Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Ahh snow. It creates such picturesque scenes to photograph. It evokes memories of childhood for most- days spent home from school, building snowmen or sledding down the nearby hill. And it creates an awful lot of work! Shoveling snow is definitely low on the list of favorite things to do for a lot of people. It's cold hard work. But it is something that is very important. Last winter, we got quite a lot of snow in St Louis, and usually in one big storm. So why is it important to remove snow promptly? Safety and ease of transportation.

Safety is the first big issue with snow. Just having snow on the sidewalk isn't a big deal. But often in this area, the snow will melt or partially melt and then refreeze, making for dangerous icy conditions. If it's an early snow, the bottom layer may melt on the warmer ground, than freeze as more snow piles up on top. Ice creates a dangerous condition for walking on. People can fall and seriously injure themselves on just a small patch of ice. I'm sure most people have experienced a small slip at one time or another.

Transportation is the next major hurdle with snow. Even when it snows, kids will have school, parents will have work. We have to get there somehow. The plows do a good job of clearing the streets, but we have to make it to the street. Take it from someone who got stuck in her own driveway more than once last winter. It's frustrating to not know if you will be able to park the car or go to the doctor's appointment on time. And it's rather embarrassing when the propane delivery driver offers to help shovel out the car so he can do his job. (Though it was awfully nice of him!)

So how can we address these two issues? Stay on top of things. Be aware of weather forecasts. The days we got stuck in the driveway were the days that we didn't realize it would be snowing a foot or more overnight. (We also have a drift issue to overcome.) If we had known, we could have taken some preventative measures. 1) Put out ice melt BEFORE it snows. And during if you are awake. This helps keep the snow from accumulating and keeps the ice from forming. 2) Shovel during the storm (if you are awake) or as soon as it's done or is possible. The longer the snow sits, the harder it is to move. And 3) Try not to let several storms worth of snow build up before your try to shovel it. It just gets harder the higher the snow gets.

Remember, Provident Management does offer snow removal services. This is especially convenient for multi-family housing where the tenants are not responsible for snow removal or landscape maintenance. Or if your rental unit is currently vacant, having the snow removed regularly will keep it presentable and showable. Contact us for more information!