There are few things more relaxing than waking up to a snowy morning, warm drink in hand, enjoying the perks of winter. But then, there are also few things more frustrating than the realization that there is now two feet of snow in your driveway and your gutters are frozen over. Now, you are kicking yourself for not making the necessary preparations for Flagstaff’s unpredictable winter months. These kinds of snowy headaches can be easily remedied with the proper snow thrower, well-installed heating cables and a stash of ice melt on hand.
Living in an area that gets so much snow, most know that one guarantee is there will be shoveling to do. If you’re tired of doing it the old fashioned way, a snow thrower is the right way to go. But there are some things you need to take into account before purchasing one, such as the kind of area you’re going to need to clear, and the costs and benefits of the two different kinds of snow throwers. If you have a small pathway or area with not very high snow, a single stage model would be much easier for your needs. This simply scoops up snow and propels it out of a hand-controlled chute to either side. This model is also much lighter than its counterpart, but cannot be used on any kind of surface with loose gravel or other debris. If you have a much larger area to cover, with more snow and possibly even ice to break up, you would want to look into purchasing a two-stage snow thrower. This kind of snow thrower breaks up snow and ice with a spinning auger before blowing it out the chute. Also, the two-stage is much heavier than the single stage model and can be quite a bit noisier as well. All of these things need to be taken into consideration when buying a snow thrower in order to get the right fit for your snow removal purposes.
Another concern with a big snow is build up of snow and ice on your roof and gutters. This can cause ice dams, which is when the melting snow on the roof flows down the roof to the edge, where it freezes and builds up. This can cause water to leak under the shingles; it can stain your woodwork, make watermarks on the drywall, and if it happens too often, can even rot the roof decking. This can be prevented with properly installed heating cables onto your roof edge. You can do this yourself, or have it professionally done. It may seem pricey or time consuming, but it is definitely worth it to save your house from any wintery damage.
The most popular way to eliminate ice on sidewalks and driveways is the use of ice melt products. Although many products claim to be safe and not harmful to property, damage to concrete and metal corrosion can still occur. There are many of these products on the market, varying in price and effectiveness, but they all have some of the same things in common. When using an ice melt, the snow on top of the ice must be all cleared off, or the ice melt will not melt everything. These products when overused have the potential to corrode metal and do damage to nearby vegetation, so being cautious of that is important. If damage does seem to occur, washing the area with water could help prevent any more. It also goes without saying that like any chemical compound, you must wear gloves when applying it to your sidewalk, because it can cause irritation to your hands. Above all else, reading instructions and careful application is all you need to rid your sidewalk from dangerous ice.
Winter can potentially be a very stressful time for all of us if we are ill-prepared, but it doesn’t have to be! With the proper tools, any home can be quickly and easily freed of any snow-related issues, leaving you to plop back down next to your fireplace, sip your favorite hot beverage, and enjoy watching the snow fall. FBN
Written by Mike Bracken of HomeCo Ace in Flagstaff, serving locals for more than three decades.
1763 E. Butler Ave. Flagstaff, AZ 86001