Ever wonder about what tools professional snow and ice removal contractors use to get the job done fast? This is more than a team of strong backs armed with shovels and several hours to kill; professional snow removal relies on a mix of techniques, tools, and materials to not only move existing snow and ice, but to also help keep it from forming again.
Professional snow and ice abatement teams in Chicago use a wide variety of tools and equipment to facilitate the removal of snow and ice.
Some Professional Snow Removal Equipment Includes:
- Skid-Steer Loader – This piece of equipment is on the smaller side of what people might think of as heavy machinery. Despite that, this ridged-framed miniature dozer can move large amounts of snow with ease. It can have various attachments hooked to its hydraulic front arms, making it highly versatile.
- End Loader – An end-loader is essentially a larger version of the petite skid-steer. Likewise, it can also have a variety of attachments affixed to the front.
- Dump Trucks – Of course, there’s the humble dump truck. Once the skid-steers and end-loaders have gathered up all that snow and ice, it has to go somewhere. And the dump truck is the piece of equipment that can get it there.
- Sidewalk Sweepers – just like it sounds, the sidewalk sweeper is a fast way to remove light snow on sidewalks in a flash.
- Snow Melter – along with snow plowing, pushing and moving, many times we need to melt the snow so there is room for traffic in the area. Professional snow contractors own equipment to do snow melting without the help of Mother Nature.
These pieces of heavy equipment make the relocation of large amounts of snow possible. But what about the ice? Melting and preventing the reformation of ice relies on an approach based in chemistry rather than brawn. There are many materials which can be used to melt away formed ice, add traction, and help prevent it from reoccurring.
Some Ice Management Materials Include:
- Salt – Salt is probably the most well-known chemical de-icer. Plus, it is also the least expensive. Salt is effective at melting ice until around twelve degrees, but excessive use may harm nearby plants.
- Sand – While it has no ice melting properties of its own, sand is typically used in conjunction with salt to melt ice and provide traction. Its low cost and wide availability make it a popular material for the job.
- Urea – Urea, also known as carbamide, is an organic compound found in the urine of mammals. It has a large number of uses, often in industrial fields. It’s also an excellent fertilizer, so it can boost your lawn while also thawing pesky ice. However, it is one of the more expensive options.
- Potassium Acetate – And finally, we have potassium acetate. Able to melt snow even in sub-zero temperature, potassium acetate is a favorite among professional ice and snow removal teams. It’s easy to apply, cost-effective, bio-degradable, and more.
As you can see, professional ice and snow removal teams have more in their arsenal than just snow shovels. If you would like to know more about the tools and equipment used by professional snow contractors, we invite you to visit our website.