Snow Removal near you

A seasonal contract covers the whole winter for an agreed scope, however many storms come, and puts your address on the crew's regular route. A per-visit arrangement means paying each time the crew comes, which can suit a mild winter, a short driveway or someone home to shovel most storms. The trade-off is priority: in a big storm, contract customers are usually served first and per-visit calls wait.

Rock salt melts ice but loses effectiveness in deep cold, and Environment and Climate Change Canada notes that road salts pose a risk to plants, animals and the aquatic environment in sufficient concentrations. Around a house, salt also burns lawn edges and shrubs and can wear concrete and some natural stone over time. A good crew clears the snow thoroughly first, so less de-icer is needed, and spreads only what conditions call for.

In most Canadian cities, snow cleared from a driveway has to stay on your property. Toronto states that residents must not push snow from their property onto sidewalks, roads or bike lanes, calling it dangerous and illegal. In Montreal, most boroughs forbid depositing snow on the sidewalk or in the street when clearing an entrance or parking space, and it must be piled on the lot; some boroughs allow snow on public land only in specific cases, sometimes with a permit, and some require permits for private snow removal contractors.

These rules apply whoever does the clearing, so ask the company where it plans to put the snow and make sure the contract rules out pushing it into the road, onto the sidewalk or onto a neighbour's lot. On a tight lot, plan the piling spots in advance and consider hauling when space runs out. Keep piles clear of fire hydrants, storm drains and the sightline at the end of the driveway.

Roofs are built to carry winter loads, but heavy snow followed by rain, or several storms with thaws in between, makes the snowpack denser and heavier, and drifts build up against higher walls and in valleys. The Régie du bâtiment du Québec lists warning signs of an overloaded roof: cracks in interior walls, interior doors that stick or rub, unusual creaking sounds, and ceilings that deform.

If you notice those signs, have the roof cleared by professionals. The RBQ describes roof snow removal as risky and recommends specialized companies with the right equipment and methods to avoid damaging the roof membrane. Don't go up yourself, and keep people away from the eaves while snow and ice can slide off. Flat and low-slope roofs, carports and sheds tend to need attention first.

High-efficiency furnaces, water heaters, gas dryers and gas fireplaces often vent through a side wall close to the ground, where drifting snow or a bank thrown by a blower can block them and push exhaust back inside. Health Canada advises inspecting exhaust vents during and after snowstorms to make sure they aren't blocked with ice or covered by snow or debris, and installing at least one carbon monoxide alarm with battery backup in a home with fuel-burning appliances.