel only when you can. Choose the right chemicals.

I have heart trouble My cardiologist says no one over 50 should shovel snow with or without heart disease. Two things working against you is heavy exertion and cold air.

Have it done!