Overall, it’s been a very mild winter in Calgary, but the temperatures have dropped over the past few days. In addition to the added chill, enough snow has fallen recently to have us out doing regular snow removal again on top of our maintenance and inspection rounds. There will be about another week of temperatures hovering around minus 10 degrees Celsius, and there are a few more centimetres of snow in the forecast, so we are looking forward to visiting our clients a little more often.
Even though we haven’t had to hustle out to clear up after a snowfall as often as we have in other years, we are still visiting our commercial and residential clients’ properties regularly to ensure they remain clean and completely clear of snow and ice. Until recently, the weather has been warm enough to melt some snow during the day and then freeze the melt at night. So, we haven’t stopped going around and spot treating areas that have iced over with deicing agents or our good old-fashioned shovels. And that leads us to the first reason why good snow removal in Calgary is important.
1. Professional snow removal in Calgary protects you from liability
Professional Calgary commercial and residential snow removal services by Mirage Landscaping keeps your property neat and clean while also reducing the chances of someone slipping and falling. If someone were to get hurt while visiting your home or business, they could sue for damages.
You are at risk of being found liable if someone trips, slips or falls when your property is unsafe. Icy parking lots, pathways, sidewalks, and wet floors would qualify as such. Hazardous conditions that are not marked with a sign, such as a crack in your pathway or a slippery entrance, would also qualify as unsafe – especially if you could have done something about it. Commercial property owners can decrease their chances of liability, and potentially even their insurance costs, by being able to prove a clear plan for maintenance and inspection tasks, including snow removal services.
2. Snow removal will keep you compliant with city by-laws
City of Calgary bylaws dictate that snow must be removed from sidewalks, pathways, driveways, and parking lots within 24 hours of the last flake falling, and we make it our promise to be there well before the snow causes any problems on your commercial or residential property. Our fleet of snow plows and heavy-duty snow removal equipment will be there to remove even the heaviest volumes within hours. We also know exactly where the City of Calgary mandates large piles be placed and whether or not that pathway next to your house should be shoveled, too (the answer is yes).
3. Good snow removal builds a good reputation and helps everyone
The first thing bad snow removal damages is your reputation. In the same way that a business or home that is overgrown with weeds looks unsightly in the summer, a business or home with a snowy, icy pathway looks unhospitable in the winter. And for businesses specifically, that results in a loss of customers as well as a loss of confidence. Professional snow removal services also help bring down medical costs for everyone. In Alberta, 1,860 people were hospitalized in 2017/2018 because of a snow and/or ice related injury. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the average cost of a hospital stay in Canada is $7,983, which puts the price of injuries due to ice and snow at about $14.7 million in just this province.
4. Snow removal prevents potential serious injuries
Shovelling isn’t easy. It requires for a person to be in good physical health, and even then, injuries are common. The most common injuries are broken bones from falls, back injuries from improper lifting techniques and heart attacks from over-exertion. Those over the age of 55 are four times more likely to suffer a heart attack while shovelling.
You also need to be aware of the weather. Layers are key in freezing winter weather. Remember to always pay attention to your body temperature and avoid sweating, as body heat and cold temperatures aren’t a healthy mix and will make you susceptible to catching a cold, or worse.
5. We can simply do it better
Snow removal in Calgary is unpredictable, to say the least. After three generations of running a snow removal and landscaping business, we can honestly say we have seen it all. Thanks to our professional-grade snow removal equipment, we can clear the way no matter how bad a storm passed through. We also have an extensive fleet of equipment and plenty of people power, so if you ever need a bigger hand than usual, we’ve got you covered.
We specialize in serving the southeast area of the city, including the communities of Auburn Bay, Chaparral, Chaparral Valley, Copperfield, Cranston, Douglasdale, Heritage Pointe, Lake Bonavista, Mahogany, McKenzie Lake, Mackenzie Towne, Maple Ridge, New Brighton, Odgen/Lynwood/Millican, Parkland, Riverbend, Sundance, Walden, and Willow Park. Contact us for a free quote today.
