Are Hidden Snow Piles Dangerous? Clear Cut Group’s Experts Take a Look
Snow piles are beautiful and even a source of entertainment, but they can also be a safety hazard. Snow collects as the wind blows it against an obstacle or into the corners of a property. However, a more likely scenario is when the city’s snow plows push the snow off driveways and roads into a pile beside them.
Clear Cut Group, an innovative company specializing in residential snow removal in Mississauga, shares some hidden dangers below when it comes to piles of snow in the neighborhood.
Four Potential Dangers of Hidden Snow Piles
Why is it important to remove piles of snow from residential streets and other critical areas as soon as possible? Without this service, the following dangers could put residents and vehicles at risk:
#1 Serious Injuries
While piles of snow are usually a lot of fun for children, they can be a death trap. Youngsters build forts and other interesting structures with mounds of snow. While they are fun, these structures tend to contain air pockets and weak points.
Unfortunately, if the pile collapses on top of the children playing in it, there’s a real danger of suffocation. If they survive under the snow, the children could still suffer hypothermia.
Another major safety concern is that these piles of snow often collect near roadways. Most small children are not mindful of traffic, and snow plows will not see them playing inside a heap of snow. If the pile moves or collapses during plowing, there could be serious injuries involved for youngsters unaware of the dangers they face.
#2 Obstructed Vision
Large piles of snow easily obstruct the vision of drivers and pedestrians, making it challenging to see when driving or walking around the obstacle. This poses a threat to children at play, oncoming vehicles, and passersby, whether in residential streets or parking areas. Even if they see each other, the child or pedestrian may not be able to get out of the way, and the driver may not be able to stop or swerve on time in the icy conditions.
#3 Slippery Conditions
When the weather warms up, the pile of snow may melt into the sidewalk, parking area, walkway, or other surrounding surfaces. If ice dams form, this could easily lead to slippery surfaces for walking and driving. It is dangerous for people stepping on these patches and for vehicles that do not see the hazards in time.
#4 Critical Service Access Points
When a snowstorm strikes, city snow plows usually prioritize streets, roads, and public parking lots. In the process, they often pile snow on stop signs, fire hydrants, handicap-accessible areas, and storm drains. Unfortunately, this impedes accessibility for emergency personnel who won’t be able to do their job if something happens.
Four Tips To Safely Remove Piles of Snow
While professional assistance helps, homeowners, can safely manage snow with the right skills and equipment. Here are a few helpful tips to consider:
- Reduce the size: A blizzard can leave over 90 centimeters of snow. Keeping the heaps small can solve the problem. A simple way to do this is to shovel excess snow into smaller piles rather than a single larger mound.
- Hot water: The easiest way to handle large snow mounds involves hot water through the garden hose. Melt it down, but be sure to first cover the ground with an ice-melter mixture to avoid slipping hazards as the water refreezes.
- Ice melter: Any property owner can use a solution of sodium chloride and calcium chloride to melt snow mounds. Cover the entire pile with ice melter and watch the snow shrink.
- Black bags: Black plastic bags or a large dark-colored plastic rubbish bag work well, so there is no need to buy a tarp. Cover the snow pile like a thermal blanket so that it absorbs the sun’s heat to accelerate the melting process.
These snow-melting tips should keep things manageable, but the most effective method involves a reputable snow-removal company like Clear Cut Group. As a family-owned company, they have over ten years of experience delivering high-quality snow removal services in Mississauga and the surrounding areas.
Contact Clear Cut Group at (905) 824-6597 or email sales@clearcutgroup.ca for a free estimate on removing snow in your garden or handling hazardous snow piles around the neighborhood.
