A fresh blanket of snow can be a beautiful sight, but it has a way of arriving without regard for our lives and busy schedules.  Snow shoveling isn't fun, but is often unavoidable. It isn't a good idea to left even a minimal amount of snow go in un-shoveled in your driveway, lest it later melt and refreeze.

It pays to prepare, so you can get out of your driveway when you need to.

So, have a plan before you start.

1.  Don't mess around with the snow around your car in the beginning.  More snow will accumulate around there when you clean the car off, so you might as well wait to clean up the snow around the car.

2.  Hold off snow shoveling where your driveway meets the road.  As the city snow plows come around, they'll barricade you in with more snow, so you might as well wait.

Here are some tips and suggestions for you:

Snow blowers: well worth considering, especially if you live in a heavy snow area.  It is the quickest way to clear large flat areas.  Before you start, spray the nozzle with silicone to prevent sticking, and when you're done, let the machine run for a few minutes to dry it out.

Shovels: look for shovels with a lightweight plastic or aluminum blade coated with a non-stick coating.  Avoid too big of a blade so you won't be tempted to overload it.. It is recommended that you shovel several times, even while it is still storming so that the snow does not get a chance to bond with surfaces.  Try and get down to the pavement to prevent ice from forming.

Don't heap snow on foundation walls where melting water can refreeze and cause cracks to widen.  Also, don't heap snow against anything made of wood, potentially causing water damage.

Chemicals: removing snow if often just the first step in cleaning up snow and ice on your walkways and driveways.  Once the snow is gone, dealing with the ice left behind can be a big challenge.  Ice just doesn't freeze on the pavement, it freezes to the pavement.  Once it freezes to the pavement, it can be very difficult to remove.  Chemical de-ices can help break the bond the ice has on the pavement.  A de-iced is a chemical agent that is spread n snow and IDE - it does not melt the snow but rather seeps through to the ice on the pavement, melts the ice there, breaking the bond and making it easier to remove the snow and ice.

Rock salt is cheap and works at temperatures above 12 degrees F.  It can be tough on shrubs and grass and can eat away at concrete.  Magnesium chloride and calcium chloride cost more, but are less harsh and are effective at much lower temperatures.

The arrival of snow can be fun and exciting for a while, or if you're a kid getting a snow day.  But if you're a homeowner, keeping your home safe from snow and ice can be a big chore.  Hopefully some of the suggestions above will make your snow removal chore a little bit easier!

Feel free to contact me if you are looking for a new home in 2013.

There are a lot of great homes in Yardley, Newtown and all of Bucks County.