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With winter approaching, it is important to think of all that comes with the season, including snow, ice, and more. With winter weather comes hazards, including dangerous driving conditions, as well as ice on sidewalks and walkways around your home.
It should be a priority as the colder weather gets closer to make sure that you have everything you need to keep your home safe and to be ready to head out and face the winter weather. So here is your guide to preventing icy walkways around your home in 2023:
Be Prepared
Sometimes the first snow or sleet can catch us off guard. But you can prevent this by being prepared. Well before winter weather is on your mind, in the fall, make sure you have all the supplies you need to efficiently clear snow and melt ice.
Check your stock in storage and move it somewhere accessible, so that if there is an early snow or some freezing rain, you aren’t fumbling in the dark in the depths of your shed or basement. Be sure that you have your snow shovel within reach. If you have a snowblower, make sure it is in working shape and filled with gas. Be sure that you have a good supply of rock salt, as well as ashes or sand.
Prevent Ice
Ideally, if you know snow or sleet is coming, you should pretreat your sidewalks and walkways with rock salt. This will prevent the ice from sticking, and save you a lot of time in trying to get the ice or snow off once it is stuck.
Preventative measures will go a long way in keeping your walkways safe, especially if you have to leave early for work and only have a limited amount of time to shovel in the morning and try to remove ice. If you have pretreated your walkways, they should be less icy to begin with, and the ice and snow that is left will be easier to remove.
Shovel Immediately
Another important tactic to prevent ice from forming and snow and ice from sticking to your walkways is to shovel immediately. Whether you are keeping up with falling snow throughout the day, or shoveling what has fallen overnight as soon as you get up, prompt removal of snow will greatly help in keeping your walking clear and from getting icy.
Post-Treat Walkways
Since it is difficult to ensure that there is absolutely no ice on your walkways, you should also do some post-treatment on your walkways. You can use rock salt after shoveling, and you can also use something to prevent slipping if there is any leftover ice. Some good substances to provide traction on snow and ice include sand, kitty litter, or ashes.
If you take these steps, you will go a long way to assure that your walkways are safe this winter. Since you take your safety seriously at home in the winter, businesses should too.
If you find any businesses who are neglecting their snow removal or ice prevention, share these steps with them. If you have had the misfortune of experiencing untreated or neglected sidewalks, walkways, or parking lots and were seriously injured, you can contact a slip and fall lawyer. But your own home walkways will probably be the safest in town.
