Snow Removal Made Easy

1. Storms: Accumulation is 2-6”.
2. Severe Storms: Accumulation over 6” to 10"
3. Blizzards: Accumulation over 10” within 24 hrs.
4. Snowfall is complete: When the storm has less than 1/4" of snow to drop within a 12 hour period.  This is an estimate based weather forecast and radar.   NOTE:  a 3 hour pause in snowfall is not  "Snowfall is complete" if after the pause, one more inch is forecasted.
5. Dirty Plows:  A service where we essentially do a partial plow of the driveway during severe storms and blizzards. It is not the final service. We will clear 1 plow width (maybe 2) of snow on your driveway up to your garage door. It looks messy, that's why we call it "dirty", but it greatly reduces the risk of you getting stuck in your driveway. There is usually no shoveling during dirty plow service.

Reason for dirty plows: In the end, this service results in a quicker service to all because it reduces risk of a vehicle getting stuck in the driveway.  Each vehicle stuck in a driveway adds 20 minutes to our service. 

1. Trigger: Snow shall be plowed when snowfall ground accumulation reaches 2 inches.
2. Email or Texts updates will be sent prior to and during major snow events advising  approximate times to expect service. 
3. During snow plows, please text us (do not email) if you need to communicate to us during a plow.  If you can't text, then call. 
4. Fiberglass marker stakes  will be placed before the first snowfall if signup occurs prior to the       ground freezing. They will be removed near the end of the season.
5. Snow is typically piled on top,  side, or end of your driveway as space permits.
6. Plowing  Clearances:  
   • About  2 ft from  garage door.
   • 6" from edge of your grass or markers.
   • Exceptions to the 6" clearances:
     • About 12” 
       • for oval driveways
       • where there are tight-quarters (e.g. tight turns or small areas to drive in and out         of), or
       • where there are known obstacles (e.g. lights on or near edge of a driveway).

1. For Storms: First-in-line service begins once snowfall is complete, surfaces to be cleared with at least 1 service, and surfaces are cleared usually:

• for 2-3", within 6 hours after first-in-line service begins.
• for over 3 and up to 6", within 9  hours after first-in-line service begins.   NOTE: If operating with less than 3 trucks and there is 5-6" of snow, there may be two services (1 dirty plow followed by 1 full plow). Dirty plow service should be compete within 6 hrs after first-in-line service begins, and full plow service  should be compete  about 12 hours after the dirty plow service began.

1. For Severe Storms: First-in-line Service begins approximately when accumulation reaches about 6”, surfaces to be cleared by at least one dirty plow and one final, full plow, and surfaces to be cleared usually within 12 hours after snow fall is complete.
2. For Blizzards: First-in-line service begins approximately when accumulation reaches about 6”, and everything else follows. Plowing is usually done by 2-3 services, at least one dirty (partial plow) and ending with one final, full plow.  Surfaces to be fully cleared usually within 12 hours after snowfall is complete.

1.  # of trucks in service.  Plow times increase the fewer the trucks in operation.
2. Snow squalls or inaccurate forecasts.    A surprise snow squall or an inaccurate weather forecast can happen.  In such cases, please be patient, we likely will have been caught off guard and had not properly planned in advance to clear your driveways.

• Start times might be delayed if weather forecast is wrong about when snowfall will end. 
• If actual accumulation exceeds the weather forecast, this can delay start times, and incorrect forecasting can change when dirty plow service is called for.

1. Heavy and wet snow increases plow times. 
2. Holidays: this typically means more cars parked on the streets or on driveways, and this increases plow times.
3. Time of day of service: Plowing during the day and during rush hour or school drop-off/pickup times increases plow times. 
4. Evenings before and mornings of garbage collection day: snow plowing around garbage collection containers will increase plow times and can prevent full clearing of your apron.       
5. # of special requests (stuck in driveway, guests arriving and would like driveway cleared, Dr. Appointments, etc) increases plow times.  

Primary scope of service is to make your MN Winters easier by clearing your driveway (or walkways) for mobility purposes (so you can easily get in and out of your driveway). 

Plowing by itself does not prevent icing or snowpack on your driveway.  If you want your driveway completely cleared of ice and snowpack, best to apply salt before we plow. 2nd best option is to apply salt after we plow.  Just know that this salt will probably end up onto your grass, so you might need to apply gypsum in springtime to neutralize the salt in the soil.