In a recent post, we discussed the importance of off-season lawn mower maintenance. Since we are currently in that seasonal limbo we call "fall", where 80-degree days and snow are both in play, we thought it would also be a good time to discuss some snow blower tips to ensure that your snow blower is ready for the season. We'll even include some basic operating tips that can help prevent injuries to operators or bystanders.

Basic Snow Blower Safety
Like a lawn mower, a snow blower has fast-moving mechanical parts that can easily cause injury if you are not paying attention to what you are doing.

For instance, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), one recent year saw nearly 600 finger amputations in snow blower accidents. Further, there are nearly <i>6,000</i> emergency room visits attributed to snow blowing accidents. Every. Single. Year.

The lesson here: Treat your snow blower with respect and pay attention to what you are doing at all times.

To that end, here are some basic operating tips for snow blowing.

Snow Blowing Best Practices for Safety
Some of these tips might seem a bit remedial to you, but they always bear repeating.

Dress Appropriately
If it's cold enough to be blowing snow, it's cold enough to wear warm clothing. Be sure to choose items that allow a good range of motion and keep your line of vision open. While you'll want to keep your head and face protected from the elements, cinching a hood so tight around your face that it obstructs your peripheral visions is just an accident waiting to happen.

Make sure you boots are also warm and that they provide good traction. Snow-blowing conditions also tend to be slip-and-fall conditions, so be prepared.

Handling Gasoline
When it comes time to refill your snow blower's gas tank, refill it outside! Don't refill it in the garage or shed. Also, never refill the tank when the engine is still running or hot. All it takes is just a little bit of gasoline on a hot engine to have one heck of a fire... and fast.

You should also keep your gas can outdoors and at a safe distance from your house. Keep it sealed when you are not using it; this can prevent accidents. If you are worried about it freezing in winter, don't. In northern climates, the air temps, not wind-chill, would have to get to about -70degrees. If it's that cold out, it is likely not snowing and, even if it is, you shouldn't be out blowing snow in temps that cold, anyway.

Don't leave your snow blower running in an enclosed space. This is for the same reason you don't leave your vehicle running in an enclosed space: carbon monoxide. It's a silent killer.

Handling the Snow Blower
This might seem basic, but we would be remiss if we didn't say it: keep your hands and feet away from moving parts... always!  If the snow blower gets clogged, turn it off and use a stick or shovel handle or some other reaching device to break up the blockage.

Pro Tip: Using cooking spray on the impeller, auger, and chute </i>before<i> you start snow blowing can help to reduce clogs even in the wettest snow.

Finally, watch where you have your discharge chute positioned. Never point it in the direction of bystanders or nearby objects. On occasion, solid objects (e.g., rocks) can get picked up and thrown out of the chute with significant enough velocity to cause injury or property damage.

Snow Blower Maintenance
One of the best things about snow blowers is that they really don't require a whole lot of upkeep. Still, as with any investment, you'll want to take proper care of it to ensure productive use for many years to come. Following these simple tips should lead to easy starts at the beginning of every new season.

At the end of winter, which can usually be mid-spring in these parts, when it's time to finally put the snow blower away, you'll want to drain the gas from the tank. An alternative is to add a gas stabilizer. This ensures you are starting with the best quality gasoline as the next season commences. While you are at it, drain the engine oil, as well. Then add fresh oil. Don't wait until the start of the next season to add the oil, because it can be too easy too forget when that time comes.

Spark plugs should be replaced regularly and every other year seems to be the optimal time to do it. That said, spark plugs are cheap and changing them annually never hurt any snow blower ever.

Take some time to lubricate the moving parts, which includes the auger, the impeller, and the drive mechanism.

Check your tires for wear and make sure they are properly inflated. Tires can wear slowly over time, so it can be difficult to notice that they are wearing. At the end of every season, give them a look over and if the years have taken their toll, consider replacing them.

Finally look for any drive belts that are stretched or worn. Fraying is a telltale sign of wear. Replace any belts that have seen better days. The last thing you want is for one to go in the middle of a storm that is dropping a foot of snow, because getting out to buy a replacement at that time will be next to impossible.

In Conclusion
When the snow starts to really fly, having a snow blower gives you great power against the elements. With great power, however, comes great responsibility. By following some of the basic tips for snow blower maintenance and operation listed above, you can be confident no matter what the forecast predicts.

Of course, if you are looking for commercial snow removal services, we'd sure appreciate it if you would give E.P.M. LawnScape and Supply an opportunity. Simply contact us online or call us at (517) 990-0110 today!

In Michigan, winter weather can last more than half the year. It can come over night or right in the middle of the day. Snow, sleet, slush, and more can make getting around difficult, if not downright unsafe. One of the staples of clearing snow is by shoveling. It's nobody's favorite task, but there are ways to make snow shoveling more efficient and even a little easier.


In this post, we are going to look at five hacks that will have you shoveling snow like a boss this winter.

Break Out the Cooking Spray
Light, fluffy snow is the easiest snow to shovel... by far. It practically shovels itself. Unfortunately, all the snows can't be light and fluffy. Some are going to be heavy, dense snows that can be a real pain to shovel. That's where this hack is a real gem.

Before you attempt to shovel that wet, heavy snow that cakes up and sticks to your shovel, spray your snow shovel or snow scoop with a thin coating of cooking spray. Just like it keeps muffins from sticking to the muffin tin, it will also keep snow from sticking to your shovel. When you are done, though, you'll want to be sure to wipe it off, because the residue can get messy. 

For bonus points, keep a can in your garage or shed next to your snow shovels and in your trunk with your winter emergency supply kit. You do have a winter emergency supply kit, don't you?

Sock, Shoes, Socks Again
When you are out shoveling, you need traction, Jackson. Sidewalks, walkways, and driveways can all hide ice under fresh snowfall. This can cause traction issues. At best, it makes shoveling a more arduous task. At worst, you wind up in the emergency room with a slip and fall injury.

For added traction put another pair of socks on over your shows when you are shoveling. Sure, it might sound silly. It may even look silly. Shoveling snow, however, is not a beauty contest. Anything that can help you get it done faster and safer deserves consideration. This hack certainly... ahem... foots the bill.

No Salt Added
Salt is traditionally the de-icer of choice in many places. That's because it is usually abundant and, therefore, very cost effective. Salt can, however, really do a number on your sidewalks, walkways, and driveway. Salt can, over time, eat away at hardened concrete. Yes, there are concrete sealers than can help slow this process, but there are also simple DIY alternatives to salt that you can try as a de-icer. Take this one, for instance:

• 1/2 gallon of warm water
• 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol
• 1 teaspoon of dish soap

Mix it all up in a bucket and pour it on your sidewalks, walkways, and driveway. Depending on the space you need to cover, you could 10x the recipe in a 5 gallon bucket and just dip from it as needed.

Keep Up
You know those storms. We seem to get at least two or three of them each winter. It snows... and snows... and snows. These are the storms that drop 8-12 inches of snow at a time. Yet, it takes hours for all of that snow to drop. This is an opportunity for you!

There are two strategies for dealing with this amount of snow. The first is to just hunker down and wait for it to end before going out to shovel. The other, better, option is to keep up with the storm. Depending upon how fast the snow is falling, it is advantageous to go out every hour or two and shovel before too much snow accumulates. This will be much easier on your back and heart than trying to move a whole bunch of snow at once. Additionally, if you add up the total time shoveling between the two methods, you might be surprised to see that in almost every instance, it takes less time total to keep up with the storm rather than waiting it out.

Sans Shovel
This snow shoveling hack actually involves completely ditching the shovel. That's right.

Have you ever seen someone put a sheet of cardboard or tarp over their windshield to prevent snow and ice from sticking to it? Then, they remove the cardboard or tarp and voila! Perfectly clean and clear windshield.

Well, you can actually do this with sidewalks and walkways depending upon the size of the surface you need to cover. Simply put down some tarps, then anchor the perimeter with large stones or bricks. When the storm passes, pull the tarps back and you have a clear walkway with no shoveling!

In Conclusion
You can't always predict the weather, but you can be pretty certain that, in Michigan, we are going to get some pretty extended snow storms every winter. While we can't stop it, having some techniques for safer and more efficient snow removal can help make the best of the situation.

Of course, if you are looking for commercial snow removal services, we'd sure appreciate it if you would give E.P.M. LawnScape and Supply an opportunity. Simply contact us online or call us at (517) 990-0110 today!

In the thick of a storm, when the snow is really piling up, is not the time to say, "Oh, I wish I would've...." That's why one of the most important facets of snow removal is actually taking steps to prepare for the snow removal before you have to get out there and brave the elements. With a little bit of knowledge and the right tools, you can set yourself up for efficient snow removal in just about any storm.

Preparing for the Storm
More often than not, you should have some sort of notice that a big storm is on the way. In many cases, you'll have a couple of days warning. If heavy snow is on the way, you should put some salt and/or deicers on your sidewalk, walkways, and driveway prior to the snow's arrival. The chemicals in both the salt and deicer will make the snow removal a less arduous task and reduce the amount of ice that accumulates under the snow.

Pro Tip: If you find yourself running low on salt or deicer, kitty litter will work in a pinch.

Vehicle Care
Once the salt and deicer is down, park as many vehicles as possible in the driveway. This way, the snow will accumulate on the vehicles and not on the driveway. It is much easier to remove the snow from vehicles than it is to remove the snow from the driveway. Try to get all of the vehicles in a single file line if you can.

Pro Tip: If you have a four-wheel drive vehicle, park that one closest to the street. The morning after a storm, roads could still be a mess and the four-wheel drive will be the vehicle best-equipped to handle those conditions.

Snow Removal
Using a snow blower is far and away a better option than shoveling. Sure, they cost a bit more than even the best shovel, but consider it an investment that pays dividends in time saved and fewer trips to the chiropractor. If you haven't used a snow blower before, you need to know that the right speed is absolutely critical. If you go too fast, snow spills out of the side and you wind up having to take more passes than necessary. If you go too slow, you don't get enough force to achieve the ideal arc coming from the discharge chute. When you find the perfect speed for conditions, you can take fewer passes and ensure that the snow is thrown plenty far away from the areas you want to keep clear. This is especially important in early-winter storms when you know there is the likelihood that there is still 100 more inches of snow on the way for the season.

Choosing the Right Snow Shovel for You
If a snow blower is not an option for you, then you'll want to be sure that you have the right snow shovel for your needs. Do you plan on shoveling snow or pushing snow? Knowing this makes a difference in determining the right shovel for your situation. A good push shovel can help remove more snow with less effort; it's a little like a small manual plow. If pushing is not an option for you because of tight walkways or driveway features, there are pushing/shoveling hybrid options available. If a shovel is your only option, look for one with an adjustable height so you can set it to match your stature so you aren't bending too low and putting yourself at risk for injury. If you have cracks in your walkways or driveway, or you simply have uneven surfaces, forgo shovels with metal edges as those are more likely to get caught on such surfaces.

Preparing Your Snow Removal Tools
Before you start shoveling, spray your shovel with basic cooking spray. This will prevent even wet snow from caking on your shovel and limiting how much snow you can remove with each shovel full. If you are using a snow blower, spray the discharge chute with cooking spray to prevent clogging there, as well.

Pro Tip: If you drive stakes into the ground along your driveway and walkways, it will serve as a visual cue as to how far you have to shovel. This will prevent you from pushing your shovel right into the landscaping at the edge of your driveway and walkways.

The Act of Shoveling Snow
There seems to be an endless list of different snow shoveling tactics and, really, you should go with whatever is most comfortable for you. That said, a good rule of thumb of is to remove snow throughout the course of the storm before the snow accumulates too much. While it might seems like this would take more time, it doesn't. Several passes at low levels of snow is much faster than one go at heavy snow. Not to mention the latter puts you at a much greater risk for injury (or even heart attack).

If you have a long driveway, use a pusher to push the snow to the outer perimeter of the driveway, then use a shovel to remove those little piles. Know your limits, though, and don't try to scoop to much snow at once. It's not a race. You are not getting a medal.

Pro Tip: Ice can often accumulate under snow, so always watch your step and make sure your boots have good traction.

In Conclusion
As with most things in life, the key to success comes from good preparation. This certainly holds true for efficient and effective snow removal. If you implement some of the pre-storm snow removal preparation tips listed above, it should make your winter a little more bearable.

Of course, if you are looking for commercial snow removal services, we'd sure appreciate it if you would give E.P.M. LawnScape and Supply an opportunity. Simply contact us online or call us at (517) 990-0110 today!