Snow is beautiful, but it’s also a pain to move around. When you live somewhere with snowy winters, digging your car out of snowdrifts every morning can be seriously taxing work. Snowblowers make the process a bit easier, but what if you have a huge driveway or need to clear out long paths for walking?  

That’s where the trucks come in. 

What are Snow Removal Services? 

Snow removal services aren’t just your local Department of Transportation driving around at 4 am with salt and massive snow plows; residential snow removal services exist, too, to help clear out driveways and neighborhood roads. Residential plows are usually a lot smaller than the ones you see from the DoT– they’re usually just pickup trucks with a plow attachment– and they’re great for clearing out smaller areas with lots of snow. The government occasionally provides residential snow removal services for local roads, but for a clear driveway, you’ll have to pay for private snow removal services. 

Benefits of Snow Removal In General 

Why even clear out snow, to begin with? If you don’t need to remove the snow from your driveway, what’s the point of snow removal?  

There are three major reasons why you need to clear snow out of your driveway and walkways:

1. Safety

The first and most important aspect of snow removal is safety. Snow piles up and can be quite slippery– falling on ice in the driveway can cause severe damage to people of all ages, and a car stuck in snow leaves you stranded. We mainly shovel our driveways and walkways to keep ourselves safe when we move around in the winter. 

2. Accessibility

A clear driveway and front porch also makes your home accessible to postal workers, delivery drivers, and visitors overall. Remember what we said about being trapped in your home with a snowed-in car? In our travel-dependent society, getting on the road when necessary, be it for work, school, or supply runs, is essential.  

In addition, clear walkways provide people with limited mobility access to your home! 

3. Curb Appeal

If you’re selling a house in the winter, it’ll need to look good. Curb appeal plays a large role in how well houses sell, and to keep things looking neat, it’s always good to shovel your driveway. In some neighborhoods, the Home Owners’ Association will prioritize curb appeal more than others, and Shoveling is just another way to look neat. 

Benefits of Snow Removal Services 

Why pay for snow removal? While the service is an extra expense, it has several benefits: 

1. Cost

Snow removal equipment is expensive and difficult to maintain. Snowblowers, snow removal tractors, and even snow shovels can cost quite a bit of money, and they can damage your pavement. These services generally reduce that yearly equipment upkeep expense, reducing the chances of major damage to your pavement. 

2. Accessibility (On Your End)

Shoveling snow or pushing a snowblower around in the cold every morning isn’t for everyone– older people and people with physical disabilities are left at a disadvantage when it comes to clearing snow, simply because the job is physically demanding. Heavy snow can only make things worse. Snow removal services are a great way to help out a loved one with physical limitations so they can move around easily. 

3. Great for Busy Mornings

Unless you’re the kind of person who enjoys waking up extra early to shovel snow, snow removal services are an excellent way to have a less stressful morning before work. Most of these services (both public and private) work to clear driveways, roads, and sidewalks between 4 and 6 am, meaning that you’ll still have plenty of time to rest before going to work.  

Community Snow Removal 

If you’re still on the fence about investing in snow removal services, tons of neighborhoods have group plans, which allow multiple homeowners the benefit from these services every morning. Each resident pays for a portion of the service, and it’s generally cheaper than just requesting service for a single house. Contact your homeowners’ association to see if there are any snow removal plans in your area. 

Why All-American? 

At All American Turf Beauty, we provide snow removal services in and around Des Moines, Iowa. Our services include driveway snow removal, sidewalk snow removal, street snow removal, and de-icing services to keep your roads clear and safe. Give us a call and schedule a consultation to see if we’ve got any snow removal services available for your whole neighborhood!