Even though snow shoveling has achieved cult status and is considered the go-to by homeowners for removing snow, it’s a back-breaking and time-consuming task that will suck all your winter fun. So, if you’re tired of manually removing the layer of ice from your driveway and are looking for a simple and brilliant hack to clean snow easily, look no further than your leaf blower. Traditionally used to remove fallen leaves, this nifty tool is ideal to get rid of dry, light snow. A leaf blower won’t just help you remove 1 to 2 inches of powdery snow from your driveway and sidewalk but also come in handy for areas like doorsteps where it’s difficult to use a shovel.
However, there are certain precautions you should take before you happily dig out your blower. For starters, this job is best suited to gas and cordless (should be water-resistant) variants with at least 400 CFM (cubic feet per minute). While you can use an electric one, it’s usually not recommended since combining water and electricity can lead to electrocution. That being said, you can employ an electric leaf blower if you’ve got a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) that’ll shut down the device within 1/40 of a second if the power input and output vary by 5 milliamperes.
How to use a leaf blower
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Before using a leaf blower to remove snow from your driveway, grab a cozy coat, wear gloves, and cover your head and face to protect exposed skin. You should also cover your eyes and nose (if you’re allergic) as the fallen snow might be concealing dust and debris that could get stirred by the blower. On your way out the door, don a pair of anti-skidding shoes. Now, bring your leaf blower to life and aim it in the wind’s direction to make snow removal a snap. Take care to move the device from one side to the other until you’ve got a clean driveway.
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After you’re done, you can use the blower to remove the fine dusting of snow from your car, starting with the roof and ending with the tires. For best results, employ this hack immediately after light snowfall — when the snow is dry and hasn’t melted yet since a leaf blower won’t be of much use on wet ice. Moreover, avoid trampling the snow-covered areas as the weight will enable the ice to adhere to the surface underneath, making removal difficult. To keep your leaf blower from damage, don’t use it continuously without any breaks, as the frigid temperatures outside might interfere with its performance and cause it to malfunction. Further, ensure the blown snow doesn’t make its way to the engine, air filter, or carburetor. If some moisture enters the chambers, let the tool dry out before storing it.
