Keeping your driveway clear of snow during winter can be a hassle if you’re not prepared. But looking on the bright side, you can turn this tedious chore into a chance to get some exercise which is good for your health. Provided you do it right. That doesn’t mean that this seemingly innocuous task should be taken for granted though. Like any strenuous physical activity, it’s possible to incur injury from shoveling snow.

Potential Risks Related to Shoveling Snow

It is important to be cautious while doing this winter activity because it can be very stressful. Snow shoveling carries several elements of risk, and it can cause health problems if not performed correctly, including:

– back pain

– muscle sprains

– heart strain

How to Protect Yourself against Injury from Shoveling Snow

Here are five useful tips that will help you avoid injury from shoveling snow:

1. Never go further than your body allows you to.

2. Have a break every 20 minutes.

3. Drink water.

4. Keep your back straight.

5. The proper technique is to push the snow, not to lift it.

You should never disregard the reactions of your body. If you are not an active person, and don’t do physical exercise on a regular basis, be careful when shoveling snow. If you feel you’re not up to it, ask someone else to do this for you. If you must do it yourself, make sure you stop when you are tired. If you have difficulty breathing or if you experience back pain or muscle strains, stop right away and get some rest.

Also, it is very important to take breaks every 20 minutes or whenever you feel necessary to spare your energy. Don’t forget to drink water to avoid dehydration. Always bend your knees, and not your back. Lastly, bear in mind that you should push the snow rather than lift it, in order to make shoveling easier.

Get Help

If you find snow shoveling too difficult, don’t hesitate to look for help. TalkLocal will connect you with up to three snow removal professionals in your area in just minutes, for free.

In order to drive safely, you need proper tires. Is the hassle of switching between all weather tires and snow tires really necessary?  Could you possibly use the same tires all year round?

The answer is, not really. You would be taking the kind of risk that jeopardizes life and limb. Only snow tires can provide much needed traction on snowy, winter days. Let’s examine the pros and cons of all weather vs snow tires.

Are There Drawbacks to the Use of Snow Tires?

Tires are critical for your car’s safety, because they can provide your vehicle’s turning and stopping abilities. Tests have proven that snow tires improve performance when it comes to cornering and braking.

You may consider the extra cost of snow tires to be a drawback. You may think that they just double your expenditure. In fact, your expenditure remains the same. The difference lies in the fact that having two sets of tires will result in lower tire wear. To summarize:

– Snow tires improve your vehicle’s turning and stopping performance.

– Having both all weather and snow tires does not mean more money, but less tire wear.

What are the Actual Differences between Snow Tires and All Weather Tires?

Snow tires have tread patterns designed to press hard into the surface of snow and ice. They are made of a special type of rubber, which makes the tire more flexible and able to adhere to the road surface, even when temperatures are very low. Conversely, all weather tires become brittle and hard in similar conditions.

While the use of snow tires will undoubtedly increase driving safety, don’t forget to pay attention to the three golden rules of winter driving:

1. Slow down.

2. Allow extra time to get to your destination.

3. Allow twice the normal separation distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.

Find Help

Need assistance installing snow tires on your car? TalkLocal will save you time by directing you to a professional in your area in minutes. We will connect you with up to three professionals immediately.

When the weather gets cold and the snow starts to fall, it seems inevitable that you’ll have to pull out your trusty snow shovel and begin the long, arduous task of clearing the snow from your driveway, porch, or other areas you need access to. However, before you start your chore we want to make sure you’re aware of some of the snow shoveling dangers that you’ll want to take care to avoid.

Muscle Strain

Shoveling snow is grueling work for sure, and if you’re not an active sort, you can easily strain or pull a muscle while digging up snow.

Shoveling snow is all upper-body work, and sometimes our chest, shoulders, and arms aren’t used to the constant, repeated exertion of snow shoveling. Take care not to over-exert yourself, and if you feel an ache or tug, take a break.

Back Injury

The back is another common site of snow shoveling injuries. Just as we’re working our arms, shoulders, and chest while shoveling, it’s our back that is taking on the task of lifting all of that snow over and over.

If you have a history of back problems, consider wearing a brace before starting to shovel snow.

Heart Attack

As if muscle strain and back injury weren’t enough, the stress of shoveling snow can stress the body to the point of heart attack. While working in the cold, the blood vessels constrict, meaning that the muscles you’re using can’t get the blood they need as readily as during warmer temperatures. This will cause the heart to work harder, and that can lead to heart attack for some people.

Need Snow Removal Help?

Before you head outside this winter, consider some of the dangers of shoveling snow. If you need assistance, TalkLocal can help you find snow removal professionals who will save you the risk of injury. Our concierge service is free, so let us help you today.

Looking for excellent winter driving tips enabling you to prevent traffic accidents and enjoy smooth, safe road trips during the cold season? Auto repair experts advise drivers to buy and install four snow tires, or simply put on tire chains. Should you use snow tires or chains on your car or truck this winter? There are good and bad reasons for both.

Prepping Your Car for a Hard Winter

If you live in an area where temperatures normally drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months, it is advisable to replace your summer tires with winter tires. All-season tires are not worth considering because they provide little traction, plus they tend to lose their flexibility in cold environments.

On the other hand, the newest models of winter tires make very little sound, perform well in both icy and snowy conditions and guarantee excellent traction on dry portions of road.

Snow Tires versus Tire Chains

At this point, you’re probably wondering: Should I use snow tires or chains? Tire chains should be considered a temporary solution, suitable mostly for mountain driving during winter. Chains significantly reduce traction on dry surfaces and aren’t the best alternative for everyday driving.

Unlike tire chains, modern snow tires do not damage driveways and streets. Moreover, they don’t have to be removed on clear winter days, are an adequate fit for any type of car, and guarantee a safe trip even when you’re driving on a 100% dry road.

Need More Info?

Prepping your car for the cold season can be stressful and time-consuming, especially if you know very little about the pros and cons of snow tires and tire chains. If you need more info to make a smart decision, don’t forget to contact a skilled snow removal expert.

Find the best ones in your area, by using TalkLocal, a free service designed to help you get in touch with excellent professionals in your area in just minutes.

Frozen Gutters

Frozen gutters are not only unsightly, but they can bring about a host of other problems as well. They can lower the property value of your house and can result in expensive repairs. Clogged and frozen gutters can be a home for pests such as cockroaches, rats, and other unsightly animals. It can also cause the eaves of your home to rot when left unchecked for long periods of time.

Frozen gutters allow water to pool around your home, which weakens the foundation. Again, this will lead to expensive repairs later on. During the winter months, frozen water can block the drainage of unfrozen water from the roof, which can weaken the shingles and can cause leakages.

Six Ways to Prevent Gutters Freezing

1) Inspect the Vents of the Attic

Check to see if any insulation in the attic is damp or wet. If any is wet or damp, replace them immediately. This will help your home retain heat.

2) Insulate the Attic

Insulate the attic evenly. An evenly insulated attic will mean that ice will melt when in contact with the roof and will prevent the gutters from freezing over. This will also prevent you from needing to shovel snow from your roof.

3) Purchase Heat Tapes

Apply these along the gutters, as these will prevent the snow from forming ice along the gutters.

4) Remove Snow from the Gutters

After a snowfall, remove the snow from the gutters as quickly as you can. This will prevent it from forming into ice.

5) Place Rock Salt in the Gutters

Rock salt will prevent the snow from forming into ice.

6) Use Caulk

Use sealant around electrical cables to stop water from getting into them.

Help is on the Way

Contact TalkLocal today and let us help you find a professional to help you with your frozen gutter woes. We will connect you with up to three professional snow removal experts in just minutes.

With winter approaching, it’s wise to start preparing for the cold season early on. Besides making sure that your house is properly insulated to keep you warm during the following months, you most certainly want to have your car ready for snowy and icy roads.

So the first thing to consider is replacing your all-season tires with snow tires. To save money on gas, it’s important to know a few things about snow tires and gas mileage. Here are a few tips on how to improve gas mileage of snow tires.

Make Sure Your Tires Are Properly Inflated

Evidence shows that about one in two drivers fail to inflate their tires adequately, which is both unsafe and detrimental for the vehicle. Moreover, failing to have optimal air pressure in your tires negatively influences your gas mileage. Under-inflated tires are subject to more road friction, which is bad for gas mileage.

Check the air pressure in your tires from time to time. Make sure they are inflated as per manufacturers’ recommendations. You can do that with a tire pressure gauge, readily available in auto parts stores and gas stations. You can also have your tires checked at an auto repair shop. Make sure you check all the tires to make sure they’re equally inflated.

Choose Your Tires Wisely

Snow tires are specially designed to make driving through snow easier, but gas mileage is affected. To minimize this effect, you can consider using steel belted tires, which will improve your gas mileage during winter time.

Another aspect to keep in mind when it comes to gas mileage of snow tires is the rolling resistance of the tire. A tire with low rolling resistance is better for your gas mileage. The same goes for wide or studded tires.

Check Your Car’s Balance

After you’ve fitted your snow tires in readiness for winter, take your vehicle to an auto repair shop and have a mechanic check the alignment and balance of your car’s wheels. Proper alignment and balance means lower gas consumption.

While it’s important to keep all parts of your vehicle well maintained, it’s advisable to give the tires a high degree of attention. This way you’ll be safe and benefit from the best possible gas mileage of snow tires.

Need Help?

If you need expert advice on how to choose the best snow tires and have them installed, TalkLocal can put you in contact with a local professional right away.

In the winter months, snow can pile up on your driveway, front walk, patio, porch, and other places you need access to, and for most of us that means only one thing: picking up the trusty snow shovel and going to work.

This winter, if you feel like you couldn’t possibly toss one more shovelful of heavy, white snow, let us suggest some alternatives to shoveling snow that you can use to remove snow without a shovel, preventing the risk of injury, saving you time, and more.

Use a Broom

The first tool you can use as an easier alternative to shoveling snow is nothing more than a common household broom. Don’t sweep the snow the same way you sweep up dust inside the house, though. You’ll find you wear out faster and don’t move nearly enough snow that way. Instead, use the broom like an oar, as if paddling down a stream in a canoe. Place your back to the area you want the snow to go, and row your way to a clear path.

Use a Snow Blower

The second best tool to use as an alternative to shoveling snow is a snow blower. Just like using a leaf blower in the autumn to clear away fallen leaves, the snow blower will allow you to easily clear a path without lifting a single pile of snow with a shovel.

Hire Help

Finally, if neither of the above options works for you, or if you’re physically unable to do it yourself by any means, you should consider hiring someone to help you to shovel the snow from your property. Consider neighbors you see shoveling their own drive and offer them some cash to clear yours when they’re finished.

We hope this article helps you think of some new and different approaches to snow removal this winter. If you still need help, TalkLocal can connect you with a snow removal specialist in your local area today using our free concierge service.

Weather conditions can’t always be predicted, but even if snow is heavy, you can always fight it. What can be done when you have a yard full of snow and icy surfaces? Your shovel is a good ally, but there is something even better. Your snow blower is your guardian angel in winter. It will serve you well, provided that you keep it unclogged. Read on to find out how you can keep snow blower from clogging.

How You Should Deal With Heavy Snow without Clogging

Here are a few useful suggestions to bear in mind for how to keep snow blower from clogging

1. You should avoid slush and heavy snow, because they might clog your snow blower. If you need to deal with them, use another tool in order to remove anything that blocks the passage.

2. Before starting your work, let the snow blower’s engine warm a little by picking an area that’s not covered with heavy snow. Then, you can move on to using it on large snow drifts.

3. Keep the snow blower’s path free of any obstructions, such as toys or equipment left in the yard.

4.  Use non-stick spray on the inside of the chute to prevent snow from sticking. Using non-stick spray will prevent your snow blower from becoming clogged.

5. Finally, if you go faster when clearing the yard, the snow will be propelled further, therefore the risk of clogging will be reduced. But don’t force your snow blower, let it take its own pace.

Need Help with Snow Removal?

If clogging occurs, you may need the help of some specialists. If you follow all the above suggestions and your snow blower keeps clogging, the problem may be one that requires the attention of a professional snow removal expert. TalkLocal will connect you directly with up to three snow removal professionals in your area in just minutes. It’s fast and free!

During winter, your car must be protected against snow. Snow can cause a lot of damage to your car’s paint and overall appearance. How can you keep snow off vehicle bodywork and windshields? Here are some ideas for keeping your car snow and ice-free.

What Options Do You Have?

Extreme weather conditions must always be seriously considered. There are different ways in which you can address this issue. Starting with the methods car dealers use, like leaf blowers or squeegees designed for removing snow and finishing with simple tactics, like the use of worn sheets. Snow brushes are also an option. Similarly, tools like the Sno Brum can be a great help.

A Clever Tool to Keep Snow off Vehicle Bodywork

The Sno Brum with telescopic handle can do a very good job. This tool is kind to your car’s paint and does not leave scuff marks. The extendable handle enhances manageability, and you gain plenty of reach when removing snow from your vehicle. The head of the tool is made from durable high quality foam. This tool allows you to remove snow from your vehicle quickly and without causing any damage.

Keep Snow Off  Vehicle Windshields

An easy way to protect your windshield against falling snow is the simple use of a worn sheet you may find at home. Use the sheet to cover your car windshield as soon as snow begins to fall. All the snow and even ice will be kept on the sheet instead of your windshield. Don’t forget to remove the sheet soon after the snowfall stops, otherwise it can stick to your windshield and be difficult to remove.

While it’s true that looking after your car during winter takes more work, it’s a must to ensure your safety and keep your car in good condition.

Need Assistance?

If you need help with snow removal, either from your car or your driveway, TalkLocal is here to assist you. We can put you in touch with professionals in your area in minutes. You’re a call away from being snow-free this winter!