The phrase winter is coming is one which Winnipeggers know all too well. Snow falls around the month of September and that is when the once concrete pavements and tarmac-ed roads are covered in white, hard-packed snow. Treetops and rooftops are not spared either.
Snow is known to harden and it is fun to skate on it, however, motorists and bikers have it rough in this season. Pavements and roads that were once hard and solid turn slippery. Motorists have to switch to snow tires to enhance their stability on the roads and avoid skidding. Snow falls do indeed spell trouble to motorist and even pedestrians. The biting cold combined with the snowfall makes the winter feel like a non-ending nightmare to many.
Oh Snow!
When snow falls to the ground and trodden on by traffic, hard-packed snow is formed. Trampling feet, and vehicles riding on freshly fallen snow push their weight down to and make tightly packed snow.
This is a type of snow that households with drives on their property know too well of its stubbornness to remove. Layers of compacted snow require much more effort and force to remove than the freshly fallen snow. Now that we know how the packed snow is formed, it is advisable to remove the snow ahead of traffic. Shoveling the snow from the garage is advised before using the drive.
Clearing Ice and Snow
Clearing hard ice and snow off driveways and sidewalks can be done using heavy duty snow clearing machines that give you the necessary force required to remove this toughened snow.
Heavy duty machines are to be used carefully because they degrade the concrete and the tarmac on the drive. They are effective in removing the snow but end up damaging what lies under the snow. It is argued that it is better to leave the hard-packed snow to melt on its own instead of having to incur costs to repair a damaged drive caused by the use of the machines.
However leaving the snow to melt on its own means that the driveways and pavement will be slippery, and that may cause safety issues to traffic and users of the sidewalks.
Thawing Ice
There are thawing products such as calcium chloride that melts the ice by giving off heat. Even in low temperatures it will melt the ice. These products have a disadvantage of being corrosive. They therefore damage vegetation and tiled surfaces. Environmentally, these chemicals damage the soil by changing its acidity. Another option is the use of sand and gravel which reduces the slippery nature of ice. Cleaning it up when the ice is melted is crucial since it would clog drains if left unattended to.
Snowfall is a nearly inevitable occurrence, since we cannot stop it , we have to find ways to prepare for it as well as manage it when it occurs. Cleanr Snow can guarantee that using these methods, as per our clients’ desires, we can clear the snow and put the driveways and sidewalks in the desired shape that will be safe for use. Satisfying the needs of our clients is what we aim to achieve.
