CTV Morning Live: Power Through Snow. Snowblower Guide & Safety

Now that winter is upon us, cleaning snow can be a daunting task for most residence. Especially in more recent winters our region has received it’s fair share of snowfall and storms. It’s important to be prepared with the right tools to weather any storm safely.

• Understanding different types of snow.
  
  

• First, it’s important to note that there are different types of snow:
  
  
• (a) There’s the light, fluffy snow on your driveway  
  
  
• (b)There is slush which is very heavy and sticky.
  
  
• (c.) And then there’s the dreaded “Snow Plow Pile” , or as we like to call it the “SPP” . It’s the heavy snow pile at the end of your driveway.
  
  

For most people, the “Snow Plow Pile” (SPP) is the most challenging snow to manage because it’s very dense. In most major snowfalls it needs to be cleared before you can even drive in and out of your driveway. There are snowblowers that can help you tackle the SPP.

• A recent survey conducted by Husqvarna Group reported that: “56 per cent of Canadians have either hurt their back or felt sore after shoveling snow”. There are serious risks to injury if we’re not prepared to tackle the snow with proper tools. Especially for people with health conditions. One of the leading causes of injury is trying to lift the snow with a shovel and throw it. You can minimize risk to injuries by being equipped with the right tools  that will do the the throwing for you without exposing you injury. There are different types of snowblower specifically designed to help you do just that.
  
  

• Snowblower Buying guide to get the job done:
  
  
• Single Stage: Suitable for smaller areas covered in dry, powder snow ( walkways, decks, etc.)
  
  
• Dual Stage: Most effective for deep, heavy and packed snow removal
  
  
• With the right model, you can easily manage the “ Snow Plow Pile” ( SPP) at the end of the driveway . Dual stage snow blowers can handle this very well because they are designed with serrated metal augers, heavy duty impeller systems and powerful engines. Also, most modern snowblower now come with electric starters, power steering and even hand warmers to help you tackle any winter condition.
  

Safety while using a snowblower:

• Pair of gloves: To keep warm and dry when using controls
  
  
• Safety Glasses: Protect your eyes from ice, snow, or any foreign objects.
  
  
• Hearing protection: Protect your ears with pair of earmuffs
  
  
• Headlight: Make sure snowthrower is equipped with headlights so you can easily see in evening and inclement weather
  
  
• Operating the Snowblower: Look carefully read safety label and operator’s manual. Turn engine off whenever doing any maintenance or checks on snowblower
  
  

Proper maintenance of your snowblower:

• Proper fresh fuel: Avoid stale fuel. Try to buy high octane fuel that doesn’t contain ethanol. And use fuel stabilizer to prevent damage to fuel systems.
  
  
• 3 key components: Engine, Auger, Drive to be regularly maintained.
  
  
• Spare shear pins on hand: In case of heavy snow falls, will make all the difference to continue using the snow blower
  
  

For more information contact your local snowblower expert: 1-800-610-5635  or www.OttawaSnowBlowers.com