Get matched with top snow removal pros in Magazine, AR

In most cases, it’s worth it to pay for professional snow removal. You can shovel the snow yourself, but it’s very labor-intensive and puts you at risk of injury or illness by performing exhausting manual labor in slippery conditions. Paying a professional removes that risk and saves you time and energy. Depending on your agreement, you could wake up to a cleared driveway and a car that’s ready to drive rather than have to get up early to do the work yourself.

If a big freeze catches you by surprise and you don’t have any deicer to hand, you can reduce the chance of taking a tumble by laying gritty, anti-slip materials. Some natural, readily-available options that don’t melt ice but offer traction underfoot include sand, wood shavings, kitty litter, and fireplace ash.

If you’re looking at how to remove snow from solar panels, heat from the sun usually melts the snow within a few days. However, snow removal might be necessary for winter solar power production in areas with deep snow during the winter. There are brushes with telescoping handles and gentle heads to brush away snow. It’s best to stay on the ground if possible and avoid using tools that could scratch the surface of the solar panels, like a snow shovel or broom.

When starting the engine, you typically leave the choke on a snowblower in the "choke" or "closed" position. After starting, let the engine run for a few minutes to warm up. Then, gradually open the choke, moving it to the "open" or "run" position, allowing more air into the engine and transitioning to a normal fuel-air mixture. The exact duration varies based on the snowblower model and ambient temperature, but as a general rule, you should open the choke once the engine has stabilized and runs smoothly, typically within a few minutes.