Must-Have Winter Tools for Home Safety and Snow Removal

Jan 14, 2025 2 min read

When winter weather sets in, snow, ice and cold temperatures can make it tough to keep your home safe and accessible. These useful tools can make it faster and easier to care for your home in the chilly months.

Tools to Clear Snow From Driveways and Paths 

Getting rid of snow keeps your driveway and sidewalks passable and safe. Your family, friends, guests and delivery people will appreciate clear access, and you’ll be glad they aren’t tracking in water, salt, sand or dirt. 

Depending on your climate and the area you need to clear, it may help to have these snow removal tools on hand:

  • Broom: You can sweep away a light coating of powdery snow.
  • Shovel: For deeper or wet snow, you’ll need a shovel. Light, balanced, ergonomic shovels make the work easier. It can be helpful to have multiple shovels available, especially if you would like your partner or kids to pitch in.
  • Snowblower: In climates where you can expect multiple heavy snowfalls, you may want to invest in a snowblower, especially if you have a large area to clear.

Whatever tool you’re using, be sure to take it slow and give yourself breaks. Snow removal can be hard on your back and your cardiovascular system, especially if you’re not in good physical shape.

Winter Tools to Get Your Car on the Road Safely

If you don’t have a garage or carport, you’ll need a way to clear snow and ice from your vehicle. A combo brush/scraper is a good choice for a car snow removal tool. Choose one with a long handle, especially if you have a truck or SUV.

Brush the snow from your vehicle first — be sure to clear all of your car surfaces, not just the windows and lights. Snow that blows off your car when you’re on the road can make it hard for other drivers to see. 

In some states you can be fined for having snow on your car, and you may be responsible if another driver is blinded by your snow and gets in an accident.

After you’ve brushed off your car, use the scraper to get any remaining snow or ice off your car windows. Many scrapers have two sides. If your windows are icy, use the ridged side to scrape and weaken the ice and the flat side to remove the ice. It can help if you run your defroster on high beforehand.

It’s best not to use your wipers to push snow off your windshield. You could tear the rubber blades or even damage the mechanism.

Snow Removal Tools for Your Roof

You may not think you need to get snow off your roof. But with a heavy snowfall, snow can melt if your roof is warm. The water can run down to the eaves and freeze at the edge where it’s colder. 

This ice buildup at the edge of your roof is called an ice dam, and water that builds up behind it can leak into your home and cause costly damage to the roof, walls, windows and light fixtures.

A roof rake is the roof snow removal tool you need to get snow off the edge of your roof and prevent ice dams. It’s a long-handled tool with metal or plastic at the end so you can get the snow off your roof without using a ladder. Be sure to buy a roof rake that’s long enough to reach your roofline at every point. 

Rake a few inches of snow off your roof at a time. Be careful — raking your roof is safer than using a ladder, but you could cause a mini-avalanche. And a roof rake can be unwieldy, so be careful to stay clear of power and internet/cable lines.

Make Sure Your Home and Car Are Protected in Winter

Snow, ice and cold can damage your house and your vehicles. Talk to a Farm Bureau insurance agent to make sure your homeowners insurance and auto insurance include the coverage you need, year-round.

Want to learn more?

Contact a local FBFS agent or advisor for answers personalized to you.

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