Winter Prep for Every Ice and Snow Problem at Home
Winter Prep for Every Ice and Snow Problem at Home
Every year, Connecticut residents face some serious snow-related challenges. Young and old, solo professionals and big families, we all must wade through a few feet of snow most mornings. Going to work involves unearthing your vehicle from several fresh inches of snow and ice on every surface. Just keeping your walkways clear can serve as your cardio workout for the day.
When you and the family are moving enough snow each day to make a whole second snow-family, you need the right tools to get the job done. Without a decent snow shovel and de-icers for the walkway and snow brooms for the car and roof, you'll quickly find yourself in over your head - perhaps literally depending on the last snowfall.
Fortunately, if your winter prep supplies need a re-up (or this is your first Connecticut winter, Welcome!) Country Paint and Hardware has everything you need to keep your home safe from snow damage and your pavement safe for daily activities.
What You Need to Clear a Snowy Drive and Front Walk
Dealing with the local winters takes a lot of snow shoveling. A lot. With steady snowfall, much of it wet and dense by the time you're shoveling, you're going to need a sturdy snow shovel. The last thing you want is to try shoveling your driveway and front walk with makeshift tools. The garden shovel - even the square-point, just won't cut it, and a snow broom doesn't have the heft to lift and chuck that snow off the walk.
And when the snow has re-frozen on your walk? Don't damage your pavement with the square-point. Pick up a heavy-duty ice chopper/scraper to break it up before you shovel it over.
In fact, if you have a spouse, roommate, or teens in the house, a snow shovel for everyone isn't a bad idea. Two shoveling gets the walk cleared twice as fast.
Of course, once the walk is clear, de-icing salt is non-negotiable. A clear walk is like a clear road - just waiting to form an invisible layer of ice and a serious tripping hazard. We've got both: The shovels and the salt - to keep your family walk clear and safe this winter.
Getting Snow Off Your Car - The Smart North Branford, CT Way
Every car in Connecticut should have a handheld ice scraper stowed in the glove box or slipped into the passenger seat pocket. Why? Because you never know when you'll come out of your job, the store, or dropping your child off at piano practice to find your windshield covered in a layer hard enough to shred your wipers. A handheld ice scraper is the only way you can get your windows and windshield safely viewable without scratching the glass. If you don't have one yet, or need a spare, or are kitting out your teen with their first car, we've got 'em in spades. We also have spades.
But for the real pro at dealing with North Branford winters, pick up a snow broom with a built-in ice scraper. Never freeze your hands off pulling wet snow off your car again. Perfect for clearing your car in the morning after an all-night flake. The snow broom is like the ones used to clear roofs, but shorter and designed for closer hand-held work and with rubber edges to keep your paint job pristine as you pull pounds of half-refrozen snow off your car for a safe drive-away. The ice scraper on the back? It's there for a quick spin and windshield clearing to save you from rummaging in your glove box for the portable scraper.
The Right Tools to Clear Your Roof of Heavy Snow Piles
Now for the rooftop. If you're new to North Branford winters, it's important to keep heavy snow from piling too high on your roof, but also important not to damage your shingles while scraping the icy piles down. That's what the roller-style roof snow rake is for. With a telescoping pole up to 21 feet long, you can clear any heavy piles of snow from your roof - safely from the ground and out of range of the falling piles.
That said, if your roof accumulates too much snow, it's also a good idea to have your attic ventilation and your underlayment checked out.
Ice-Free and Pet-Safe Winter Planning
One issue with typical de-icing salt is that it's not great for pet paws. If you have dogs (or cats) who regularly go outside, especially in the front yard where' you've salted the walk, it's a good idea to choose a pet-safe de-icer instead. Fortunately, we've got that, too. Keep Fido and Lassie from slipping on the pavement and salt-free in the soft paw pads by choosing the right de-icer for the job.
Here at Country Paint and Hardware in North Branford, CT, we know it takes a lot to deal with winters around here. Fortunately, you can find everything you need to keep your home, car, and the whole family prepared for snow management this year at your local hardware supply store.