Has this ever happened to you?

You leave your home on a sunny, winter morning, with your car keys in one hand and a coffee thermos in the other. The next thing you know, you’ve slipped on the icy sidewalk, and everything comes crashing down. You’ve stained your shirt, injured your bottom, and lost your keys in the snow.

Dirty sidewalks are no joke!

Keeping the sidewalk clean does more than maintain a tidy appearance—it also prevents safety hazards like slipping on ice. Here’s how you can keep your sidewalks clean:

Salt them

If we can’t prevent snow from falling, melting, then freezing again, then how do we prevent an icy sidewalk?

Your best bet is to keep a package of sidewalk salt handy. This is usually made of calcium or sodium chloride. You can also try spreading sand to increase traction on the surface of the sidewalk. 

The sooner you take action, the better. An icy stretch of sidewalk is a disaster waiting to happen, either to you or to your unsuspecting mail carrier. 

Shovel after a snowfall

A straw broom won’t cut it in the midst of a Manitoba winter. Sure, you might be able to remove the top layer of debris, but a broom won’t stand a chance against piles of snow. 

In other (warmer) parts of the world, a power washer will do the trick to hose down dirt. But in our snowy city, that water will soon freeze into ice, making the sidewalk even more dangerous than before!

To cut through the buildup of a Winnipeg sidewalk, you’ll need a heavy-duty shovel. 

Not just any shovel will do. Look for one with an ergonomic handle to prevent muscle strain. Be sure to practice proper lifting techniques so that you don’t injure your back. 

Keep an eye on the weather forecast

When you can anticipate the next snowfall, you can plan when you’ll need to break out your trusty shovel again. 

And here’s an insider tip: if you apply salt before the snow falls, it can help prevent a buildup of ice. 

There are two very different kinds of snow: freshly fallen, and packed down. The first kind is light, fluffy, and easy to lift with your shovel. The second is compact, heavy, and requires a lot of effort to remove.

Shovel shortly after a snowfall so you don’t have to go through that extra effort. If you watch the weather to see when it will snow next, you’ll have an easier time keeping the sidewalks clean and safe.

Schedule snow removal services

A messy sidewalk spells out problems for home and business owners. You don’t want your family to slip on a patch of ice and injure themselves. And if clients lose their footing on the way to your front door, they may just turn around and take their business elsewhere.

For snow removal in Winnipeg, call Cleanr Property Maintenance. We’ll keep your sidewalks in top shape! You won’t need to worry about when it’s going to snow next or if you have time to shovel this week—leave it to us, and your sidewalks will look better than ever before.

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Some people actually think that Canadians live in igloos year-round. But people in Winnipeg know that during the summer, we deal with heat waves that can sometimes make us long for winter temperatures!

During the cooler months, it’s common to see a mix of snow, ice, and other variations of the two. To help you gain a better understanding of these weather conditions, we’ve put together some information on how they form, and what you can do to stay safe this winter:

Snow

It piles up in your driveway, collects in heaps on your roof, and supplies ammo for snowball fights. Winnipeggers are very familiar with snow. 

Snow is one of the most common forms of precipitation during the winter months. Sometimes it’s loose and dense, and other times it’s light and fluffy. Rain can only fall when the air is warm enough—if the temperature is below freezing point (0° Celsius), the droplets will freeze and become snow.

Ice

You know that you’ve walked over a patch of ice when you slip on it and land squarely on your bottom. It’s never a pleasant experience, but it’s something that most Canadians go through.

When water freezes, it forms ice. It’s fascinating to watch bodies of water slowly freeze into solid sheets of ice. But even though this process can be beautiful, it’s also dangerous. 

Black ice is a problem that we hope you’ve never encountered. Since it’s clear in colour, it can be hard to spot until it’s too late. Before you know it, you’ve driven or walked over a deadly patch of it.

Another way that ice forms is by freezing rain, which we’ll get into next:

Freezing Rain

This kind of precipitation is like a middle ground between rain and snow. In our atmosphere, the temperature of the air isn’t always consistent. Some areas are warmer or cooler than others. As a snowflake falls to the ground, it might pass through a section of warmer air, causing it to melt. But when it reaches the ground, the air is cool again, causing it to refreeze. 

This combination is what creates freezing rain. When the droplet reaches the ground, it often forms into black ice, which causes dangerous driving and walking conditions.

Slush

The start of spring is punctuated by streets full of brown slush. No, we’re not talking about the drinks you can buy at the convenience store (which Winnipeggers love, given that the city has been championed the Slurpee Capital of the World for 20 years in a row).

As the snow starts to melt, it doesn’t turn into water immediately. Instead, it forms slush, a mix of ice crystals and water. It mixes with surrounding dirt on sidewalks and/or roadways, which gives it a brown colour. If slush has ever built up around your car tires, you know how frustrating it can be to drive through it! Sometimes, your wheels spin in place while your car fails to move at all. 

Spring can’t come soon enough!

Even though all these weather conditioners are formed by different temperatures, they have one thing in common: they pose a great inconvenience when they accumulate in your driveway. In some cases, ice and snow can even be hazardous. If you need snow removal services in Winnipeg, give Cleanr Property Maintenance a call!

The post Snow, Ice, Freezing Rain, & Slush appeared first on Cleanr Property Maintenance.

Few sights inspire fear in the hearts of Canadians like a patch of black ice; it’s nearly a quintessential winter experience to drive over one and suddenly spin out of control. Not only is it a danger to drivers and pedestrians, but it’s incredibly difficult to spot, since black ice blends in with the pavement. This is especially true at nighttime. 

Contrary to what the name suggests, black ice is actually clear. Since it forms over sidewalks and roadways, it only appears to be black. The transparent colour of the ice is due to its thinness. It can get even more dangerous when it’s covered by a thin layer of snow, which makes it completely invisible to oncoming cars. If you’re caught on a patch of black ice, what can you do, and how do you get rid of it?

How does it form?

Specific conditions facilitate the formation of black ice, such as a light snow or rainfall. During the day, temperatures are usually higher. This can cause snow that’s on the road or piled up beside it to melt and spill onto the pavement. When the sun sets and temperatures drop again, the water refreezes into black ice. Keep your eye out for it late at night and early in the morning, which is when the weather tends to be the coldest. The colour makes it hard to see, but sometimes you can notice the shiny surface of the ice. 

What do you do if you drive over black ice?

You’ll commonly find black ice on roads that don’t get much sunlight, on bridges, and on backroads. Sometimes, you don’t know that you’re about to drive over black ice until it’s too late. In these scenarios, there are a few ways that you can regain control of your vehicle. Try to keep the steering wheel as straight as possible, as any sharp turns can make it harder to maintain control. It might seem counterintuitive, but don’t hit the brakes—this can make your vehicle skid, causing you to slide off the road. Lift your foot from the gas pedal and let it slow to a stop naturally. If you drive a standard vehicle, shift into a low gear for more control. 

Vehicles with an ABS (anti-lock braking system) will have a better time fairing with black ice. Winter tires are designed to have higher traction, making them a good defence against this icy obstacle. Finally, avoid using cruise control when driving in the winter because it will make it harder to slow down if you come across a patch of black ice.

Black ice isn’t easy to see. Often, it’s too late before we realize that we’re about to drive right over it. Try to drive your vehicle on the parts of the road with the most traction (sand or snow) to maintain better control in these situations.

How do you get rid of it?

If you find yourself frequently sliding on a sheet of black ice, your first question will be, how can I make it go away? To do that, you’ll need to call a maintenance company.

Cleanr Property Maintenance offers parking lot sanding services in Winnipeg. We use sand and rock salt to boost traction and melt ice on sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots. Reduce the chances of accidents and injuries by scheduling our sanding services today!

The post What Is Black Ice appeared first on Cleanr Property Maintenance.

Snow isn’t necessarily beautiful when it’s scattered all over your driveway. You wish you could appreciate the intricacy of individual snowflakes, but the reality is that they cause problems when it comes to driving your car in and out of your lot. With the amount of snow that we get in Winnipeg, it might be tempting just to let it pile up. Unfortunately, this can result in fines, depending on the bylaws in your community. It also increases the chances that someone will slip as they walk up to your home. If you’re the one stuck with the snow shovelling duties, here are a few tips that will help you out:

Don’t walk on it.

Try to stay off the soon-to-be shovelled snow as much as you can. When snow is packed down by our feet or car tires, it becomes more difficult to remove. To make the task ahead a bit easier, avoid walking on your driveway and sidewalk before you shovel. Fresh snow is light and fluffy, making it easier to shovel; it’s best to remove it soon after a snowfall to prevent the snow from getting packed down. 

Use a shovel with a plastic head.

It isn’t inexpensive to have your driveway paved with cement—the last thing you want to do is damage it while you’re trying to clear away snow. A metal head will be too abrasive on your driveway and harm the material; try a plastic one instead.

Not all shovels are designed the same way. Some are built to protect your back, like ergonomic models which have bent handles so your back stays straight while you shovel. If you’re shopping for the perfect shovel, test out a few in the store, and see how they feel to your back and wrist. 

Stretch your muscles before shovelling. 

We might think to warm up before a run or exercise routine, but what about when we shovel? It’s physical exertion just like any other activity. If you don’t stretch before you shovel, you risk pulling a muscle or injuring yourself. 

Injuries related to shovelling snow are common across Canada, a country that’s known for its long winters. These guidelines were created to help prevent Canadians from injuring themselves after a snowfall. A few things to note here are to take frequent breaks (every 15 minutes), bundle up, and don’t consume caffeine or alcohol before shovelling.

Reconsider buying a snowblower.

The idea of using a machine to take care of your winter woes sounds great. But in reality? It works out to be a lot of money and maintenance. You’ll need to pay for fuel, as well as pay for repairs if it breaks down. Plus, you’ll need to find somewhere to store it during the summer months. Rather than buying this expensive appliance, you’re better off paying professionals to shovel snow for you.

Hire a snow removal service.

Life doesn’t stop just because the snow falls. You need to get on with your day, but snow is in the way, and your back can’t take any more shovelling or snow blowing. Why not leave it to the professionals? At Cleanr Property Maintenance, we offer snow removal in Winnipeg. We provide a reliable and consistent service that will save you from the trouble of shovelling snow yourself. 

The post Tips For Clearing A Driveway Of Snow appeared first on Cleanr Property Maintenance.

Begin Your Search Early

Companies that provide a high quality of service generally book up much, much earlier than fly-by-night companies that just take your money and run. For example, here at Cleanr Snow we book up by mid-October at the latest. After that point, we will only take on new clients if you are within 2-3 houses of our nearest client. It is very important that you begin thinking about snow removal by mid-Septemeber or early October at the latest. We have even had people sign up for snow removal as early as June and it is not uncommon for us to get a rush of bookings in August!

Productivity, Not Just Price

Does the company you are looking to hire have the right equipment for the job? Here in Winnipeg, the best way to clear residential properties is with a single-stage snowblower. This does a better job of getting down to the pavement than a shovel or a two-stage snowblower, but most companies do not use them. It is not uncommon for companies to employ a ‘shovel only’ strategy. Then they’ll provide their employees with nothing other than plastic shovels! This can result in a cheaper price for you, but will make your wait time 3-5x longer as it takes 3-5x longer to shovel a driveway versus using a single stage snowblower. At Cleanr Snow, we own all of the right equipment for every level of snow fall!

Proper Insurance

When your fly-by-night snow removal company shoots an ice chunk through your front window, you will be annoyed that you didn’t check into this before hand. A legitimate and proper snow removal company in Winnipeg will have a minimum of $1 million liability insurance for situations just like this and will be able to help you out immediately. A fly-by-night company will leave you stranded and paying for it out of pocket. Always make sure that the company you are planning to hire has proper insurance! At Cleanr Snow, we are fully insured with a $1 million liability policy should any issues arise.

Ease of Communication

Did you sign up for snow removal and then never hear from your contractor again? A good Winnipeg snow removal company will communicate with you before and during every storm to make sure that you are always fully up to date with their clearing schedule. If you can’t reach your potential contractor for just an estimate, or if they promise one time but keep rescheduling, how can you expect them to clear your snow on time? Here at Cleanr Snow, we send out email updates before we begin clearing for every snow event to make sure that you are not left wondering if and when we will be coming out to clear.

Check Reviews

Facebook and Google reviews are the best way to see what other people in your community truly think of the company that you are thinking of hiring. Make sure to choose a company with good reviews. Take the time to read the reviews to get a feel for what the company is truly like. At Cleanr Snow, we are happy to say that we have over 20 five-star reviews between Facebook and Google and do not have any unhappy reviews. All of that while serving 200+ clients over the past two seasons.

In conclusion, choosing a reliable and reputable Winnipeg snow removal company can be easy. Just follow the tips above. Make the smart choice and give us a call at (204) 960-0246. We would be happy to offer you an estimate today!

The post 5 Tips For Choosing a Winnipeg Snow Removal Company This Winter appeared first on Cleanr Property Maintenance.

Ditch the Shovel

Many people stick with a trusty shovel for the entire winter, and granted it may be good for 1” of light, fluffy snow. But when it comes to heavy slush, you’ll be feeling it in your back. Other people say that only a two-stage snowblower – what you typically think of when you think snowblower – will work in Winnipeg as it is heavy duty and can get through anything. While that is true, a two-stage snowblower can not clear 1-3” of snow effectively, as it will leave a layer of snow/ice on the driveway. The truly best way to tackle snow removal in Winnipeg is with a single-stage snow blower.

Don’t let the small size fool you. Single stage snow blowers are by far the most versatile piece of residential snow removal equipment you can own in Winnipeg. A high quality single stage snow blower can tackle anything from 1” of fluff or slush, to massive snow storms like the two we received in December of 2016. At Cleanr Snow, we maintain a fleet of Toro commercial single stage snow blowers. Even in the biggest of snow falls, it is very rare for us to pull out our two-stage snow blowers.

Why We Use Single-Stage Snowblowers

A single stage Toro snowblower uses a rubber paddle that scrapes and scoops the snow off of the driveway. This is different than a two-stage snow blower, which uses a metal auger. The two-stage can only effectively clear snow when there is enough to hit the metal auger and be forced up the chute.

With the use of a rubber paddle, single stage snow blowers can clear right down to the concrete without any risk of damage, and still manage to handle large volumes of snow.

Here is the kicker. Not only do single-stage snowblowers do a better job of clearing the snow, they are quicker to use as well! With a single-stage snowblower, the limitation to speed is you and you only. You can literally run behind them and they won’t skip a beat. With a two-stage snow blower, you are limited by the gear drive transmission and are forced to walk slowly behind them, all the while doing a poor job of clearing the snow.

In conclusion, single-stage snow blowers are by far the way to go. Toro is the top brand to choose from, in our opinion. If you are a residential home owner and are in the market for a new snow blower, I would urge you to take a look at the Toro 721 R and the Toro 721 E. These can be purchased at any local Toro dealer such as Accurate Lawn and Garden or Home Depot.

If you don’t feel like snow blowing this winter, consider giving us a call to book an estimate – (204) 960-0246.

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