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It’s possible to use a torch to melt ice on your garage door, but we don’t recommend it. It’s very easy to bring the flame too close to the door, which can melt the weather stripping or even the garage door itself. You’ll melt ice quickly with a torch, but the damage you’re likely to cause can end up costing you a few hundred dollars to fix, which isn’t worth it. Instead, we recommend pouring hot water over the frozen area or using a less intense heat source, like a hair dryer or space heater.

Yes, most states require that snow removal companies be insured under workers' compensation. This protects the employees financially if an injury were to happen (and when dealing with ice and snow, it’s possible that injury could occur). In addition, most states require snow removal companies to be covered under general liability, which would help cover the cost of any property damage incurred during the removal process.

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.

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.