Advice on Clean-Up?

[LabRat]

So we've got nearly a foot and a half of snow since the display was first set up. Which means the 1foot spacing left at the bottom of the mega tree, mini-tree, and arches, wasn't enough and the last 6" of everything is "good and set" into the snow/ice/frozen precipitation. Not to mention the miles of cables that were left snaked along the ground in early December.

Would "those who have done this before" care to comment on any recovery techniques that have worked (or should be avoided?). I know I'll need some bins from HD or W*LM*RT, as well as a place to set these to dry before binning).

Oh.. and Happy New Year everyone!!

[dirknerkle]

LabRat, I share your pain.

I considered seeding the yard with salt to melt the snow, but after that thought came another: I wonder what the cost is to replace my lawn? Nixed idea #1.

I thought about shoveling where I know the cables to be. Another thought: Shoveling 20" of snow and ice off cat5 will most certainly damage the cables. Nixed idea #2.

I thought about connecting everything up to 240 VAC instead of our normal 120 thinking maybe the extra juice would "melt" the snow off the wires. Realized the idea was doomed to failure; nixed idea #3.

Decided maybe a Caribbean cruise was in order, giving the snow time to melt on its own. Wife said she liked that one and the ideas were getting better... I'll keep idea #4 on the list for now...

Wife suggested maybe unplugging the mains and leaving it alone until it melts by itself; told me to write it on the list as idea #5.

Quickly reviewed list. Wife went online and checked bank account.

Its #5. Dang.

[LabRat]

#6 - propane heater directed at the last known location(s) of the cables. (note propane in place of electric, due to the obvious hazards of electricity and defrosted snow... CLEARLY waving open flames about is much safer)

(oh.. for the sarcasm impaired reader.. add a ;) to that last comment)

[ErnieHorning]

I just remove what I can now and the rest until later when it warms up more. I think it was the end of March last year for the last bit. I'm not climbing a ladder until it's safe to do so and the cords that are stuck will stay there. I wrecked a Cat5 one year trying to get it out. I haven't had a problem with cords or Cat5 corroding or not working that were left out.

[wjohn]

we had two days of 39 C, and today is back to 23. All I need is the motivation... Cherry picker is booked for Jan4 for the megatree to come down.

[budude]

I don't have to deal with ice/snow but we typically get a lot of rain here so I do pull all my lights and leave them on the garage floor to dry out for a week before boxing them up. I have mostly LED so I don't want to find piles of rust around November when I pull them out again...

[Virtus]

I don't like to try to force frozen cables of any type into new postisons. I let it melt first and then "garage floor" them for a day or two to both warm and dry before coiling or boxing for storage.
Also, my HD has the infamous 3-pack cords (185-795) ready to go to 75% off on Monday. Mine had about 5 cases left still.

[dnesci]

Just clean up as the weather permits. Last year it was almost April when the final cables where recovered. The big problem is that if you have had early rain or thaws, many of the cables will be frozen to the ground. Even if the snow was gone, the cables are still frozen.

I make a game out of it and guess how much I can get up each weekend.

[Brad Riley]

Next week-end I will start removing lights from the fence, trees/bushes and lay them on the garage floor to warm before rolling into balls and stowing.
As far as the Cat5, the ground has to thaw first. Thats okay though. I'm going to try to organize my Cat5 by bundling 4 or 5 together to (hopefully) shorten my set-up time next November.

Brad