Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Snow Blowing and Sleet

[HillStreet]

We are scheduled for another sloppy snow storm tomorrow night into the day Wednesday. It will snow for 12 hours or so, then the storm will end with sleet turning to rain. I wait for it to stop completely, then go out to remove the snow. Is this what you guys do? Wait?

 

[nbking]

If it's snowing I will go out, sleet, rain, or hail, I wait it out.

 

[RNeumann]

I get on my gravel drive when it’s frozen. If it’s mixed like what you describe it’s typically morning. I find waiting till it’s thawed just makes a mess/

 

[RoyJackson]

I want the sleet and freezing rain atop the snow....otherwise there's ice on the drive and walks. So, it depends...there's no set "rule"

 

[George2615]

It depends on how it is snowing. I live in a snow belt area where snow can come down 1-2" per hour or more. I usually go out and plow once there is a foot or more. If I waited till it stopped there may be well over 2 feet which can be overwhelming.
The tractor may be able to handle it but I cetainly don't like to shovel snow 2' deep snow out of the way to get to the tractor. If I have to shovel I'd rather it be in small increments. I agree that if it sleets or rains its better on top of the snow than under it.

 

[Thomas]

Big measure of snow I'll remove half storm than finish clean when storm done....6" less wait.

 

[DHD]

I'll wait until it's all done snow/rain.
In my area, the long forecast predicts that'll be 2PM Wed.
if they're correct, it should be cleaned up before dark.

I don't mind snow removal from my driveway in winter and prefer
it to mowing the lawn during summer.

 

[oosik]

Yesterday I plowed. I had 14" of bone dry, powder snow. The temps were +9F. Absolutely ideal conditions. I have a mile long gravel driveway that is frozen hard a rock. I use a really heavy Rhino rear blade on my M6040.

The job was a breeze and went fast. One pass out - one pass back. I plowed my mailbox out and even plowed the neighbors driveway. It was a great morning to be out and conditions were ideal.

I have NEVER been trapped in here because of snow depth. I can alway bust my way out with my 4WD vehicle. Soooo....as a result of this and the fact that I'm retired - I will always wait for the best possible conditions to do any plowing.

I have plowed when I should have waited. It can end up being a mess. Soft driveway - slushy snow - not good.

And so what if it DOES take me a week to dig out. I have over a years worth of supplies and I'm in no hurry to get anywhere.

Hey - I've been know to NOT plow my driveway during late hunting season. Just so I don't have to deal with the SH*T HEAD hunters that will come down my driveway and trespass on my land and the neighbors land.

It works for me.

 

[TractorNH]

I was just debating the same question. Our forecast is for the snow to start around 2pm today and change over to sleet/freezing rain by midnight, ending before daybreak. With 4-8" of snow forecast before the changeover I'm going to wait since there will be enough snow to absorb any freezing rain we get rather than having the freezing rain stick to the driveway. They're saying we will be back into the 40's again here on Friday with rain showers.

 

[TheMadOne]

It's a right mess here right now. If the weather predictions are right I shouldn't have to go out at all, the rain tonight is going to wash away all the snow and the ice that's currently falling.

 

[HillStreet]

I was just debating the same question. Our forecast is for the snow to start around 2pm today and change over to sleet/freezing rain by midnight, ending before daybreak. With 4-8" of snow forecast before the changeover I'm going to wait since there will be enough snow to absorb any freezing rain we get rather than having the freezing rain stick to the driveway. They're saying we will be back into the 40's again here on Friday with rain showers.

Yeah Tractor, seems we are in the same boat. It started snowing here at 3:00PM and will snow all night then change to sleet. Some as much as 2 inches per hour. I will wait until it clears before I go out. Just lit the coal stove so I’m going to work in the basement for a couple of days. It’s a weird winter.

 

[HillStreet]

I'll wait until it's all done snow/rain.
In my area, the long forecast predicts that'll be 2PM Wed.
if they're correct, it should be cleaned up before dark.

I don't mind snow removal from my driveway in winter and prefer
it to mowing the lawn during summer.

I hope to be cleared before dark too. For me, its a toss up between snow removal (1 hour) and lawn mowing (3 hours). I suppose lawn mowing is best for me because its more relaxing on the zero turn than it is backing the tractor (without cab) to snow blow. Both are done 10 to 12 times a year typically but we are catching a break on snow this year—-I think, and hope. I enjoy my winter down time but when it gets warm I want outside. I have plenty of tasks for the different seasons.

 

[RoyJackson]

Looks like an opportunity to plow and snow blow early tomorrow morning. We might see some sleet/freezing rain overnight...I hope that's over by the time I head out.
Looked out the window a few minutes ago...snow is coming down pretty hard...

 

[atsah]

I wait until it's done unless I have a small window of decent temps to remove it. Sometimes during the end of a snow storm a cold front comes with it, if so I will remove it before it's over just so I can get out if I need to the following day and not have to spend two hours in sub 0 temps just so I can get out.

I always worry a fire truck or ambulance wont be able to get in if I leave it there to long.

 

[LouNY]

About 6 inches on the ground now had some sleet for about an hour,
not sure when I'll start moving it around.

I don't have to worry about fire or ambulance, as soon as there is an inch or two there's no way they will make it up the driveway
and they certainly couldn't make it down in one piece till it's plowed and sanded.

 

[Jaylegger]

In Eastern Canada any snowfall the past few years has ended with rain. My snow blowing regiment is 3-4 hours and always plan to head head out at least 1.5 hours before the rain is scheduled to start. If I get lazy I pay for it.

 

[wheelbuilder]

We are scheduled for another sloppy snow storm tomorrow night into the day Wednesday. It will snow for 12 hours or so, then the storm will end with sleet turning to rain. I wait for it to stop completely, then go out to remove the snow. Is this what you guys do? Wait?

Whichever way you choose, you will probably think the other way would be better. Personally, I hate blowing snow that refreezes in the machine. If I think that's likely, I'll go out in the snow to blow that unless it's going to total an amount I can easily plow. If we're due for ice, I like to wait so I don't have to sand or salt.

 

[Oaktree]

For me, its a toss up between snow removal (1 hour) and lawn mowing (3 hours). I suppose lawn mowing is best for me because its more relaxing on the zero turn than it is backing the tractor (without cab) to snow blow. Both are done 10 to 12 times a year typically but we are catching a break on snow this year—-I think, and hope. I enjoy my winter down time but when it gets warm I want outside. I have plenty of tasks for the different seasons.

Toss up for me as well. I need to do the lawn a lot more than 12 times a year though...the speed mine grows every 4-5 days is more like it. Tapers off a bit in late summer/fall, but still once a week is pushing it.

It’s a weird winter.

They've all been weird lately. A lot more rain than we used to get...if some of those storms were snow we'd be buried. This year hasn't been too bad, ground's been snow-covered since mid-Nov.

Last night's storm kind of wimped out here. 3-4" of mostly sleet.

 

[shaeff]

We got about 5” of snow that packed down a bit after the sleet started. I went out about 5pm last night, used the blower for pretty much everything. The snow was a little crusty but moved alright.

Changed back to snow later after the sleet, then to freezing rain. Cats covered in 1” of ice this morning, worked out well. It popped right off real easy. Wife leaves for work at 5:45 or so, had her car cleaned up in less than 10 minutes. Apparently, I timed this one right.

 

[atsah]

16 inches here and still snowing. Guess I know what I will be doing this evening.