During the winter months, people begin seeking methods on how to melt snow on a driveway. Snow days are inevitable when winter arrives. And, while snow may appear to be inviting and pleasant, it can turn into a nuisance. It can pose challenges to daily living.
Snowplows could have pushed the massive amounts of snow around dwellings. It could also be the result of a harsh winter. Whatever the cause, you should clear the snow from around your house. In that way, you can get back to your routine and stay safe.
The easiest melting of snow method is with the least amount of labor. Also, without the expense of hiring a snow plowing service is to do so yourself.
Is that realistic? Yes, and here’s how to do it.
Ways On How To Melt Snow On a Driveway
The Fastest Way: Get Out Your Snow Blower
Let’s start with snow blowers, which are by far the most convenient way to get rid of snow. Clearing inches of snow can be a time-consuming process once winter hits. And, whether we’re hurrying to work or getting the kids to school, time is usually a luxury we don’t have.
- [LED LIGHT:] 3 W LED light for safe nighttime clearing
- [VERSATILE]: Ideal for quick snow pickups on mid-sized driveways and walkways
- [POWERFUL]: 15-amp motor moves up to 800 lbs. Of snow per minute
- [MAINTENANCE-FREE]: No gas, oil or tune-ups make it effortless to start and maintain
Don’t worry. Getting the best snow blower won’t break the bank. You can buy a snowblower for as little as $150 and as much as $2000 for a top-of-the-line gas-powered machine.
There are several sorts of snow blowers. So, you must select the appropriate model for your weather circumstances.
You can have a tiny electric snow shovel or snow thrower for light to moderate snowfall. Or a powerful two-stage snow blower for medium to heavy snowfall. Indeed, there’s something for everyone. After a winter storm, using a snowblower gets the job done faster and with less effort.
Pour Hot Water
Using a DIY mixture of warm water to remove snow is the simplest and most cost-effective way. To make it, fill a bucket halfway with hot water, add six drops of liquid dish soap and two ounces of rubbing alcohol. When you sprinkle the mixture over your driveway or sidewalk, the snow melts quickly.
The hot water generates heat to melt the ice. The rubbing alcohol accelerates the melting process with its low freezing point. You may produce enough of this mixture to cover your entire driveway. Then shovel away the remaining snow.
Use Salt to Melt Snow Around Your House
Water Softener Salt
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If you are looking for a low-cost alternative, then salts from water softeners are the one for you. Water softener salt is less expensive than other snow-melting chemicals. It is available at hardware stores. This sort of salt has the advantage of not rusting asphalt. It is ideal for driveways and garage entrances.
Note that if you have pets, you should not use water softener salt pellets.
Make use of deicer salt
- MELT MORE WITH LESS: Ice Slicer is naturally more concentrated than white salt. So, you can use less Ice Slicer than you might expect. One bag will treat up to 400 square feet. Overapplication may...
- SAFE FOR KIDS AND PETS: Ice Slicer is dye-free, urea-free, and polymer-free ice melt. It’s also so safe, it’s become a key ingredient in Redmond’s bestselling products for animals – products...
- SAFE FOR VEGETATION: Did you know that Nature's Blend is harvested from the same mineral deposit as our soil-nourishing supplements? When used in the right quantities, the minerals in Nature's Blend...
Our second advice for melting snow faster is to use deicer salts, which answer such issues. Deicer salt, known as road salt, helps to keep snow and ice at a lower temperature. It swiftly melts the snow and ice that accumulates in gardens and garage entrances.
Salt the ground with rock salt
- Sodim chloride melts ice quickly
- Melts ice up to 5 degrees Fahrenheit
- Available in a 50lb size
One of the most common snow melting procedures is the use of rock salt. It is both inexpensive and effective. But, it has the disadvantage of causing harm to plants. You can melt the snow surrounding your house using a bag of rock salt. You can also buy it in any hardware shop, yet stores may run out of rock salt if there is a snowstorm warning.
In that scenario, you should stock up on salt and store it ahead of time. Make sure you know how to keep salt properly, especially if you plan on storing it for an extended period. If you can’t get rock salt, there are some substitutes you can use.
Dig Out Your Leaf Blower
That’s right. You can use leaf blowers to blow snow in specific situations. When there is enough light snow to make things slick, you may use your leaf blower to blow it away.
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Don’t take our word for it; watch this YouTube video to see for yourself.
Always check the user handbook and proceed with caution. Also, never operate a leaf blower for an extended period since this might damage the motor.
Invest in heated driveway mats
You don’t want to clear the snow yourself? Heated Driveway Mats are the solution for you. These snow-melting mats rest on the driveway surface.
- Quality PVC Mat: Size: 5 ft x 13 in. Weight: 3.9 lbs. Voltage: 120 V. The snow melting mat is made of PVC, featuring waterproof, pro-environment, and great skid resistance. Do not worry about slick...
- Keep Your Path Clean: Our heated walkway mat aims to melt the existing snow and prevent re-freezing. Clean your walkways quickly at a snow-melt rate of 2 in/h and heating temperatures of 104 ℉.
- Power Cord Included: This snow and ice melting mat come with a 6 ft power cord meant to fit your stairs. We designed the leakage-proof plug w/ UL Certification for your maximum security. Lightweight...
- Simple to Operate: Installation couldn't be easier. Just place the ice melting mat on your stairs or doorway, plug it in, and get started. It comes with a total of 8 holes for securely fixing.
You can switch on the heated mats before the white stuff arrives. You can also save money by only turning them on to melt snow 30 minutes before you need to leave if you are not in a hurry.
How To Prevent Snow From Accumulating On Your Driveway
We all know that prevention is better than cure. So let’s go over a few things that can help you deal with that winter snowfall.
Lay Out the Tarp
The tarp method is a labor-saving and straightforward approach to clear snow. Lay a tarp (or other suitable material) over the area you want to clear. Secure it with large boulders or, if available, plant pots. You pull the snow out of the way when it stops falling.
You can lift two corners on the opposite side of the snow pile. Pull the tarp back over on itself, rolling the snow as you go.
Install a Driveway Heating System
A heated driveway system is an excellent method to avoid slaving away with a snow shovel for hours. This technology works in the same way as underfloor heating, but it’s beneath the driveway.
You can turn it on manually or automatically as snow begins to fall. Great for clearing snow and ice from even the longest driveways.
These systems can be electric or water-based, but keep in mind that operating costs can soon pile up.
Pour a mixture of salt and sand onto the driveway
Before it snows, spread a thin, even layer of salt and sand to keep lighter snowfalls from settling. Furthermore, adding sand reduces the amount of salt while increasing traction. It makes sidewalks and driveways safer.
Some Other Commonly Asked Questions
How long does it take for the snow to melt?
There isn’t a single clear answer to that question. Temperature and humidity are the two conditions that cause snow to melt. We can melt down 2 to 4 inches if we get three days with temperatures in the 50s! Snow is nothing more than a clump of ice that requires heat to melt.
Is Dawn dish soap able to melt ice?
Dawn dish soap is popular in homemade deicer recipes since it does not freeze. But, dawn soap will not melt ice on its own.
Is it true that vinegar may melt ice on a driveway?
Although vinegar will not melt ice on a driveway, it will assist prevent it from developing. Because acetic acid decreases the freezing point of water, this is the case.
Final Word
Snow removal might be difficult and unpleasant at times. But, the many solutions available now make it difficult to say that it is impossible. Snow removal is crucial for safety, whether at home or work. If you live in a cold area, you should plan to melt snow from the driveway based on your needs and skills.
A snow shovel, whether traditional or cordless, is still accurate to remove ice accumulation. But, one of the ways listed above might save you a lot of time and work cleaning your driveway without one.