Best Way to Clear Snow from a Long Driveway
Once winter rolls in, homeowners are faced with a new seasonal chore – snow shoveling. The good news is there are a few different ways to tackle this problem. In the sections below, I’ll talk about the best way to clear snow from a long driveway.
You can use a heavy duty snow blower, lawn tractor, or plow when dealing with large sections of asphalt. You’ll want to ditch the shovel, as it will take too long and won’t be as efficient when it comes to snow removal.
1. Snow Blowers
Snow blowers (also called snow throwers) are first on this list for a good reason. They’re heavy duty, easy to operate, affordable, and get the job done. But you should know that not all snow blowers are created equal.
Before we dive into each stage of blowers, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Electric snow blowers. Sure, these machines can work on small areas, but that’s not what this article is about.
If you have a long driveway, don’t even think about getting an electric snow blower. These tools can be appealing because they require less maintenance, but the battery will not last long enough for big jobs.
Choosing the Right Stage Blower
Now that I’ve steered you away from electric snow blowers, we can talk about their gasoline counterparts. When walking around your local hardware store, you can expect to find single-stage, two-stage, and three-stage blowers.
Single-Stage
For long driveways, single-stage blowers are simply not worth it. The auger lifts up snow and discharges it through a chute in a single motion. It’s the most affordable version on this list, but it’s best for light to moderate amounts of snow.
Two-Stage
Things get a little more interesting once you start looking at two-stage blowers. On this machine the auger first picks up snow, before a separate fan discharges it through a side chute. It’s more efficient at clearing driveways and can better handle deep snow (compared to the single-stage).
Three-Stage
Three-stage snow blowers are a top tier snow removal tool. The third stage includes an accelerator, which means it’s capable of cutting through ice and removing snow much faster. Three-stage blowers are hands down the best way to clear snow from a long driveway – but come with a high cost.
2. Lawn Tractor Blade
Removing snow from a long driveway is simple, if you already own a lawn tractor. Investing in a front mounted blade can attach to the front end of your mower, so you can start clearing snow.
This is a useful tool to have for your riding mower, as you won’t need to worry about walking around (and slipping on ice) during the snow removal process. All you need to do is sit down on the chair and drive.
Just remember to purchase the correct size for your specific make and model. All brands are different, so you want to make sure that the mounting blade will be able to fit securely on your machine.
3. Snow Plow
If you have a large truck or SUV, investing in a snow plow can also work. Finding a used one might be the better option, as you can save a few hundred dollars. Plows can be expensive and there’s no need to buy one brand new – unless you have a snow removal company.
When it comes to snow plowing, there are a couple of tips you should follow to get the best results. For starters, it always helps to have the plow at a slight angle. This will help push snow forward and to one side, as you make consecutive passes.
You can then straighten the plow when cleaning up the surface at the end of a job. And when it comes to deep snow, try raising the plow a few inches off the ground. This will remove the top layer first, before coming back and plowing the rest.
4. Ice Melt
Ice melt and rock salt is not the end all solution for snow removal, but it can help. When it comes to removing snow from long driveways, ice melt can make your life much easier.
It’s best to lay down ice melt in addition to one of the methods above. Spreading this product down on the asphalt won’t make your driveway snow free, but it will stop light amounts of snow from building up.
This is especially good when using a snow blower, or plow to clear your driveway. These tools can be great, but they’re not perfect. Applying ice melt after you’re done removing snow will clear up anything remaining and it will prevent ice.
5. Heated Driveway
I wanted to include this option last, because it’s probably something most homeowners won’t do. But, a heated driveway will be very effective at clearing snow. The only problem is that this project will cost a lot of money.
The cost for a heated driveway will vary – but you can expect to pay thousands of dollars. So, is a heated driveway worth it? The answer really depends on who you ask. But if you have the money to spend, go for it.
Will a Snow Blower Work on a Gravel Driveway?
Yes, a snow blower will work on a gravel driveway. In order to avoid tearing up gravel, the snow blower skid shoes will need to be raised. This will heighten the front end, which will allow proper clearance for your gravel driveway.
Adjust the skid shoes so you have around 1 inch of space between the bottom lip and driveway surface. Make sure to do this job on a flat surface, so each skid shoe will be at a consistent, even level.
How to Remove Snow from Gravel Driveway
A snow blower will be the easiest way to remove snow from a gravel driveway. It’s more efficient than using a shovel and more precise compared to a truck plow. However, you will need to make a critical adjustment (mentioned above) to the machine before starting.
After the skid shoes have been changed, there will still be some amount of snow left over. You can either clear it up with a shovel, or use rock salt. Clearing snow from a gravel driveway will never be perfect, because you need to allow extra space, in order to avoid picking up rocks.
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