Hot cocoa, winter wonderlands, sledding, and snowball fights! We’re getting closer to that time of the year when blankets of snow will be covering your pathways, driveways, and sidewalks.
Making snow angels and building a snowman may be fun. However, shoveling your driveways and de-icing your walkways can stress and tire you out. You even have the possibility of getting injured!
Did you know about 1 million adults suffer from an injury because of slipping and falling? This is where residential snow removal comes in to boost safety, convenience, and accessibility for you and your family.
Here are the best residential snow removal options to keep your home safe. Read on to know which of the residential snow plowing services you should be getting today!
Shoveling
Shoveling is a timeless method for removing snow from your property. Although it is more labor-intensive, it allows you to be more careful and detailed when removing the snow.
Other methods often use heavier equipment which can damage hardscaping elements or delicate landscapes. It’s the ability to control your equipment that allows you to maintain your driveway’s appearance and avoid scratches.
Choose among the best snow shovels for homeowners to make certain you can shovel huge piles of snow more effectively. However, removing the snow with a shovel yourself has its limitations. You should know when not to shovel the snow, how to protect your back, and where to put the snow.
Is it very windy? Wait for the wind to be nice and calm before heading out to shovel the snow. Is the snow gently drifting? Get it in sections as it comes down to prevent accumulating snow.
Professional snow removal solutions often mix this method with others to ensure they don’t harm your landscapes. They know which tools to use and how to shovel with precision and efficiency with every corner clear of snow without damage.
Snow Pushers
Snow pushers are tools used by homeowners to push snow aside. Unlike a shovel, it has a wide, flat blade to move the snow and ice out of the way. They are more versatile, allowing you to use them on various types of surfaces like gravel, concrete, and asphalt.
You can attach the snow pusher to your tractors and loaders, turning them into snow-clearing machines. As you drive forward, it gathers and moves the snow, providing a clear and clean path.
Although it is a good residential snow removal method, they are less effective in deep snow. They cannot handle significant snow accumulation because their features apply to light to moderate snowfalls.
Snow Blowers
Snow blowers are machines designed to clear your driveway from snow by gusting it off the surface. There are two types of snow blowers: single-stage and two-stage snow blowers. If you want to clear a large area, use the latter due to its power and efficacy.
This home snow removal equipment saves more time and reduces the risk of injury. You can use snow blowers for more than just snow removal. You can also use them to clear out debris, grass, and leaves from your lawn.
Aside from clearing large areas, snow blowers need less physical effort. Rather than risking getting an injury from shoveling, a blower can clear out the snow without strenuous effort. Moreover, they are quite durable, lasting for 10 to 20 winters with proper maintenance.
Snow Plows
For extensive properties, experts recommend plows as your home snow removal equipment. Snow plows have large blades mounted on a vehicle, pushing the blanket of snow off the road.
As a homeowner, the cost of this option can overwhelm you. Snow plows need a large investment to get the vehicle and plow attachment. Moreover, you need good vehicle operation skills to maneuver the equipment.
Although demanding, investing in snow plows is worth the price. They can clear large areas, give minimal effort, and handle deep and heavy snow. With this, you won’t have to stay outside and strain your back.
For snow plowing, you can use trucks, SUVs, ATVs, or UTVs. Use a vehicle meeting the requirements to prevent decreased efficiency.
Heated Driveways
With technology evolving, you can melt snow and ice on your driveway with heated systems. Professionals developed a heating system that you can install beneath the driveway. Whether concrete, asphalt, or pavers, it produces heat that can penetrate and reach the surface.
Professionals will install electric cables or hydronic tubing beneath your pathway. They often come with sensors that can detect temperature changes and snowfall. Once the temperature drops, the system starts and emits heat.
With this, you can keep your driveway clear regardless of snowfall. Heated driveways promote safety by reducing the risk of accidents. However, this method involves complex installation and high installation and operating costs.
Chemical Snow and Ice Melters
For affordable residential snow removal methods, try going for chemical melters. One effective material is rock salt. However, sprinkling salt can harm living things and corrode surfaces.
Instead of salt, we recommend using a green alternative. It includes coffee grounds and sugar beet juice. To ensure safety, search through the Environmental Protection Agency to see if this method is approved and safe.
Snow and ice melters lower the freezing point of water. This means sprinkling it over a certain area can cause the snow and ice to melt. Thus, making it one of the best winter driveway maintenance options.
Although it is an effective method, snow and ice melters cannot handle low temperatures. So the best time to use this method is when there’s a thin layer of snow or during light snowfalls.
HitchDoc PowerSports: Top Residential Snow Removal Services
Choosing the right residential snow removal method is not an easy task. From area size to environmental conditions, many factors can affect your choice. Choosing the right equipment is also a must to prevent accidents and increase efficiency when removing snow.
So if you’re looking for a high-performing plow system, then look no further! At HitchDoc PowerSports, we have high-quality systems to meet your residential snow removal needs! We have accessories, motorcycle hitches, winches, plow blades, and plow systems.
Give us a call if you want to know more about our systems or simply need advice on how to remove the snow.