Skip to main content Skip to navigation
On August 12, 2021, Semi Service, Inc. was acquired by Reading Truck Group. Read the Press Release.
(801) 521-0360 Search

Residential Snow Plowing Tips for New Snow Plowing Businesses

Semi Service October 24, 2019

Winter is coming and snow plowing can be a great business for ambitious entrepreneurs. From the outside, snow plowing may seem easy – but there’s a lot to it, from safety to efficiency. If you’re ready to go out and buy your first snow plow to start clearing your neighbor’s driveways, here are some residential snow plowing tips you’ll want to know!

Clearing Snow Away from Garages

Plowing away snow seems easy, but sometimes you need to clear a spot that doesn’t let you get behind it. Garages are one of the most common areas like this, and when it comes to snow plowing tips for new snow plow users, learning how to clear this effectively is critical. No homeowner is going to want a mostly clear driveway with a mountain of snow blocking their garage!

The ideal way to clear snow from along a garage, or any building, is to use the back of the plow to “pull” the snow away. Drive your vehicle up to edge of the garage with your plow up, lower it, and slowly pull the snow backwards away from the building. After you pull it two or three car-lengths back, you can get behind it to push it down the driveway.

If the snowfall was severe, you may not be able to pull away enough snow to clear a large space for your vehicle. In that case, just try to clear enough so you can safely get behind most of it. You may need a few extra passes – but it’s better than a job poorly done.

Invest in a Quality Snow Plow

It may sound like a no-brainer, but those looking to make some extra money during the winter season via snow plowing often try to save money by buying cheap equipment. The reality is your ability to effectively clear snow and move on to the next job hinges mostly on your equipment.

That doesn’t mean you need to get the biggest plow on the market. It means to look out for new equipment that has features you need. For residential plowing, a straight blade is typically all you will need. They’re also popular for being on the less expensive side. However depending on the types of driveways and residential areas you plow, a V-blade could benefit you.

Not every snow plow will work the same. Consider your vehicle, your planned service area, and upkeep costs for materials like poly versus steel. Trying to pinch pennies instead of buying what you need could end up costing you time or repeat business.

Snow Plowing on Gravel & Dirt Driveways

Need to plow a dirt or gravel driveway? If you do it wrong, you’ll be plowing more of the driveway than the snow! This is where your plow shoes shine – they help keep your plow above the surface.

Never forget to lower your plow shoes to give your snow plow a little height above the surface. Don’t go crazy, you only need enough height to avoid the plow from digging into the driveway itself. You may leave a slight layer of snow behind, but that’s a lot better than leaving them without a safe driveway.

When you wrap up, don’t forget to raise them again. You don’t want to plow concrete or asphalt driveways with plow shoes down. While it won’t cause any unique problems, it will prevent you from clearing all the way to the surface, and it’s not necessary to avoid the surface on concrete or asphalt.

Wide Driveways? No Problem!

Most driveways have enough width for a car or two, but you’re bound to come across a few driveways that are wide enough for plenty more! The trick to plowing wide driveways is to start from the center with your plow tilted towards whichever edge you’re closest to.

After your first pass, you’ll have piles of snow pushing in both directions away from the center. Continue to take methodical passes, pushing this snow clear of the driveway and away from the center until it’s all the way to the edge.

This method is quicker and simpler than trying to go from edge-to-edge. It also lowers your chances of creating a snow pile too big to manage.

Spend Time Planning Your Route

Ask any experienced company for residential snow plowing tips and you’ll be likely to hear about route planning. It’s essential for anyone who’s interested in making a sizable profit from residential work.

Unlike commercial plowing, you often take several smaller paying jobs with a lot more travel in-between. Fuel isn’t free, so the best way to keep your business in the green is to cut down on as much travel time as possible.

As you take on new clients, use a map to plot out their locations. Look at different routes that naturally move you from client to client with as little back-and-forth across town driving as possible. Take an hour or two to focus on your routes, and you can save yourself hours of driving and dozens of gallons of gas per season.

Speak with the Owners

Everyone is different – and their expectations will vary. While plowing residential driveways may seem easy, it won’t be if the homeowner finds a pile of snow where they weren’t expecting it.

As you sign on new homes to plow, talk to them about any unique situations they may have. Perhaps they have unique landscaping, lawn furniture or decorations that careless plowing could damage. It’s not only good to know about these things beforehand, you can often request the homeowner to put up stakes around their driveway.

If you arrive to a foot of snow, stakes let you identify where the driveway ends and the lawn begins!

http://www.semiservice.com/snow-ice-products.php

Ready for a New Snow Plow?

If you’re ready to equip your truck with a new snow plow, we can help answer your questions! The snowy season is here, so let our experts help you sooner rather than later.

Contact us online or give us a call at (801) 895-4419 to get started today!

Connect with us on social media:

Facebook 

Read more on: snow plow, snow removal