Snow Removal: Balancing DIY and Professional Help for Safety and Savings
What if the next choice you make determines whether your car can even leave the driveway?
You already protect your house with good homeowners insurance, and that keep it safe from all manner of financial threats. But you still must deal with Mother Nature — in the winter months, that means you need to worry about how to deal with all that snow on your property.
There are various methods for clearing winter precipitation, and some are better than others. For that matter, some methods will be more suitable for certain homes and homeowners than others. Which method is best for you and your house? Keep reading to learn whether you are better off with DIY snow removal or if you should cave in and hire a snow removal service.
Understanding the Basics of Snow Removal
When it comes to snow removal methods, there are usually three primary options for homeowners. Those options are plowing, shoveling, and salting. Each method has its own pros and cons, so it usually takes a bit of trial and error for homeowners to discover what works best for them.
So long as you have the right tools, you can do all of the above for DIY removal. However, you will have more options if you hire a snow removal service. Hiring professionals is always a more costly option, but it might be the better choice for those who want the job done quickly and perhaps do not have all the gear to do it on their own. And it can help you quickly make your home safer.
Speaking of safety, do not forget that the number of slip-and-fall incidents is why liability insurance is so important around the holidays.
DIY vs. Professional Snow Removal Options
Strictly speaking, there is nothing that a professional removal service can do that you cannot do on your own. At the end of the day, they, too, will be doing one or more of the usual options of plowing, shoveling, and salting. They can simply do things quicker and more efficiently because they have many specialized tools. You can buy these tools for yourself, but that will require an initial investment and finding space to store everything throughout the year.
The Essentials of DIY Snow Removal
The essentials of DIY removal are relatively easy to understand. Plowing involves the use of specialized trucks and equipment to clear out large stretches of snow at a time. Shoveling simply involves using a shovel to manually clear areas like driveways. And salting involves using salt and/or other chemical compounds in order to quickly break down the snow.
All these techniques are available to homeowners. The only requirement is having the right tools to effectively get the job done. Below, you will discover more about the tools in which you may wish to invest.
Essential Tools for Effective DIY Snow Clearing
Different snow removal methods require different kinds of tools. Shoveling, for example, usually requires nothing more than a shovel. Salting, however, requires access to special chemicals, and depending on where you live, there may be regulations on what you can buy and how you use it because these chemicals can potentially harm plants and animals.
Finally, plowing requires large and expensive plowing equipment. Smaller versions of these tools may be available, but the best plows are the construction-grade tools used by professionals.
Tips and Techniques for Safe DIY Snow Removal
To safely shovel, start from the top of the pile and use your legs, not your back. Stand wide and keep your knees bent. Finally, pivot your whole body and not just your back when making the shoveling motions.
Salting should be done after shoveling areas like your driveway and steps. Shovel away as much as you can, and then apply the salt to remove what remains. The third method, plowing, is best left to professionals because it requires operating complex machinery very close to your home.
When to Call in the Professionals
Now you know the primary ways to remove snow from your house. But that leaves you with the essential questions: Are you better off using these snow shoveling tips for a DIY approach, or should you call in the professionals?
The answer usually comes down to how much you need to clear, what tools you have, and how hard you wish to work. For example, it is easy to obtain a shovel and salt, and someone in moderately good health can clear out a moderate amount on their own. If there is a large amount, if you are older, and/or if you are worried about the liability issues of using chemicals around your house, you may be better off calling professionals.
How to Choose the Right Snow Removal Company
If you want to hire a professional snow removal company, your best bet is to ask friends, family, and colleagues for recommendations. You should also get multiple estimates so you can get the best deal. Finally, make sure anyone you hire has proper liability coverage. Otherwise, you might discover the unpleasant intersection of home insurance and snow removal when you are left with major out-of-pocket costs.
Balancing the Pros and Cons
Now that you know the different ways to remove snow from your house, you should know the pros and cons of doing it on your own versus hiring professionals. In short, doing it on your own will be cheaper, quicker, and more convenient. But it requires time, labor, equipment, and knowledge that you may not readily have.
Conversely, hiring professionals costs additional money, takes longer, and you have to worry about things like home insurance and snow removal accidents. However, the pros have all the equipment and know-how, and they can handle the problem while you are comfortably inside your home and drinking a piping-hot cup of coffee.
Maintaining Safety and Compliance
Whatever snow removal methods you choose, you will need to be mindful of safety and compliance issues. Without the right technique, it is easy to slip and fall while cleaning everything yourself. But you cannot necessarily afford to let things pile up: not only is it an impediment to you, but it creates a potential liability issue for visitors to your home who may get similarly injured if they slip. Remember, accidents like this are among the top home insurance claims in the nation.
If you hire professionals, make sure they have proper liability insurance if something goes wrong during removal (for example, the plow damaging your home). As for your own coverage, take the time to make sure your homeowners insurance covers plumbing in case your pipes end up freezing over.
Legal Responsibilities and Homeowner Liability
There are some major legal responsibilities to consider when removing snow. For example, whether you use the aforementioned shoveling tips or hire a professional, you need to remove everything sooner rather than later to avoid potentially getting sued if a visitor trips and falls. And when using salt, you need to abide by all state and local regulations regarding this substance.
Make Sure Your Home Is Properly Insured This Winter
Now you know the primary snow removal methods and the pros and cons of hiring professionals. These tips can help you save time and money while keeping your home safe. But do you know who can protect your house from so much more than the elements?
At InsureOne, we specialize in home insurance and protecting your biggest investment from the unknown. When you are ready to put your worries on “ice,” come get a quote online. You can also pick up the phone and give us a quick call at 800-836-2240. Finally, feel free to come find an InsureOne office near you.