As Canada goes into winter’s grip, many people shovel snow, including driveways, sidewalks, and pathways, to clean their property.
This process is integral to preventing accidents on slippery surfaces, preserving access to and from the house, and shielding surfaces from possible harm from heavy snowfall.
According to a study by the Canadian Medical Association Journal, those who shovel snow after a snowstorm are at an increased risk for cardiac arrest.
Therefore, before you start shovelling, it is crucial to know the best time to shovel snow and the safe techniques.
This blog focuses on teaching you how to shovel snow in the best way.
So, let’s begin!
Read More: 8 Driveway Snow Removal Methods for Canadian Homeowners
When is the Best Time to Shovel Snow?
Most people plan to shovel snow when they have free time. Hence, they end up waiting for the snow to finish.
Due to this, a deep layer of snow accumulates on the property, making it harder to shovel snow.
The best time to shovel snow is during the snowfall and right after it finishes.
In a similar vein, the best time of day to shovel snow is in the morning. At this time, the snow is frozen and hasn’t had time to melt.
But the snow melts in the afternoon, leaving the ground slick. You should always shovel in the morning to prevent falling. Remember that your safety should be your number one priority at all times, even if it’s more convenient or warmer in the afternoon.
Related Blog: How Much Does Snow Removal Cost in 2024?
Proper Ways to Shovel Snow for Canadian Homeowners
Here are some tips to help you shovel snow effectively:
1. Get Ready
Wear gloves, boots with good traction, and layers of clothes to make plowing snow easier. Wear garments that will absorb sweat. To make things convenient, place a bottle of water inside the house’s entrance.
2. Select the Right Tools
Choose a shovel with a curved handle that is ergonomically correct. These shovels help keep your back straighter, lessening the strain on the back.
Since plastic is lightweight, you should use a shovel with a plastic blade for snow instead of a metal one.
Other than that, you can use a smaller blade. The load will weigh less, which will ease the strain on the back.
However, when you shovel snow using a smaller blade, it may take more time to clear up the snow.
3. Begin in the Right Direction
Start in the middle of the driveway and work your way out until you’ve made a space big enough for your car if it’s far from your property.
If your driveway is too close to your property, start from the edge nearest your home and move further away each time you shovel snow.
4. Push the Snow
To get to other parts of the property without stepping on the snow, start to shovel snow off driveways, decks, and paths using a straight shovel.
5. Clear the Heightened Spaces First
After clearing the snow from the upper levels, work your way down. Start with delicate plants in the lawn or automobiles.
Similarly, if you need to remove snow from the margins of single-story roofs, use a snow rake or push broom to reach up and pull it down.
Stand on the ground, clear. Never stand on a damp, ice-covered, or snow-covered roof.
6. Monitor the Critical Areas
During heavy snow, the house outlets and inlets may get clogged. You need to shovel snow in these areas.
These include basement windows and doors, HVAC drip pipes, wall-mounted exhaust vents, and dryer vents. Using the angled broom, lightly sweep the snow away.
7. Scoop the Snowdrifts
Snow should not be lifted or pushed higher than four to six inches. Turn the shovel backward and remove drifts and large piles of snow.
If you want to shovel snow to break up large drifts, turn the shovel backward and divide it into small sections.
8. Properly Lift Snow
Before using the shovel to lift snow, make sure the blade is about the size of a basketball or a quarter to half full.
9. Chop up Thin Ice
When you shovel snow that is compacted snow and some ice to hasten the melting process, turn the snow shovel backward.
Slice the ice or snow multiple times, keeping each cut an inch from the one before. Take it easy so the shovel doesn’t break, and avoid using force when chopping.
11 Tips to Shovel Snow Safely This Canadian Winter
To reduce the chances of injuries, you can use these tips to ensure safety:
1. Melt Ice
Use ice melt for compacted snow and when it is difficult to shovel snow. Spread the ice melt using a gloved hand at a pace of approximately 1/4 cup per 25 square feet (5 feet by 5 feet).
After allowing the formula to work for 20 to 30 minutes, carefully break the ice.
2. Choose Appropriate Footwear
To avoid slip-and-fall incidents, put on boots with good tread to increase your traction behind the snow shovel. To prevent falling, walk carefully on slippery surfaces.
3. Prevent Snow from Sticking
To prevent the snow shovel scoop from sticking, mist it with non-stick cooking spray, silicone or a special ice/snow spray lubricant.
This spray will cause the snow to slide off the shovel smoothly. You can also spray car handles and doorknobs.
4. Utilize Tarps
Cover it with a tarp to prevent the challenging chore of sweeping the snow off a car.
Don’t slide the tarp off to prevent scratching the paint. Instead, roll off the tarp after removing the highest piles of snow.
5. Benefit from the Sun
The best and simplest way to shovel snow is to wait for the sun to come out.
The sun typically loosens the bond between snow and pavement. Clearing the top layer of snow before the sun rises helps the sun heat the pavement more efficiently.
6. Take a Break
To prevent overstressing your heart, take frequent pauses. Whenever you feel like you need to catch a breath, take a few minutes off. During those breaks, pay attention to your body’s sensations.
Stretch your back, shoulders, and arms and focus on hydration. In this way, you won’t overstress your body and increase your efficiency.
7. Be Mindful of What You Eat
Avoid eating a large meal right before or right after shovelling. Eating a big lunch will strain your heart further.
You shouldn’t drink alcohol right before or right after you shovel snow. Drinking alcohol may make you feel warmer than you are, which can make you misjudge how much more stress your body is under in cold weather.
8. Use a Small Shovel
Lifting large amounts of snow may increase blood pressure, so smaller weights are safer. Push the snow rather than lift it.
Pay attention to your body and learn the warning symptoms of a heart attack. Also, avoid throwing snow over the shoulder.
9. Maintain Your Posture
Maintain the natural curve of your spine and stand with the shoulder and feet wide apart. To prevent straining your back, don’t bend too low. Lastly, don’t twist your back when you shovel snow to prevent soreness.
10. See a Doctor
If you are middle-aged or older, have a medical issue, or do not exercise frequently, see your doctor before you shovel snow.
Recognize the risks associated with hypothermia. A dangerously low body temperature, or hypothermia, is a medical emergency that happens when your body loses heat more quickly than it can generate it.
11. Wear Layers of Clothing
A large portion of the body’s heat can escape through the head. Therefore, wear a hat and wear several layers of clothes.
This will keep your body temperature warm as you shovel snow. Heart failure causes the majority of hypothermia deaths.
Wearing warm clothes helps avoid hypothermia by trapping air between layers, creating a protective insulation layer.
Related Blog: Winter Lawn Care: 12 Essential Tips to Protect Your Grass
FAQs
What will happen if I don’t shovel snow?
Snow presents a safety risk; hence, several regions in Canada impose fines for promptly removing it off sidewalks.
How do I deal with wet and heavy snow?
Shovel in tiny parts to prevent overexertion because wet snow is heavier. For this kind of snow, a snow pusher may work better.
How can we deal with snow in the most eco-friendly way?
To lessen your influence on the environment, use hand tools like shovels rather than gas-powered ones, and consider using gravel or sand instead of salt.
Contact Falcons Landscaping For Quick Snow Removal
Ignoring the safety factors for shovelling snow should never be an option. If the forecast predicts a lot of snow falling over a long period, grab a shovel before it’s finished.
When you shovel snow after a storm or between snowfalls, you keep the snow from building up to enormous heights and reduce the work. Additionally, you’re less likely to get an injury from overdoing it.
If you don’t have the time to shovel snow, you can contact lawn care services in Mississauga.
From de-icing services to snow relocation, we can take care of everything.