3 Overlooked Areas That Require Snow Removal on Your Property
Living in the Midwest means living with the possibility of having to wake up at 4 a.m. to shovel and remove snow from your property. We all know we need to clear our driveways to get around, but there are a few other areas around your property often overlooked that require snow removal as well:
1. Fire Hydrants
If your property is adjacent to a fire hydrant, you should remove the snow surrounding the fire hydrant to allow easy access to emergency personnel. Try to remove snow from the hydrant entirely and then a 3ft parameter surrounding the hydrant. This will save emergency personnel precious time if they need to utilize the hydrant for a fire emergency.
2. Mailbox/Address Numbers
Sometimes heavy gusts of wind and snow drifts can accumulate on your mailbox and/or home address numbers. Keep an eye out on these areas of your home and be sure to remove snow from them so your home numbers are legible and unobstructed.
Aside from receiving any packages to your home, you want to make sure these numbers are clear so that emergency personnel can identify your home quickly in the event of an emergency.
3. External Vents
Just as you clear leaves and debris from your outdoor vents to allow proper ventilation, you should remove snow from them as well. A buildup of snow can block external vents and wreak havoc within your home.
- Furnace Vent: Your furnace may turn off if it senses a blockage. Blocked ventilation can also create a buildup of carbon monoxide in your home that could become dangerous to you and your loved ones.
- Dryer Vent: A blocked dryer vent will prevent your dryer from functioning as it should, which will likely result in damp clothes after a normal cycle. Similar to your furnace vents, a blocked dryer vent can create a buildup of carbon monoxide inside your home.
As always, be sure to pace yourself and remove snow safely. Snow removal is only one of the added responsibilities of winter as a homeowner. Be sure to read our tips on ice-damns and frozen pipes, home heating and more; visit our At Home blog series!
