Dealing with Snow Without the Usual Backache
Okay, so winter rolls around, and the first thing I dread? Not the cold, really, but the shoveling. My back isn’t what it used to be, and sometimes that snow is just heavy, wet stuff. So, I started messing around, trying to find ways to clear the driveway and path without killing myself with the old trusty, but back-breaking, shovel.
First Up: The Snow Blower Dream
Naturally, the first thought was a snow blower. Seemed like the easy answer. I looked into them, saw the prices, and thought, “Hmm, maybe borrow one first?” My neighbor Dave has one, a decent gas-powered one. He let me give it a try after one particularly nasty snowfall, about six inches of wet stuff.
Firing it up wasn’t too bad, but man, those things are loud. Pushing it wasn’t exactly effortless either, especially through the heavier drifts the plow leaves at the end of the driveway. It definitely beat shoveling the whole thing by hand, no doubt. It threw the snow a good distance. But, it’s bulky to store, needs gas and oil, and honestly, for lighter snowfalls, it felt like overkill. Plus, you still gotta wrestle with it.
Giving the Leaf Blower a Shot
Then I had this idea. I’ve got a pretty powerful leaf blower. What if I tried that? Seemed logical, right? Blow the snow away just like leaves.
Well, I waited for a light, fluffy snowfall, maybe an inch or two. Went out there, fired up the leaf blower. And you know what? For that super light, powdery snow on the steps and the walkway? It actually worked! Blew it right off. But, and it’s a big but, the second I tried it on anything slightly packed, or deeper than a couple of inches, or even a little bit wet? Forget it. It just didn’t have the power. So, useful in very specific, limited conditions. Not a real shovel replacement.
Heated Mats: The Set-It-and-Forget-It Approach?
I saw these heated mats online. You lay them down on your walkway or steps before it snows, plug them in, and they melt the snow as it falls. Sounded pretty good, especially for the front steps which get icy.
I bought a couple just for the main path to the door. Laying them out was easy enough. Plugged them in when the forecast called for snow. And yeah, they worked. Kept the path pretty clear, right down to the pavement. No shoveling needed for that specific area. The downside? They use electricity, obviously, so that’s a cost. And they only cover the area where you put them. My driveway is way too big for that to be practical or affordable. Good for small, critical areas like stairs, though.
Maybe It’s the Shovel Itself?
I started thinking, maybe my old shovel was just rubbish. Went to the hardware store and looked at the options. Found these ergonomic ones with the bent handle, supposed to reduce strain. Also saw those wide pusher types, like a mini-plow.
I picked up one of the ergonomic ones. Tried it out during the next snowfall. It did feel a bit better on the back, the angle helps with leverage. Still manual work, mind you, but less hunching over. The pusher shovel was good for clearing wider paths faster, especially with lighter snow, but not great for lifting heavy loads. So, an improvement, but still requires grunt work.
What About Preventing the Problem?
My last experiment was using salt or de-icer before the snow hit hard, or right after clearing a layer. The idea was to stop thick ice forming or make the packed snow easier to break up.
I sprinkled some pet-safe ice melt on the walkway before one storm. It did seem to make the shoveling afterwards a bit easier – the snow didn’t stick as much, and icy patches weren’t as bad. But you have to time it right, and you go through that stuff pretty fast. Plus, I worry about what it does to the concrete and the plants nearby over time, even the “safer” stuff. It helps make shoveling less awful, but it’s not a removal method on its own.
So, What’s the Verdict?
After trying all these things, there’s no magic bullet, honestly.
- The snow blower is best for heavy snow and large areas, but it’s an investment and still takes effort.
- The leaf blower is only for the lightest dusting.
- Heated mats are great for small, specific spots like stairs if you don’t mind the electricity cost.
- An ergonomic shovel definitely makes the manual work less painful.
- De-icer helps make shoveling easier but isn’t a standalone solution and has its own issues.
For me? I usually end up using a combination. I use the ergonomic shovel for most snowfalls up to a few inches. If it’s really deep and heavy, I might borrow Dave’s snow blower again or just resign myself to doing it in stages. I keep some ice melt handy for the steps. It really just depends on how much snow we get and what kind it is. You just gotta find what works for your situation and your back!
