Snow Solutions: Shovel, Scoop or Blow

House Doctor | Gary Dymski

December 12, 2002

There are two ways to tackle residential snow removal - with heavy equipment or old- fashioned muscle.

Heavy equipment on Long Island means a snowblower. Muscle means a shovel or perhaps a snow scoop - a popular item in heavy snow states.

If you're like most people, you will be out there wielding a shovel. Wide- bladed regular shovels are good for pushing snow, and scoop-type shovels - with narrower blades - can lift snow. But the newer flat-bladed, bent- handled shovels perform both functions and are made with lighter materials, such as graphite blades and easy- grip, padded handles.

"A lot of people think that a big, strong shovel with a metal blade would be best for snow," says Brad Coffiner, who authored a snow- shoveling study in 1977 as part of Cornell University's human factors ergonomics research team. "As it turned out, our research showed that these shovels can be the most difficult and cumbersome to use. They can put a greater strain on the back and lumbar region," says Coffiner, now a technical designer for a Manhattan architectural firm. His study concluded that graphite and plastic blades are best because they are much lighter and more flexible than metal blades.

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Whatever your preference, a good- fitting shovel should reduce bending at the waist. Coffiner's study recommends that taller, heavier people use larger shovels, with blades 18 inches and wider, handles 1 1/2 inch thick and up to 52 inches long. Smaller, lighter people can use smaller shovels, with blades 16 inches or narrower and handles 1 1/4 inch thick and 42 inches long.

However, if you use an old-fashioned, straight-handled push shovel, a metal blade can last a long, long time, and it can chop through ice, too.

Bent-handled shovels can reduce lower back strain by as much as 13 percent, according to a study by the Liberty Mutual Research Center for Safety and Health. "[Bent-handled shovels] enable you to keep a more upright posture," Coffiner says, "and that's important when performing a repetitive procedure because you don't want to work bent over at the back."

Bent-handled shovels start at about $15 and are available at hardware stores and home centers.

Snow scoops are popular in heavy snow states because they push snow rather than lift it. The idea is to slide the scoop so it fills with snow. After it fills, the scoop handle is then pulled quickly in the opposite direction, leaving the snow in a neat pile. Because of its shape, the scoop can slide over existing piles, too.

Because of the area's meager snowfall, it will be difficult to buy a snow scoop on Long Island. To purchase an "Original Snow Scoop," contact Kaufman Sheet Metal Works in Ironwood, Mich. (906- 932-2130). Three sizes - small ($34.25), medium ($36.50) and large ($39.50) - are available. Prices do not include shipping.

Had enough of shoveling?

Here's some news: Snowblowers have become more affordable in the past decade.

Single-stage snowblowers that can throw snow up to 30 feet are available from about $300, nearly half of what they cost in the early 1990s. You can think of a snowblower as a lifetime investment, too: Many machines, when serviced properly, can last more than 20 years. Also, researchers at Michigan State University found that using a snowblower is significantly less stressful physiologically than shoveling snow.

"Depending on the size of the area that needs clearing, single- stage machines work well on Long Island," says Jim Gelling, owner of Northeast Equipment in Hauppauge, which sold more than 200 snowblowers last season.

A single-stage blower uses an auger to scoop snow into an adjustable chute, which then directs, or throws, snow. A two-stage blower features an auger and an impeller, another blade at the bottom of the chute that provides more throwing distance and is able to better chop ice chunks.

More powerful and more costly, starting at about $700, two-stage blowers have a throw distance of 35 feet or more. An engine with 4.5 horsepower or more will handle most Long Island snows.

Among the more popular features for a snowblower is an electric starter that ignites the engine with the push of a button. Add about $100 for an electric starter. Many equipment dealers also offer service contracts, from about $70 to $100 a year.

Snowblowers are reasonably safe to operate, but a little common sense goes a long way with any piece of power equipment. Scout the area to be cleared and remove rocks or debris. Keep children and pets away from the throw path and snow intake areas of the machine. Also, lighter machines - some single-stage models weigh as little as 40 pounds - are better suited for women and seniors. Be careful when operating machines on high-sloped areas. On these areas, work side to side rather than up and down. Also, plan your clearing strategy so the blower throws snow with the wind rather than against it - and not into traffic, where it can land on the windshields of passing cars.

For those icy days, when shovels, scoops and snowblowers are ineffective, use snow melt products for safe walking. The safest snow melt products are made from calcium chloride, which is easier on plants and concrete surfaces. Granules should be spread sparingly and evenly - a little goes a long way. The granules will melt snow up until 40 degrees below zero. Road salt (sodium chloride) and products made with either potassium chloride or magnesium chloride can be more harmful to the environment.

To get more from your calcium chloride-based snow melt, mix it with play sand (half and half) and spread it on your driveways and walkways. The mixture is easier on your lawn and plants. Some people find kitty litter better than sand for improving footing.

If your car gets stuck in the drive or in a snow berm - that big wall the plow leaves at the bottom of the driveway - use snow melt and sand to free your tires. First, dig around all four tires, front and back, until you hit a solid surface. Then sprinkle sand and snow melt on both sides of the tires. Rock the car gently until it can drive over the snow pile.

Most snow melt products and bags of sand are available at nurseries, home centers and hardware stores.