Removing snow promptly is the best way to prevent hard snow or ice building up on your driveway. Pre-booking your snow removal services can help ensure your property is clear all-season-long and remove the burden of clearing hard packed snow.
When the snow begins to fall, it’s important to stay on top of shovelling to prevent excess snow buildup, or worse, hard packed snow. Yet despite their best efforts, many homeowners find themselves unable to keep up with the task. Whether you are facing physical limitations or simply have difficulty finding time to shovel, you’re not alone. Many homeowners find themselves in the position of having a snow filled or partially shovelled driveway that has frozen and is now hard to remove. Thankfully, with a bit of know-how, you’ll be able to clear snow and get back to a safe and accessible outdoor space.
At Mr. Trim Lawn & Garden Services, we are a family owned and operated lawn care and snow removal company that has been in operation for more than 40 years. We understand staying on top of snow removal can be challenging. In this post, we offer our best tips to help you clear snow that has become hard and difficult to move. Use these tips to ensure your driveway can remain clear and safe this winter when hard snow has built up.
If you’re having difficulty removing hard snow from your driveway or simply need to offload the task, we can help. We provide residential and commercial snow removal services to help you keep your property safe, accessible, and clear of snow all season long.
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\Our Tips for How to Remove Hard Snow
When snow begins to accumulate and isn’t cleared promptly, it can quickly become difficult to remove. Whether snow has hardened from being compacted by foot traffic or a vehicle or has simply become hard from partially melting and refreezing, you’ll want to fix the issue before it becomes a hazard. Clearing hard snow can be a frustrating process, yet with a few quick tips, we can help you ensure your driveway is clear of hard snow, ice, and hazards.
How to Remove Hard Packed Snow from a Driveway
Breaking up snow with a snow scraper or shovel is the first place to start when looking to clear hard snow from a driveway. In many instances, simply breaking up the hard snow will make it possible to clear. However, in very cold temperatures or when there is a significant amount of hard snow or ice, you’ll want to add in a de-icer to make your task easier.
Rock salt can be used to melt hard snow when the temperature is at our above -9°C. If the temperature is colder than -9°C, calcium chloride based de-icers will be more effective. Give your de-icing method time to work before you again try to break up and clear away hardened snow. Though it may be a physically demanding task, this method should allow you to clear most hardened snow from your driveway.
How to Remove Hard Snow from a Car
If your car is covered in hard snow, you’ll want to be gentle when removing it. Start by making sure your exhaust pipe is clear, then if safe to do so start your vehicle. The heat from your car’s engine and interior heating should help to loosen the hard snow. In most instances, simply allowing the snow to melt away will make the job easier. Clearing hard snow from a car may take some time, however, waiting for the snow to soften and melt will help reduce the chance of your scraping or scratching your vehicle.
Can a Snow Blower Remove Hard Snow?
If you have hard packed snow or ice on your driveway a standard residential snowblower likely will not help. Though a snowblower can be helpful for clearing heavy snow that is hard to shovel, it is not suitable for cutting through solid hard snow and ice. More powerful snowblowers may be able to break up ice chunks, yet this is still likely not the best option for removing hard snow on a driveway.
If you have a snowblower, it is best to use it promptly after snowfall to ensure that snow does not have time to harden and become too difficult to clear.
How Can I Prevent Hard Snow Buildup?
The best way to prevent hard snow from building up on your driveway is to ensure you clear your property promptly after a snowfall. When you walk or drive on snow before clearing, it can become compacted which in turn leads to hard snow. Always clear the end of your driveway to ensure that you can easily go in and out of your driveway with a vehicle.
If you are unable to manage clearing snow for any reason, Mr. Trim Lawn & Garden Services can help. Book your snow removal services today and let us help prevent hard snow buildup on your property. We are always available to take the task of snow removal off your to-do list. Book early, and be ready for a stress-free winter.
Aaron grew up in Bowmanville, working along side his dad for as long as he can remember. Aaron went to school to get his small engine repairs certificate to help keep all the machines running well. Aaron is very knowledgeable with all lawn care needs. He took and passed the pesticide license course so he could better help his customers. Aaron always makes sure to determine what your lawn needs and can give recommendations on how to make it better.
Mr. Trim has many awards from, three best rated, This Week Readers Choice, Durham Region Readers Choice and more. Both owners Lisa & Aaron have their pesticide licences. Their biggest accomplishment of all is having loyal customers that trust them year after year for all their lawn, garden and snow clearing needs.