Environment Friendly Tips to Clear Snow and Ice

The mercury has dipped and keeps dipping. You look out of your window and see a dazzling, white blanket of snow covering everything from your car, to your mailbox, to your driveway. This snow needs to be removed at some point. Ice and snow removal is an unavoidable part of winter and somebody’s got to do it. Before you start, stop to consider if the way you remove snow and ice is harmful for the environment. There are many ways of removing ice and snow. However, a lot of these methods affect our environment, our children, and our pets. Snow and ice control can be done with more sustainable materials.

Let us look at some environment friendly alternatives to removing snow from our properties.

• Organic de-icer – Instead of using salt, use organic de-icers. These may be slightly more expensive but are not as harmful as salt. These are also pet friendly and do not harm plants.
• Coffee grind – When you drink coffee, store the grind for use later. Coffee grind is of a dark color and will absorb sunlight even when it is cloudy. As a result, it will melt ice and not harm your plants or pets in the process.
• Alfalfa meal – Being a natural fertilizer, it is not as harmful to the environment as salt. It provides traction for vehicles and clears ice on roads.
• Sugar Beet Juice – Juice obtained from sugar beet can be used as a natural ice melter. It reduces the melting point of both snow and ice.
• Sand – Sand is a good thing to use for traction, but in moderation. Too much of it might clog drains when the spring melt begins.
• Snow Melt Mat – This a great way to melt the snow from your driveway and it does not harm the environment as much as salt does. It involves installing a snow melt mat underneath the driveway. Once the ice and snow accumulate, from the comfort of your home, switch on the mat. It will heat up and melt all the snow away.
• Snow Blower – If you use a snow blower, upgrade to an electric model. The snow blowers that run on gas, pollute the air and adds to air and noise pollution.
• Shovel – There is no better and more environment friendly way to remove snow than to shovel it. It is good exercise and it will ensure that ice melt products are used as little as possible. Choose a good shovel so that you don’t strain your back.

Besides these, there are many reasons not to use the conventional ice melt products. Salt melts ice very easily but it comes at a high price. It is corrosive and cause damage to cement and metal. Used excessively, it could eat into pipes and affect ground water. it could damage your car. If salt gets into lawns, it sucks the nutrients and the oxygen right out of the soil. It can stick to the paws of our pets and affects their health when they lick their paws. At the time of spring melt, it runs down into local water bodies and pollutes the water. If you want to know more about snow and ice control, contact All American Turf Beauty.

 

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Do’s and Don’ts of Removing Snow from Roofs – Roof Snow Removal

It is peak winter. It is snowing more heavily, and roads and sidewalks are covered in snow. There is snow in your driveway and on your porch. There is snow on your rooftop too. It is a good thing to leave two inches of snow on your roof. It will act as an insulant. Most rooftops are built to withstand some amount of snow. However, if you feel that you need to remove snow from your roof, here are some do’s and don’ts of roof snow removal you may want to keep in mind.

The weight of a cubic foot of dry snow is around seven pounds, and the weight of a cubic foot of wet snow is approximately 12 to 18 pounds. More than this could be dangerous for your house structurally. If you need to find out if there is excess snow on your roof, all you need to do is check your doors. If the doors inside your house get stuck, it means there is too much weight on the roof.

If you think simply getting any old roof rake to remove snow from the roof is good, you are much mistaken. It has to be the right kind of rake, made of the right material, so as not to harm your roof.

Do’s

1. A snow rake is ideal for removing snow from a pitched roof.
2. Remove snow from the edge of the roof first and only then move in.
3. Be wary of metal tools as they could conduct electricity if there are power lines nearby.
4. Also, use plastic tools instead of metal ones as metal tools could damage the shingles and other parts of your roof.
5. If you have a flat roof, simply shovel the snow off the sides, away from the house.
6. Keep ventilation openings and drain spouts free of snow.
7. If in doubt, contact a professional snow removal service to remove snow from your roof.

Don’ts

1. It is best not to use a regular ladder if you want to climb up to remove snow from your roof. The rungs of these ladders usually gather ice.
2. Do not use electronic devices to melt ice or snow from the roof.
3. Do not use open flame tools to remove ice and snow from the roof.
4. Do not get on the roof to remove snow unless absolutely necessary. It will add more weight to your roof.
5. Do not put snow removal equipment on your roof. This will add more weight to your roof.
6. Do not be offhand about removing icicles. These can cause injury even if they fall from a short height.

It is always good to remember that if you are not confident about removing snow from your roof, call a professional service that specializes in roof snow removal. They have the right equipment and the expertise for the job. For more information, contact All American Turf Beauty.

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The Importance of Commercial Snow Removal for Safety

Winter makes everything around look beautiful. However, the accumulation of snow needs to be taken care of. Snow removal is the need of the hour. It is important for homeowners and businesses alike. Commercial snow removal is done on a larger scale than snow removal for residences. Commercial properties have bigger parking lots and driveways. They also have larger areas from which to remove snow. Moreover, business owners have to worry about the safety of more people – their employees and customers.

Business owners have to be mindful foremost of safety and then of accessibility. Below, we have listed some of the reasons why snow removal on commercial properties is all the more essential.

Safety of Customers and Employees

Whether it be the sidewalk leading to your business, the pathway, the driveway, or the parking lot, you need to ensure that these areas are clear of snow and ice accumulation. Ice accumulation, especially, can lead to slip and fall accidents. The safety of your customers and employees is your responsibility. The entrances and ramps need to be inspected and so does the parking lot. Due to fluctuations in temperature, snow often melts and accumulates at the feet of the ramp and becomes treacherous water puddles. This freezes again and may cause accidents.

Sidewalks, shortcuts, and byways also need to be regularly inspected and cleared. Sometimes, snow removal companies pile up snow in places where the dumpsters are kept, or near the mailbox. They sometimes even dump snow on fire hydrants. Customers and employees need to use these things. They need to be clear of snow.

Roofs need to be clear of snow as well. Snow from rooftops often blow onto sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots, if there is a strong wind. Also, snow melt and refreeze can cause slippery surfaces. These are deceptive because snow is not visible. Along with ice melt procedures, it is desirable to light up the paths to and from your property adequately. De-icing should be done and weather mats should be installed as soon as ice and snow begin to accumulate.

The Right Equipment

Choose the right equipment for snow removal from your property. A shovel is almost always inadequate from any kind of snow removal on a commercial property. A plow and a truck are more the equipment for the job.

Salt and Ice Melt

Ice build-up, over a sustained period of time, in cold temperatures can create dangerous situations for customers and employees. It gets thicker, harder, and difficult to see. De-icing material should be used before this happens, at the appropriate time and in the right amount.

Liquid De-icers

Liquid de-icers are less expensive than salt. These also cause less damage to property than salt. The spraying is much more precise. However, liquid de-icers take longer to work and are therefore, used as solution for pre-treatment.

Salt

Salt works faster but is more damaging to property. But, it works faster which is why it is preferred to liquid de-icers.

For more information on commercial snow removal, call All American Turf Beauty at 1-800-365-8873 and schedule an appointment today.

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Top 10 Tools to Use for Snow Removal

Winter is here, spreading its frosty breath over all that moves. The earth is covered in a blanket of white snow that glistens in all its dazzling splendor. All this beauty is material for poetry. However, when you have to wake up and go to work and find fresh snow, a foot deep, making your driveway untraversable, you come crashing down to reality. These are times when you need your trusty snow removal tools at hand.

It is wise to do your shopping for these tools with enough time in hand. When a heavy spell of snowing hits, you will neither have time nor opportunity to go to the hardware store and pick and choose the tools that you prefer. If you haven’t already, now is as good a time as any. While choosing snow removal tools, it is best to go for something that is customized to your specific needs. You need to think about your level of fitness as well. Here, we have listed some options that may help.

1. Snow Shovels: Snow shovels are a byword in every household. Every winter, homeowners are out shoveling snow with their shovels. However, snow shoveling is not just a chore. It’s no less than a good workout. That’s why it is very important that you have the right kind of shovel. It should have a deep and wide body so that it can move a good amount of snow.
2. Smart Snow Shovels: Smart snow shovels have rotating handles so that you don’t have to move too much to adjust your position while shoveling snow. It is a smart investment.
3. Snow Pushers: You may also use a snow pusher instead of a snow shovel. The advantage you will have with this tool is that you will not have to lift the snow. You can simply push it away. This way, your back will be saved the trouble of bending and lifting.
4. Snow Blower: These look and function like lawn mowers except that they remove snow. It is a second stage snow removal tool. It has an auger that picks up the snow and sends it to the impeller. The impeller then blows the snow. There is a chute for the snow to leave the machine.
5. Electric Snow Thrower: This tool is electric and in one movement, sucks in the snow and throws it away. It is slightly different from a snow blower. It is a one stage machine for snow removal.
6. Snow Plow: A snow plow is somewhere between a snow pusher and a snow blower.
7. Wheeled Snow Plows: A wheeled snow plow is a snow plow with wheels. This makes it easier to use and move snow from one place to another.
8. Roof Rake: When snow or ice accumulates on the roofs of houses, it is essential to remove it after a point. Roof rakes help in removing snow from on top of roofs.
9. Telescoping Shovel: Ever had to shovel snow from under the tires of your car? Difficult, isn’t it?! Well, here is your solution. A telescoping shovel is built to reach odd, steep angles. This is why this is a very effective tool to get stubborn snow away from the path of your car tires.
10. Shop Broom: A shop broom may be used to clear away light, flaky snow that lie on sidewalks.

For all other assistance with snow removal, call All American Turf Beauty at 1-800-365-8873 and schedule an appointment today.

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Top 7 Tips for Residential Snow Removal

Winter is a magical time with its layers and layers and white snow on the ground, glistening in the mellow, winter sun in all its pristine splendor. it looks beautiful and uplifts the spirit with its freshness. However, with fresh snow comes the unpleasant task of removing it. Snow shoveling is a daunting task and can be a real challenge for most homeowners. Here are some rules of thumb you can follow that are guidelines for residential snow removal.

Here are some things you can do to make the task of snow removal slightly tedious.

1. A lot at stake: You may be familiar with your landscape and may think that you know your driveway like the back of your hand but once it’s under 6 inches of snow, you will have your doubts. Plant stakes or tall poles around walkways, driveways, and sidewalks. This will make    identifying the areas to be shoveled much easier.
2. Shovel it: Get a snow shovel for yourself and make sure it’s the right one for you. Snow shoveling is not an easy task and you need to be fit to undertake it. Do some stretching exercises before you get started. Wear layered clothing so that you can move around without hindrance. Choose an S-shaped shovel if you expect to experience heavy snow. A C-shaped shovel will do for lighter snow.
3. A shovel in time: You may be tempted to stay inside because it is still snowing outside, but this is an error. The longer you wait, the more snow there for you to remove. It is wiser to keep removing the snow so as not to let it accumulate. Keep removing the snow in bouts, so that at no point of time is it at a depth more than 6 inches or so.
4. Blowing in the wind: If you feel you won’t be able to shovel snow this winter because of health issues or other reasons, get yourself a snow blower. It is a good investment. A snow blower can do in minutes what you would take hours to do. These machines come in different powers and are equipped to blow different amounts of snow.
5. Take it with a pinch of salt: Salt is a great way to de-ice. But be careful about how much and how often you use salt. Excessive use of salt could be detrimental to the surfaces that it is used on. Also, it stops working when the temperature dips below 12 degrees Farenheit. So, if you live in an area that experiences very cold temperatures and very high snowfall, you may want to consider Calcium Chloride or Magnesium Chloride.
6. Step by step: Your leaf blower may not be of much use when there is a snowstorm. However, if there is accumulation of light, fluffy snow on steps and the driveway, your leaf blower can do the job of blowing it away. That being said, it is not a substitute for a shovel or a snow blower.
7. Last but not least…

Take precaution while you shovel snow.

• Keep your knees bent.
• When you lift snow, the blade of the shovel should be close to your body.
• Change your hands from time to time, to avoid straining only one side of your body.
• Switch your grip on the handle from overhand to underhand, periodically.
• First, shovel the upper layer. Then go to the bottom layers. The snow will be easier to pick this way.

If you have questions or doubts, contact us at All American Turf Beauty for assistance with residential snow removal.

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