Things to Avoid While Plowing Your Driveway

December 11, 2014

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One of the most important things that northern homeowners need to do is keep their driveways plowed during the winter. Not only does a plowed driveway make life more convenient, but it also helps to keep you, your family and your visitors safe by reducing the risk of slips and falls. However, getting a driveway plowed is not an activity that comes naturally to everyone. There are some things that you need to be careful about when plowing your driveway. Here are some of the things you must avoid when you plow your driveway.

Don’t Use the Wrong Angle

One of the most common mistakes that a lot of rookie plow operators make is to have the plow blade set at the wrong angle. It is important that you do not have the plow blade set perpendicularly to the front of the plow vehicle. The plow blade should be set at around a 70-degree angle for best results.

Don’t Have the Blade Too Low

Another common mistake that people make is to have the plow blade set too low to the ground. When you are first starting out, it is better to have the blade set too high rather than too low. A blade that is too high can be lowered without much of a fuss. However, a blade that is set too low can really damage your driveway in a hurry.

Don’t Wait Too Long

It can be tough to keep up with the snowfall during heavy snowstorms, but it is important that you do so. Make sure that you are plowing your driveway after every three to six inches of snow falls. If you wait too long to plow, the snow can become incredibly heavy. This is especially important if the snow is really wet snow. If you plow snow that is piled too high, it can really damage the engine and transmission of the vehicle that you use to plow.

Don’t Leave Huge Piles at the End of the Driveway

One of the absolutely worst things that you can do is too leave huge piles of snow at the end of your driveway after you finish plowing. This creates a real hazard due to the lack of visibility that these large piles of snow create. You need to make sure that you push the snow away from the driveway, but don’t leave it in the middle of the street. Make sure to push the snow all the way to the edge of the opposite side of the street to avoid creating a hazard for vehicles.

Don’t Forget About the Ice

When you finish plowing, your work is not done. Once you have removed the snow, there often will still be ice left on the surface of the driveway. This creates an incredibly dangerous situation that can lead to serious injuries if someone falls. Make sure that you take the time to apply a deicer after you finish plowing your driveway. This should be done every single time you plow.