If you’re a bit of a history buff like me, you love learning about the history of things around you. When I look out the window these days in Cambridge, Massachusetts all I see is… snow. Lots of it. We have about 2 feet of the white stuff sitting on everything from yards to cars to gutters.

This made me wonder what exactly were the biggest blizzards (most snowfall and overall insane weather) in the history of the U.S.? Can you name them all?

The Biggest U.S. Blizzards On Record

1. The Denver Christmas Blizzard of 2006 – Up to 8 foot snow drifts covered much of Denver, Colorado.
2. The Schoolhouse Blizzard – A.K.A The Blizzard of 1888 – Rapid temperature drops (from 70 F to -40 F in some places).
3. The Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977 – 5 day storm that hit New York and Ontario with 69 mph wind gusts.
4. The North American Blizzard of 1996 – A.K.A. Nor’easter – Over 4 feet of snow in 3 days on the East Coast.
5. The Great Blizzard of 1978 – Hit the Ohio Valley with 100 mph wind gusts and 40″ of snow.
6. The Armistice Day Blizzard of 1940 – An intense low pressure systme that brough high winds, rapid temperature drops, rain, sleet and snow.
7. The Storm of the Centrury – A.K.A. 1993 North American Storm Complex – A superstorm that hit from Central America to Canada and brought everything from tornados to blizzards.
8. The North American Blizzard of 2005 – Over 3 feet of snow in 3 days hit most of the northen U.S.

[source]

If you know of a crazier blizzard or storm, let us know! Join the conversation with us by following @gutterbrush on Twitter, say hey on our Facebook page here, or leave your response down in the comments. Thanks!

photo by Stephen Dunn, The Hartford Courant

We want your snow pictures! In exchange for your generous effort, we’ll enter you into our giveaway. No strings attached, none of that nonsense. Here’s how to take part:

What Kind of Picture?

We want to see how much snow you have in your area! Just send us a photo of your house, neighborhood, pet (see picture on right of my dog), kids, or anything.

If you don’t have any snow in your area, feel free to send us your favorite photo from your neck of the woods. For example, if you live in Florida (the one state that didn’t get snow this week so far), send us a picture of the beach or a thermometer showing the above-freezing temperature!

How To Send In The Picture

It’s easy! Just post the picture to our Facebook Wall here! We’ll reach out to you so we can find out where to send your prize if your name is drawn. Speaking of which…

The Prize

If you send us a snow pic, we’ll enter you to win 12 feet (yes, feet!) of Gutterbrush for free! No strings attached.

We’ll draw the winner at random at noon on Monday January 17th so send your picture into our Facebook page by then!

Hope everyone stays safe and warm out there!

When it comes to your safety, snow sucks. Sure it’s great to look at, take pictures of, ski down, and throw at friends and / or enemies. However, if you see that your roof has a foot of snow on it and it’s not melting… you may start to get concerned. Luckily, GutterBrush helps get the melted snow (water) safely and quickly down your drain. But what about when you don’t have GutterBrush (gasp!) or the snow is simply not going to melt anytime soon.

It’s Not Worth A Trip To The Hospital

There is a simple way to remove snow from your roof. It doesn’t cost much and you don’t have to climb up onto your roof. However, you should know that no amount of snow is worth a trip to the hospital so be safe out there. Use a ladder when necessary, to pull snow from hard to reach places, but only with the help of a friend or neighbor. Ladders are unsturdy; you should never climb one without someone below you holding it still. Safety is, and should always be, your first priority. Don’t take any  chances with snow removal. It’s simply not worth it.

Ready for the amazing trick? Here goes:

The safest way to clean snow from your roof is with a snow rake. It’s basically a long pole with a flat piece of aluminum attached to the end. A snow rake is ideal for hooking snow and pulling it from the roof. You can build your own by welding a long pole-shaft to a flat piece of aluminum at a ninety degree angle, but for the less adept person, one can be bought on-line or at a local hardware store.

If you’re looking for an already-made snow rake or other ideas on removing snow, there are places that sell snow rakes online like TheRoofRake and other places that actually blast off your snow / ice with steam. (We are in no way affiliated with these companies but wanted to keep you in the know.)

It’s Exhausting

Raking away snow from your roof is very exhausting work but can be made easier by following a few simple steps:

• Use a layering method (short strokes) when raking, pulling the first six inches to a foot of snow off.
• Gradually work your way back from the roof ledge to the center.
• Don’t allow the rake end to come off the roof when pulling the snow over the ledge. By keeping the rake on the roof, you save time and effort as you work.

To protect shingles, don’t use the blade to break up the ice by dropping it against the roof. Without snow cover, ice will melt and flow into the gutter. You don’t have to remove every flake of snow, just enough to alleviate the pressure and weight of snow on your roof.

What Do You Think?

We want to hear your experiences with any of the products mentioned or simply get your advice on how to remove snow from a roof. We have about a foot on ours right now and any advice helps. Thanks!

Snow relocation technique.

In some parts of the USA the average amount of snowfall approaches 120 inches! That translates into 120 opportunities for suffering a snow removal malady including muscle fatigue, lower back injury, spinal damage, and even spinal fractures during the seemingly never ending winter season. Many of these snow removal aches, pains, and injuries are the result of excessive stress to spinal, muscular structures, and  from slips and falls. According to research completed at Cornell University’s ergonomic department The L5/S1 disc has been identified as the weakest link in the body segment chain. The most severe injuries and pain are likely to occur in the back region.” Just as we advocate for ladder safety when cleaning the gutters or working on the roof, what can be done to prevent injuries when relocating snow after a storm?
Keep in mind at the outset that snow relocation programs can be compared to resistance training , and in some cases, the aerobic aspect of this activity is similar to a workout involving running or skipping rope. So, in the interest of safety and a successful battle with the fallen snow please take a moment to consider the following tips:

1. If you experience pain or discomfort of any kind, stop at once and seek assistance.

2. Drink plenty of water during the event(s) and take frequent breaks. Remember, snow relocation is a very rigorous physical activity that can place you in harms way.

3. Beware of icy surfaces under the snow and avoid them if you are unable to get solid footing to remove the snow. Failure to do this often results in a slip and fall situation resulting in injury.

4. Make sure you are dressed properly and be sure to understand that much of the heat in your body exits through the head.

5. Shovel selection is very important. Choose one with a curved handle to help you to keep your back straighter reducing spinal stress. A smaller blade can help with this as well because a smaller load of snow usually weighs less and thus puts less strain on the spine. Finally, there are shovels made expressly for pushing snow so you can avoid lifting a single flake of snow. Once you have your shovel, spray a bit of silicon lubricant on the blade in order to help keep the snow from sticking to the shovel.

6. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, “If you must lift the snow, lift it properly. Squat with your legs apart, knees bent and back straight. Lift with your legs. Do not bend at the waist. Scoop small amounts of snow into the shovel and walk to where you want to dump it. Holding a shovelful of snow with your arms outstretched puts too much weight on your spine. Never remove deep snow all at once; do it piecemeal. Shovel and inch or two; then take another inch off. Rest and repeat if necessary.” Put simply, go forward with your snow. It may take longer but it will save you from some potential aches and pains.

Finally, a snow blower, if you have access to one can render most of these risks moot but it still needs to be used properly. If used properly it will do all of the work for you.

A snowblower is a terrific piece of machinery, but if it’s not used correctly, you can strain or injure your back. Snowblowers are designed to remove snow at a particular rate of speed. Pushing or forcing the equipment to go faster is defeating its purpose —to do the work for you!

Winter is far from over and the snow is sure to keep falling in many places. Keep your snow relocation efforts safe and you will have a much more enjoyable winter experience.

What is a Snow Guard?

A snow guard helps prevent snow and ice accumulated on a roof from dropping to the ground before it melts completely. Snow guards are a very cost-effective solution that protect homes and businesses from the elements in cold weather climates. Though they do not stop the snow from falling completely in the areas where they are installed, they do prevent large loads of snow from dropping at one time.

Where Snow Guards Are Used

Particularly useful when installed above in entryways, parking lots, gutters and expensive landscaping, these simple additions to a roof can provide accessibility to your property throughout the entire year by stopping excessive snow pileup at key locations.

Snow guards are typically installed by gutter installation companies or roofing contractors, but for experienced do-it-yourselfer, this is a project that can be tackled with the right tools and supplies. Snow guards can be purchased at your local home improvement supply company or directly from the retailer.

This small addition can make all the difference if you live in a climate with cold, long winters where snow typically piles on your roof. Look into this easy fix and enjoy your entryways and other key areas being clear of snow and ice.