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Snowblower Safety Tips

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Snowblower Safety Tips

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. Tis the season for snowblowing, and the Farmer s Almanac says we re in for a lot of the white stuff this year. It s no joke that hundreds of emergency room visits each winter are caused by unsafe snowblowing practices, so before you fire yours up, remember these safety tips. Even though some manufacturers have redesigned their chutes to avoid clogs in heavy snow, anyone who s ever used a snowblower can tell you that chute or auger jams are inevitable, no matter how powerful your machine. Never, ever clear a jam by hand. Always turn the engine off first, disengage the clutch and use a broom handle or other long object to clear the obstruction. While some manufacturers are getting away from using shear pins, if your machine has them, they will break in a heavy jam to avoid damaging the internal gears. These are a pain to replace, but you can t run your machine without them, so have extras on hand. If your snowblower is electric, make sure the extension cord you re using is UL-rated for exterior use and is long enough for the area you need to cover but not longer than 150 feet from the power source. And be extra careful not to run over the cord while you re at work! Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

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Snowmelting Technology

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. Snow clearing can be a very strenuous job, even with the help of a snowblower. If you aren t physically able to do it or just don t want to ever again, you should look into the latest in snow melting technology. The simplest way out is the manually applied de-icing solution. Applied before a snowfall, it keeps light snow from accumulating. It can last a week or two, but you have to stay on top of it. Heated driveways, the envy of some neighborhoods, can cost between $10 to $15 a square foot to install. One type is the hydronic system that runs heated water mixed with anti-freeze under the driveway surface and requires a boiler and controls. Proper installation is crucial as a leak can compromise the whole system. The other type is an electric radiant system, which uses low-voltage mats under the driveway surface and can be purchased as smaller roll-out mats for walkways that must be kept clear at all times. Either type of system can be controlled manually, which works if someone is home to turn it on before the snow falls. But because snow is such a good insulator, late starts can keep a system from working at all. Automated controls are more expensive but work best as they turn themselves on when they sense the right moisture and temperature. Heated driveways cost about 25 cents a square foot per month to operate, depending on your climate and electric rate. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Laying Down a Cobblestone Driveway Apron

Bob joins Jay Seminara of Seminara Construction who is in the process of laying down a new cobblestone apron at the edge of the driveway. The apron serves two purposes: as an aesthetic feature, and also to act as a barrier for the seashells in the rest of the driveway. Before the stones can be put in place, Seminara digs a trench and lays in stone dust. The dust acts as an adhesive, holding the stones in place. Next, Seminara dry-fits the cobblestones, making sure he gets a nice fit. To finish the installation, he taps the stones into place with a 20-pound hammer and fills in the gaps with more stone dust.

Review of the House Project Plan

Bob meets Arquitectonica's Laurinda Spear, an architect who has come up with some eye-catching and very tropical ideas for the project. Due to local zoning laws, the original concept of expanding onto the back deck has changed. Instead, the kitchen will be extended to the side. A banana leaf motif has been chosen and will appear throughout the addition.

Snowblower Types

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. Whether you call it a snowblower or a snow thrower, before you shell out for one this winter, make sure you re getting the one you need. If you consistently get more than six inches of snow or your driveway is a long one, you ll need a gasoline-powered snowblower. There are two types: single-stage and two-stage. Two-stage models are the most expensive, from $500 to $2,500. But if you re clearing unpaved areas and heavy snow you ll need them because they have an auger, which collects the snow, and a separate impeller, which throws it. Some models have great features like headlights, one-handed operation and electric, rather than recoil, start mechanisms, so you don t have to yank any cords. Some even have independent-clutch wheels that allow for easy pivoting without going into reverse. These can all come in handy when you ve got a lot of ground to cover. Electric models are less expensive, ranging from $100 to $400. They re lighter and easier to maneuver, and they don t make as much noise or create as much air pollution as gasoline-powered models. If all you ve got is a small, paved driveway and some walkways to clear and they re within a hundred feet of your house, an electric snowblower will serve your needs in snowfalls of up to six inches. It ll also save you gasoline and maintenance hassles without taking up much storage space. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008