Of course, winter in Calgary, Alberta, is a beautiful sight, but it’s also daunting to have to remove snow. Just as of vital importance to homeowners as it is to business owners is the safe and accessible care of your property during the snowy season. Here are 10 of Calgary’s tips on how to make snow removal both efficient and effective.
Table of Contents
1. Use the Right Snow Removal Tools
Getting the tools necessary for snow removal in Calgary, a city with very heavy snow, is more important than most may think. You need a good snow shovel. For pushing snow, curved blade shovels are the best, scoop shaped shovels with sides for lifting and throwing snow.
In addition to shovels, other helpful tools include:
- Snow Blower: If you have a large driveway or walkway, this is a great investment. It can allow you to clean the snow off without wasting time and effort.
- Ice Chopper: It’s one tool used for breaking up thick ice that a shovel can’t cut through.
- Ice Melt: As you’ve already heard, ice melt can even help prevent ice formation on your walkways and driveways after you shovel.
- Snow Pusher: A snow pusher is different than a shovel — it will push snow aside instead of lifting, leaving it behind as you go.
Remember, the right tools make the job easier and do it right. This is one of the most important Calgary snow removal tips.
2. Stay On Top of Snow Removal, Tip #2
As with so many things, snow removal is not a one time thing, especially in locales like Calgary where snow seems to fall frequently throughout the winter months. Snow left on your walkways and driveways for longer than necessary packs up and clings to the road as it becomes more difficult to remove. If the wind speed was this high on the beaches, this would also form ice that could be hazardous to vehicles and pedestrians alike.
Ideally, you can prevent this from happening by removing snow regularly – after each snowfall. It prevents the snow from piling up and then becoming too heavy to handle. Regular removal also reduces the chance for ice formation, since there is less snow to melt then refreeze.
However, keeping up with snow removal will also keep this task from building up. By removing snow regularly, you won’t have to remove a great deal of snow all at once, which can be monotonous. It can also help to make it easier when you are doing the removal yourself especially for when you are only doing it yourself.
Moreover, if you regularly remove snow from your property, you may also save your property from damage. Heavy snow can cause a lot of pressure on your roof and on other structures which over the course of time can do some damage. The risk of the snow burying your house can be reduced by removing the snow daily.
When it comes to your snow removal task, it’s useful to remember to stay on top of that! It is not just safe and convenient for the property who doesn’t want to worry about safety of his or her property, it saves you a lot of time and effort as well. Prevention will prevent much when it comes to snow removal tips in Calgary.
3. Choose the Right Area to Focus Snow Removal Efforts Tip #3
In terms of snow removal, when it comes to high-traffic areas, busy sidewalks or driveways are top of the list. There is a good chance that these areas will the be places which will be worked on the most and not having them clogged with debris which can lead to accidents. How to use it in practice?
In the first place, you should think about the most commons areas utilized. It might be the driveway where you park your car or the front walkway to your house or sidewalk next to your property. These are area where snow and ice is a very immediate danger to you, these area’s are used everyday.
Secondly, consider the big picture. If you have a lot of foot traffic in your neighborhood, it’s imperative that you clear off the sidewalks. It also helps your neighbors and postal workers, delivery drivers, and anybody else who might need to get into your property.
Don’t forget about safety too. Slips and falls on icy driveways and walkways cause serious injuries. Focusing on these areas will help you cut down the risk of accidents.
And finally, remember that removing snow isn’t all about convenience, though—it’s a legal requirement in some places as well. For instance, in Calgary, the law forces that homeowners are obliged to remove snow from sidewalks next to their properties within 24 hours following a snowfall.
In other words, when it comes time to remove snow, you need to be focusing on the right places. This can be a big deal, both for yourself and for other people.
4. Do NOT Substitute Shovelling with Ice Melt Tip #4
ice melt is a good tool in your arsenal, but it’s not a snow shovel replacement, and this is Probably one of the most overlooked Snow Removal Tips in Calgary. The lowering of the freezing point of water is what ice melt does — it prevents ice from forming on your walkways or driveway. It doesn’t have the same physical snowremoval capabilities as shoveling, but it’s also not human.
Shoveling clears the undisputed bulk of snow which leaves a path clear, for safe passage. Once the ice has melted away, a surface can then be treated so any remaining moisture does not freeze into dangerous ice. So, remember: Shoveling is a supplement to, not a replacement of, ice melt.
5. Not All Ice Melts Are Equal Tip #5
The different ice melts come in with different time angles due to their different compositions. One is eco friendly and the other works well below temperature. Select the one which is most compatible with your need and your area’s climate.
6. Clear All Ice Tip #6
A critical part of winter safety is making sure (we) all (remove) the ice from our walkways and driveways. Snow tends to be more dangerous than ice because while both are slippery, ice is harder to see and can form a thin layer that can be harder to see over surfaces. Slips and falls can result because of this, leading to potentially serious injuries.
And so it’s necessary to be meticulous about your ice removal. After a snowfall or a drop in temperature, check your property regularly for ice formation. Ice melt products can be used, but with physical removal of ice being often necessary for the best results. A clear passage is goal, so leave no ice up.
7. Know Calgary’s Snow and Ice Removal Bylaws Tip #7
In Calgary, the bylaws fall over to the home and business owners when it comes to snow and ice removal. In particular, they need to making sure that sidewalks near their property are clear. This is one of the most important things to preserve safe and accessible walkways during winter.
These bylaws see to failure to comply with it bring about the possibility of potential fines and it is essential to handle your responsibilities. Not only does clearing away your sidewalks on a regular basis help you keep up with the law—it also helps make your community safer. Learn Calgary’s snow and ice removal bylaws, pay attention to your snow removal tasks, so you know what to do! ❄️
8. Be a Snow Angel Tip #8
Snow removal can be tough this time of year. Shoveling snow is difficult, if not impossible, for some people — the elderly, the physically challenged, for instance.
You can step in and become a ‘Snow Angel’ here. Shoveling snow for your neighbors does more than ease their burden — it keeps your own neighborhood and the rest of your community safe. Raking up the leaves on your sidewalks and driveways keeps them clear, making it safer for everyone to get around.
It’s not just physical shoveling snow—being a Snow Angel isn’t a thing. It’s about creating a sense of community, and being kind to one another. Good things pay off, so grab your shovel and lend a hand, your neighbors will thank you, your community will thank you, and so will YOU! ❄️
9. Consider Professional Snow Removal Services with Landgraf Lawncare Tip #9
When you have a large area, or heavy snowfall snow removal can be daunting. For these types of situations, it could be in your best interest to hire, say, a snow removal service, such as Landgraf Lawncare.
Calgary, Alberta’s Landgraf Lawncare is at the top of its game in offering top notch snow removal services. Now having the equipment and expertise to clear snow quickly and safely, they can keep your property safe and accesible through the winter season.
Landgraf Lawncare can handle snow removal and remove snow on a residential driveway or a commercial parking lot of any size. Trained to handle the winter Calgary conditions, their team of professionals is reliable and timely.
Therefore, if snow removal is too much for you, remember that it is only a call away, professional services like Landgraf Lawncare. Let the heavy lifting fall to them—so you can stay warm and safe this winter! ❄️
10. Prevent Slips and Falls
This is especially true in Calgary, where winters can be hard on people, and even in instances where you remove snow, it needs to be done efficiently so that slips and falls don’t occur. Always puts safety first when you remove snow.
Remember, (Snow) removal is all about safety. Make sure you never over do it and always use the right tools and skills. Happy shoveling!
11. Keep Your Shovel Snow-Free with Cooking Spray, Oil, or Wax
Shoveling snow takes time, and snow on your shovel really adds to that. Lubricant your shovel is one way to make the job easier and more efficient.
Use Cooking Spray, Oil, or Wax: A non stick coat on your shovel will drastically cut down on how much snow clings to your shovel. Here are a few options:1
- Cooking Spray: Generously spray non stick cooking spray on both sides of the shovel blade. It makes for a slick surface to aid snowy conditions that slide off easily.
- Vegetable Oil: Vegetable oil the shovel blade, and spread it thinly. It’s natural, it’s effective, and it’s eco friendly.
- Wax: Dust the shovel with car wax or paraffin wax. This method is particularly durable and will stand through a few uses.
Additional Tips:
- Reapply as Needed: Depending on the amount of snow and the duration of your shoveling session, you may need to reapply the lubricant periodically.
- Store Properly: After shoveling, wipe down the shovel to remove any remaining lubricant and snow. This helps maintain the effectiveness of the coating for future use.
- How cooking spray and socks can make shoveling snow easier
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Hi there, I just read your article on 10 essential snow removal tips and found it incredibly helpful, especially since Calgary winters can be quite challenging. I was wondering if you have any specific advice on how to deal with ice buildup on sidewalks that are shaded and don’t get much sunlight. Also, are there any environmentally friendly de-icing products you would recommend that are effective but won’t harm my lawn or plants come spring? Thanks for sharing your expertise!
I am enlightened to know proper snow removal is essential for safety and accessibility in Calgary winters. What’s the most effective snow removal tip you’ve learned over the years?
probably the most important tip that causes a lot of property damage issues is using the wrong ice melt on concrete surfaces causing fracturing of the concrete surface. but there’s so many that are helpful to just choose 1.
These snow removal tips are a must for Calgary winters! Are there eco-friendly alternatives to traditional ice-melting products?
The only truly eco-friendly way to manage ice and snow is to shovel more frequently to prevent buildup and use gravel instead of salt or ice melt(not really reccomended for safety). Some ice melt formulations that inlcude Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA), are safer for pets and the environment. However, CMA is not effective at very low temperatures (below -7°C). It’s important to note that no ice melt product is 100% eco-friendly, though some are better than others.