Types of Snow Shovels And How To Use Them
When the winter season is upon us that means that it is inevitably the time for shoveling snow if you’re one of the unlucky ones without a snow blower.
Before you tackle snow shoveling this season, it is important to make sure you have the best snow shovel for the job. A snow shovel is a simple tool to use to remove snow from driveways, walkways, steps, patios, decks and other outdoor areas so that they are clear after the snow falls.
Snow shovels are also useful to free your car of snow if it has been snowed in and to keep the areas around your home or business free of snow so that walking and driving is not a hazard.
There are many types of snow shovels to choose from and finding the best type of snow shovel to fit the job and that will be the safest to use without causing injury to your back or other parts of your body is an important step in ensuring that the next snowfall will not be the cause of undue physical injury.
Here is a rundown of different types of snow shovels so you can determine the best snow shovels for you, depending on style, price and ease of use.
Snow Shovel types
Electric snow shovel
Electric snow shovels or power snow shovels are the easiest way to remove snow without much human-powered effort. An electric or power snow shovel is not as large as a snowblower, but is made to shovel and blow snow so that you don’t have to contend with lots of heavy lifting.
One popular model is the Toro snow shovel, known as the Toro Electric Power Shovel, which can clear snow that is up to six inches deep. This popular model retails for around $100, but saves you lots of heavy lifting and potential backaches.
There are other models of electric snow shovels for sale as well, and owning one is a luxury because it avoids lots of manual labor after a snowfall.
Aluminum snow shovel
Aluminum snow shovels are among the most popular types of shovels for snow. They are lightweight and durable, and do not break easily like plastic snow shovels sometimes do. These shovels are less expensive than steel or metal snow shovels but are a good choice for homeowners that only occasionally need to shovel snow.
Aluminum snow shovel prices range from $10 for a basic inexpensive model up to over $100, depending on other features. Most range from $20 – $50. Aluminum snow shovels are available in many different shapes and sizes.
Steel snow shovel
Similar in style and to aluminum snow shovels, steel snow shovels are a bit heavier and more durable than aluminum models. They are also more expensive. These snow shovels are the perfect solution if you live in areas that receive a decent amount of snowfall or you need to shovel large areas. Many small business owners use a steel snow shovel to clear off the areas outside of their business.
Ergonomic snow shovel
To ensure that your back is subjected to the least amount of strain possible, ergonomic snow shovels are a good option. These shovels have a bent S-shaped handle which take the strain off of your back when shoveling snow.
Ergonomic snow shovels are recommended for anyone shoveling snow that has back problems and are a good option for anyone looking to take some of the strain off of their back muscles when shoveling snow.
They are a little more expensive than standard snow shovels but worth the extra few dollars.
Folding snow shovel
If you live or drive in an area that is prone to snow, it is a good idea to keep an auto snow shovel in your car. Since cars have limited space, the best option for an emergency snow shovel for your car is a folding snow shovel.
Folding snow shovels are compact and do not take up much room in the trunk of your car but are available for use any time you are out and your car is stuck in the snow and you need to shovel your way out.
Auto snow shovels should be a part of every emergency kit for those that may encounter snow while on the road.
Push snow shovel
Sometimes lifting snow is not the best solution to snow removal and that’s where push snow shovels come in handy. A snow shovel pusher or a push snow shovel is partially rounded on the bottom and is made to push the snow, rather than lifting the snow up to remove it to another location.
Push snow shovels are often used in conjunction with lifting snow shovels to most effectively clear snow and are a good option for light snow falls to easily clear the ground. Pushing the snow also causes less back strain than lifting snow.
Kids snow shovel
Kids love to help out when it comes to shoveling snow or love to just play in the snow with a shovel, but most large snow shovels are just too cumbersome for them to handle.
Kids snow shovels are smaller sized shovels that are made specifically for kids to use. They are often plastic although you can also find aluminum kid snow shovels for sale.
A kids plastic snow shovel can be purchased for $10 or less.
Buying a Snow Shovel
When purchasing a snow shovel, it is best to not only consider the style of snow shovel you are looking to purchase, but also to make sure the size of the shovel is one that you can comfortably handle.
Some large snow shovels, while allowing for quicker snow removal due to their size, are just too heavy to be used by some people or cannot be lifted if completely filled with snow due to their excessive weight.
Wide snow shovels are great for some locations but are not best for narrower areas. In some cases, a small snow shovel is all that is needed or all that can be comfortably handled.
Another consideration to keep in mind when buying a snow shovel is how comfortable the handle of the shovel is.
Different snow shovel handles will be comfortable to different people. The length and design of the handle are also important to test out prior to purchase in order to make sure the shovel is comfortable to use.
It is best to try out moving a snow shovel along the ground and lifting it up and to the side before purchasing it to ensure it is comfortable to use.
A snow shovel is a necessity for anyone that lives in a climate that is prone to snow, but there are many options of snow shovels for sale, depending on how often you need to shovel snow, how much snow you typically need to shovel, how fit or healthy you are, and how much you are willing to spend.
Many people have more than one type of snow shovel stored in their garage or shed, either to tackle different types of snowfalls or to allow for multiple people to help shovel the snow after a big snowfall.
Most snow shovels are relatively inexpensive and will last through many years of snowfalls.
No matter what type of snow shovel you own, however, it is important to make sure you are healthy enough to shovel snow before tackling the job.
Snow shoveling can cause a great deal of physical strain and is the cause of many injuries and health problems and should only be done by those who are physically capable of handling the physical challenges of snow removal.