Q: What can I use to make my driveway less slippery if I don’t have a deicer?

• <div><p>If a big freeze catches you by surprise and you don&rsquo;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&rsquo;t melt ice but offer traction underfoot include sand, wood shavings, kitty litter, and fireplace ash.</p></div>

Question 1

Will salt melt ice overnight?

Accepted Answer

•

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 can I use to make my driveway less slippery if I don’t have a deicer?

Accepted Answer

•

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.

Question 3

What is the best snow removal tool for a deck?

Accepted Answer

•

Snowblowers are some of the best tools for snow removal because they remove large amounts of snow quickly without bodily harm or damaging your deck. If your snowblower can fit on your deck, it’s a good first line of defense to remove snow quickly and easily. If you don’t have a snowblower, a plastic shovel with a rubber blade is another good choice to remove snow on a deck.

Question 4

Do roof rakes cause ice dams?

Accepted Answer

•

Roof raking helps clear snowfall from your roof and, in turn, you hope that this prevents ice dams. But can roof raking actually cause them? Generally, no, it cannot. But you should note that while, in some cases, you might successfully prevent ice dams from forming near the edge of your roof by keeping it cleared with a roof rake, they could still form higher up on the roof, where you are unable to reach. This may leave you wondering: Does roof raking prevent ice dams? While it is not a 100% guaranteed way to prevent them, it does help.

Question 5

Does insurance cover roof damage from snow?

Accepted Answer

•

Yes, some homeowners insurance policies cover roof damage caused by snow. However, these full or partial payouts can vary depending on the age of your roof and other related factors, like the overall condition it was in before the snowfall. It’s best to check with your specific homeowners insurance policy to determine snow damage coverage and exclusions.