Q: Can I use cat litter or sand to melt the ice in my driveway?

• <div><p>Some commercial services use <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/sand-vs-salt-for-snow.htm">sand when clearing ice</a>, but that&rsquo;s to add instant traction, not to melt the ice. While you can scatter kitty litter, sand, or similar substances on steps, paths, or porches to improve safety during icy conditions, they won&rsquo;t help melt hardened ice. Rely on salt or other de-icing methods to fully melt away stubborn ice.</p></div>

Q: Is it worth it to pay for snow removal?

• <div><p>In most cases, it&rsquo;s worth it to pay for professional snow removal. You can shovel the snow yourself, but it&rsquo;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&rsquo;s ready to drive rather than have to get up early to do the work yourself.</p></div>

Question 1

Will salt melt ice overnight?

Accepted Answer

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Whether salt melts ice overnight will depend on how low the temperature drops. If temperatures stay around 30 degrees Fahrenheit, you can count on salt melting ice overnight. Otherwise, the lower temperatures get, the less effective the salt is in melting ice, and the more likely you’ll wake up with a slippery driveway the next day.

Question 2

What is the fastest way to remove snow?

Accepted Answer

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The fastest way to remove snow is by using a high-powered snow blower to clear your driveway in a few minutes, depending on its size and length. Other snow removal methods that get fast results are a wheelbarrow plow and a snow thrower. If you need immediate help with removing snow, consider hiring a snow removal service to take care of it for you.

Question 3

Can I use cat litter or sand to melt the ice in my driveway?

Accepted Answer

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Some commercial services use sand when clearing ice, but that’s to add instant traction, not to melt the ice. While you can scatter kitty litter, sand, or similar substances on steps, paths, or porches to improve safety during icy conditions, they won’t help melt hardened ice. Rely on salt or other de-icing methods to fully melt away stubborn ice.

Question 4

Is it worth it to pay for snow removal?

Accepted Answer

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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.

Question 5

How long does a snowblower run on a full tank?

Accepted Answer

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That depends on the size of your snow blower and how efficiently it uses fuel. Most snow blowers will last between 1 and 2 hours on a full tank of gas. Larger blowers tend to use fuel more quickly and need refilling more often.

Keep in mind, the average snow blowing project for a home driveway takes around 30 minutes. Large driveways and yards will take around an hour. A full tank of gas should be more than enough for snow removal, although the height of the snowfall will have an effect, too.