Keeping your home's walking paths snow-free is hard work; thus, this post by Archer Cleaning & Restoration Services in St. Croix County has listed a few tips you can use to shovel safely and efficiently.

Winter season is here, and along with the beautiful snowy atmosphere and the low temperatures comes the duty of removing build-up snow from your driveway, sidewalk, and parking space. If you want your home snow shoveling to be safer and more effective, read the following tips by Archer Cleaning & Restoration Services.

If snowmelt has caused damage to your home, speak to a skilled technician at Archer Cleaning & Restoration Services and ask them about how they can help you restore your home to normalcy. For more information about the best cleaning and restoration services in St. Croix County, call 888-436-3499 today.

How to Shovel Snow The Safest Way

Shoveling snow is hard work. As you might know, this wintertime home maintenance task can lead to severe injuries if not done carefully. Most commonly, people get muscle strains or back injuries when shoveling improperly, hence the importance of performing this task correctly. Here are a few tips to remove snow the safest way:

Choose the Right Shovel

For starters, it's important to note that some people get hurt when they use the wrong type of shovel; that's why you must use one designed for snow removal. The right type of shovel typically has a long handle and a wide square mouth spade. These ergonomics will allow you to use your weight to push the snow without bending too much, making snow removal easier and more comfortable.

Do a Warm-Up Before Shoveling

Shoveling entails a lot of physical work. It requires you to push, lift, and throw heavy loads of snow away, all of that while it's freezing. Hence, you should take a few minutes to warm up and raise the temperature of your muscles and joints; doing this before removing snow will help you avoid stiffness, soreness, or muscle strain.

Lift Smoothly and Safely

Once you have a comfortable shovel to work with and you are adequately warmed up, it's time to practice your shoveling technique. To that end, make the most out of your shovel's long handle by avoiding bending over; instead, keep your back straight and push the shovel forward to clear the snow out of your house entries. Another thing you must avoid when shoveling is to twist your body; after all, many people get back injuries after turning to throw snow over their shoulders.

If you require the best cleaning and restoration services in St. Croix County, turn to the experts at Archer Cleaning & Restoration Services. For more information about their services, call them at 888-436-3499.

A Few Pointers to Consider When Removing Snow

It's no secret that snow can cause some problems to your house if left unremoved; that's why shoveling is so important. To avoid any meltwater or snow damage, pay attention to the following tips:

Avoid Stacking Snow Near The House Foundation

When shoveling, avoid placing the snow near the foundation of your property; the reason for this is that accumulated snow near outdoor faucets can lead to frozen pipes. As you might know, having frozen pipes can give place to a few significant concerns, such as burst tubes, leaks, and mold. Additionally, it's worth mentioning that snow stacked near your foundation can melt and find its way through the soil. If the ground beneath your home gets saturated with water, it can cause cracks and problems to the foundation; taking this into account, make sure to place the snow at least five feet away from the house.

Keep Your Concrete Safe

Since concrete is porous, you must be extra careful when shoveling snow away from your concrete driveways and walkways. As you might expect, snow melts and seeps into concrete when the temperature rises; however, when the temperature drops back, the water refreezes and expands inside the concrete, causing cracks. That's why it is essential to give your concrete a thorough snow removal. Also, if you need to use ice-melting products to shovel snow, avoid using hygroscopic products such as rock salt; since they attract water, their use can aggravate the thaw/refreeze snow cycle inside the concrete. A much safer choice is to use calcium chloride products instead.

Finally, a Few Extra Tips

• Make sure to shovel as often as possible to avoid snow from blocking your home's walking paths.
• Since snow typically melts in the afternoon, you can expect the surfaces to be a bit slippery by then; hence, the safest time to shovel is in the morning.
• Don't attempt to remove snow or ice damps from your roof; instead, call for professional help.

Climate can be unpredictable; that's why you must act promptly if an unexpected winter storm damages your home; to that end, call Archer Cleaning & Restoration Services at 888-436-3499 at any time. Since they offer 24/7 services, you can contact them whenever your home requires the best cleaning and restoration services in St. Croix County.