Winter Maintenance

The 7 Fastest Ways to Get Rid of Snow

15 Dec 2021
Fastest ways to get rid of snow

When winter arrives, snow can accumulate quickly on your driveway and walkways. If you leave it unshoveled, then it freezes, making shoveling an impossible task. If you have a large area of snow to clear and can’t do it alone, call on the help of snow removal services in Toronto and it’ll save you the headache of manual labour. In the meantime, the contractors at Peel Exterior Maintenance have 7 tips and tricks we’d like to share with you on the fastest ways to get rid of snow.

1. Use the wet/dry vacuum

A neat trick to get snow out of your way quickly is to hook up your hose to the exhaust on your vacuum. This turns it into a blower where you can turn on your vacuum, point it to the area of the snow, and blow the snow away.

2. Use tarp

In those rare cases when a snowstorm is coming and you know you won’t have a snowblower or shovel the next day, put some tarp down on walkways, porches, and sidewalks. So, when the snow stops, simply pull the tarp up, dump the snow in a pile and a clear path will be unveiled.

3. Spray hot water on snow

Who says you can only use your hose in the summertime to water your lawn? You can even use it in the winter to melt snow. All you need to do is connect a sprayer hose to an indoor hot water spigot and, when it snows, just spray it with hot water from the hose. On the areas where you melted snow with the hose, sprinkle salt afterward. Sprinkling salt will add traction and prevent water from freezing and turning into ice.

4. Install a heated driveway system

If you’re thinking about getting your driveway repaved, you might as well kill two birds with one stone by getting it repaved and installing an electric or hydronic system that creates heat. Having a heated driveway saves time when shoveling the snow. As it warms the surface on the driveway from underneath, once the snow rests on top, it melts on contact.

5. Use cooking spray

After a snowstorm ends and the snow is wet and heavy, a cool trick to do before you bring out your shovel is to spray it with cooking spray. The cooking spray on your shovel will prevent snow from sticking to it. So, as you work your way through the snow, you won’t get heavy snow stuck to your shovel, as it will slide right off. Just remember to wipe off the cooking spray with a hand towel before you place it back in the garage after you’re done shoveling.

6. Use a leaf blower

A leaf blower isn’t just for blowing leaves in the fall; it doubles as a mini-snowblower, too. Using a leaf blower works best at blowing snow when you have at least 3 inches or less and the type of snow is light and fluffy. When you use this method, be sure to go outside every hour while the snow continues to fall and repeat the blowing process.

7. Practice smart snow blowing

Having a snowblower saves enormous time in getting rid of snow on your driveway, so why not make it even more efficient with smart snow-blowing practices? The best practice to use with your snowblower is to start in the middle of your driveway. As you work your snowblower down the middle, direct the chute toward one edge of the driveway. Next, make a U-turn and push the snowblower down the other side of the driveway; then, alternate with another U-turn. This method prevents adjusting the chute and distributing the snow evenly on your lawn.

There you have it! Here is a rundown of 7 of the most useful tips and tricks for getting rid of snow fast.

Use the wet/dry vacuum. Connect your hose to the exhaust on your vacuum. Turn it on and blow the snow away. It’s as simple as that.

Use tarp. When the forecast calls for a snowstorm and you don’t have a snowblower or shovel handy, place some tarp over walkways, sidewalks, and areas where you will walk the next day. Once the flurries end, pull the tarp up and clear the path.

Spray hot water on snow. Connect a spray hose to an indoor hot water spigot and once it snows, spray with hot water from the hose. This will make the snow melt instantly. Be sure to sprinkle salt on the areas where you sprayed hot water to stop ice from forming.

Install a heated driveway system. Installing an electric or hydronic system in your driveway that creates heat will warm the surface, causing snow to melt on contact. It’s a big investment, but in the long run, it saves time when shoveling the snow.

Use cooking spray. Before you start shoveling wet and thick snow, spray some cooking spray on the shovel as it will prevent snow from getting stuck to your shovel. Don’t forget to wipe off the cooking spray with a small towel after you’re done.

Use a leaf blower. You can blow the snow when you have at least 3 inches or less and the type of snow is light and fluffy. When you use this method, be sure to go outside every hour while the snow continues to fall and repeat the blowing process.

Practice smart snow blowing. An efficient way to use your snowblower is to push it down the middle of your driveway. Then, direct the chute toward one edge of the driveway. Once you have reached the middle, make a U-turn and continue up the other side of the driveway. Do another U-turn until you’ve covered your whole driveway. This saves time, as you won’t have to keep adjusting the chute since the snow will land evenly on the edge.

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At Peel Exterior Maintenance, we offer landscaping services in Toronto to get your yard ready for winter. Contact us today to learn more about our snow removal services in Toronto and to receive a free program evaluation. Call us at 1-888-290-1216 or contact us here.