The best ways to manually clear snow

We will consider the most common types of snow removal from the territory, which have proven to be effective.

Shovel

The first thing that comes to mind is manually cleaning the snow with an ordinary shovel. Plus, it’s cheap, but the price comes with a hefty amount of physical labor.

Buckets are made of plastic. But there are plywood or metal, although they are not always convenient. Often waving a 7 kg shovel is very tiring for the back and arms. Especially for this, telescopic models with a lightweight body are produced, but they are less durable.

In general, a shovel has the following advantages:

1. Simplicity. A good shovel, in principle, does not break for a long time, it does not need to be adjusted and prepared for work. Only if it is steel and the paint has peeled off on it, after work it is necessary to cover it with oil.
2. Price. Even if it breaks, a new one will come out inexpensively.
3. Compactness. Telescopic models fold and do not take up space at all.

The disadvantages include manual labor. Removing snow on the site requires time and considerable effort. Otherwise, with a shovel, you can even clear away cars that have filled up or the roofs of houses, garages, greenhouses.

Scraper

If cleaning the surrounding area with a shovel is too difficult, but you want to meet the minimum budget, a scraper will come to the rescue. Its bucket is similar to a shovel, but the sides are much higher. The handle is double and arched. In fact, this is a manual bulldozer.

Unlike a shovel, snow does not need to be moved to another area. The scraper picks up large clods and drags them.

Has the same advantages as a shovel. And in addition to them, you also need to apply less force. A person rests on the handle with all his weight and pushes forward, working with the weight of his body. In addition, it copes well with sticky snow.

Its disadvantage lies in its bulkiness. Cleaning the area from snow will not be difficult, but it will be difficult for them to clear a thin path.

In addition, on surfaces like paving slabs, it is almost useless. Due to low maneuverability, they cannot clear the roof or the car.

Salt

Putting salt on ice is a classic of housing and communal services and management companies. Many have adopted this experience for private homes, as it is cheap and fast. The whole process is simply to evenly sprinkle salt on the snow, from which it quickly melts.

Such cleaning of the site from snow has the right to life only if the snow is removed from the sidewalk paths. Although salt is effective, it does not disappear after dissolution. Penetrating into the ground, it kills and impoverishes it. There are frequent cases when perennials simply do not sprout and die after such harvesting.

The same can be said about Peskosol. This is a ready-made factory mixture of sand and salt. For plants, it is even more destructive, but it is better to sprinkle sidewalk paths with it, since sand increases the friction force. By the way, it is sold in large bags of 20, 25 and 50 kilograms.

Be sure to clean up any leftovers afterwards. The melted snow will turn into ice overnight and it is unlikely that it will be possible to simply shovel it with a shovel. You will need to sprinkle with salt again and only then remove.

By the way, the stores also sell mixtures called «Anti-icing reagent.» These mixtures lower the melting point of ice and it turns into water.

Unlike salt, they last longer. But they are made on the basis of chlorine, which quickly spoils shoes, especially leather ones.

Mechanized snow removal

How to remove snow quickly? You will need equipment that automatically rakes and throws snowdrifts to the side. The following 3 options are suitable for a private plot.

Snow throwers

But the approach to snow removal from the 21st century! Snow throwers throw back blockages with clods of 10-15 meters in a matter of minutes. Snowplows for the home are bought, if necessary:

1. Remove snow every day. Waking up every day and picking up a shovel is not for everyone, especially if you still need to go to work. Snow throwers will do this faster than a shovel or scraper.

2. Treat a large area. It is not so easy to clean 400 square meters on your own. It would be much more convenient to automate the process.

Moreover, snow throwers are not expensive. Starter models sell for $110, but they are enough for medium tracts. By the way, since they can send all the snow into one pile, after that it is worth ordering the removal of snow from the territory.

Their disadvantage is the huge absorption of energy. Almost all snow throwers run on electricity and consume it quite willingly. The average machine is equipped with a 2 kilowatt engine.

Motoblocks for universal use

Universal walk-behind tractors are also suitable for cleaning the summer cottage. Although this is a type of compact tractor, some have the additional function of a snow blower.

Shops sell attachments and equipment for snow removal.

Motoblocks often run on gasoline, which is cheaper and more mobile, although they work on a similar technology with snow throwers — throwing clods several meters away.

In addition, it will be much more useful for even a walk-behind tractor, since it will also find application in the summer.

Blade for ATV

A quad bike is not only a transport for entertainment. If you buy a snow bucket for him, as in the photo, he will turn into special equipment. This tool has 2 advantages:

1. Maneuverability. It is much more convenient to drive an ATV than a walk-behind tractor or a snow thrower. It is much more maneuverable and road control is higher.

2. Modularity. The blade is removed in 5 minutes and the buggy can be used again for fun.

Cons: price. This bucket costs 2 times more than an inexpensive snow blower or a good walk-behind tractor. On average, the blade costs 650-700 dollars, which is comparable to the ATV itself.