Robert Valenzano

Friday, February 28, 2014

Titan Storm Spreads More Snow Coast to Coast

Winter Storm Titan
I'm sad to deliver bad news, but more cold winter weather is on its way.

Winter storm Titan, the latest ice and snow storm, is scheduled to dump more snow and ice across the US from coast to coast on Sunday and Monday.

Snowfall is expected to exceed 6 inches across the majority of Ohio. If you think that's bad, there's also a band of much heavier snow that will follow, dropping approximately 10 inches of snow somewhere. Meteorologists still don't know where that snow will fall.

The National Weather Service states that winter storm Titan is set to drop heavy snow from California to New England. It's also possible that it may drop sleet and freezing rain from the Plains all the way to the Mid-Atlantic States.

While most of you likely have gotten a snow blower by now, those of you who haven't likely won't worry about it until next winter. With winter nearing the end, and it is (only a couple of weeks left), many of us need to consider what will happen to all of the snow when late March or April showers begin washing it away.

Sump pumps are the concern now. I know I personally need to get a battery back-up sump pump because I live on a large pond in a neighborhood that often floods. My pal Jim is a sump pump expert over at Sump Pumps Direct, and he's great when it comes to finding you the perfect pump for your needs.


Monday, February 24, 2014

Keeping Up Appearances - How to keep your snow blower looking new.

Ariens Touch-up Paint
As you use your snow blower, it inevitably gets scratched and dinged, often times stripping small amounts of paint from the metal.

Leaving the scratches and dings unattended to may seem okay, excusing it as average wear and tear, but what if they begin to rust? Without the protection of the paint, the metal is now exposed to harsh environmental factors such as water, ice, and salt.

You change the oil, you add fuel stabilizer, you buy and use maintenance kits, and you keep it sheltered and covered during the off-season, so why leave it rust when you put such effort into keeping everything else on it so nice?

Cub Cadet Touch-up Paint
I spoke with one guy who told me how he keeps his snow blower looking great from year to year and prevents rust and corrosion.

With a stainless steel brush, he brushes off any rust or corrosion that's there, and smooths out the area that's missing paint.

Once it's clean, dry, free of rust and corrosion, and smoothed down, he takes a matching color of snow blower touch-up paint and sprays the spot. As long as you keep using a matching color of paint, which comes in brand specific colors at Snow Blowers Direct, it'll look great.

By doing this after each season, he gets to start the next season with a brand new looking snow blower, keeping his neighbors wondering why his stays so nice!

Monday, February 3, 2014

What Does the Groundhog Say?

6 More Weeks of Winter - Time for a Snow Blower!
The groundhog said, "Bring more snow."

Winter's far from over, and more snow is on its way. A snowstorm is sweeping through the country from Denver, Colorado to Maine and New York.

The strongest portion of the storm will stretch from Kansas City to Vermont and New Hampshire, bringing with it 6-12".

Omaha, Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, and Boston will be seeing around 3-6" of snow between tonight and Wednesday. And Denver, New York, and Philadelphia will only see around 1-3".

If you're in the more severe strip, you're probably wishing you had a snow blower right about now. If you don't have one, it's not too late to get one in time for clearing that 12 inches of snow off of your drive and walkways.

If you're in the lighter areas between 1 and 6 inches, you may be fine with a single-stage snow blower as long as you keep on top of the snow as it comes. Anything more though, and you'll want a two-stage snow blower with a bigger opening in the front for taking in snow deeper than a few inches.

If you've got a city plow that likes to come by and plow your driveway shut with a pile of frozen slush, you'll be happy to see we've got the all new three-stage snow blowers in that can handle that frozen mountain with no problem.

Take a look around Snow Blowers Direct, and visit the Buyer's Guide for help finding what you need.