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Archive for the ‘Snow Removal’ Category

Wednesday, February 5th, 2014

While it’s great if you can own a separate lawn mower and snow blower, this option can be expensive for homeowners looking for savings. A more practical investment is to buy a snow blower attachment instead, which will allow you to convert your garden tractor to an instant snow blowing machine.

Find the Perfect Match

When shopping, make sure you have the model number of your tractor so you can choose the correct snow blower attachment. Every brand will have a particular type of retro-fit, so you need make sure you choose the attachment with the correct weight, size, and function.

Throw off or Blow Away Snow?

Check what type of attachment your garden tractor can receive. You may be able to install one or two types of attachments – a single-stage and a two-stage attachment. The first one will just blow the snow away in a straight line as the tractor pass through while the two-stage attachment is designed with an open auger, which pulls in different kinds of snow even from irregular terrain and then throws it far away.

Quick Hitch

Choose a snow blower attachment that has a hitch that can be quickly bolted to the front of the garden tractor, which will also allow safe and quick removal.

Track Size and Power Capacity

The size of the tractor engine will determine the power of the snow blower attachment, which can be enough to make either a 48- or 60-inch track.

Controller

Choose an attachment that can be controlled by a joystick so you can operate it more effectively when working over snowy and uneven terrains. A joystick controller can also be used easily while you are sitting, allowing you to switch the angle of the chute so you can throw the snow in different directions.

Weights

Ensure the snow blower attachment matches the weight of the tractor wheel. You also need to have high-quality tires, and probably chains, so you can operate the attachment properly. You can add some extra wheel weights for additional traction on snowy ground. The attachment could add 175 pounds to the front of your garden tractor, so you may need to put some counterweights at the back.

Get Help Removing Snow

If you find it difficult to shovel snow as many people do, don’t hesitate to call for help. Seva Call will quickly connect you with reputable snow removal professionals located in your area, for free and in just a matter of minutes.

Tags: Snow Blower Attachment
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How to Attach a Snow Plow to a Truck

Friday, January 31st, 2014

A snow plow can be a good investment for homeowners with large properties who live in areas that get a lot of snowfall. It’s truly a very convenient alternative to shoveling snow, allowing a wide driveway to be cleared in a breeze.

Many homeowners who invested in their own snow plows also had the chance to earn supplementary income during winter with all the service calls from neighbors. If you plan to attach a snow plow to a truck, a little research is required, as well as some rudimentary skills.

Truck Requirements

Before you attach a snow plow to your truck, find out from the vehicle manufacturer the truck’s curb weight and weight capacity per axle. Also, check whether there are unique guidelines specific to your truck with regards to snow plow installation. Take note that all vehicles have a weight rating as well as gross axle weight rating, which cannot be exceeded by the total weight of the truck itself and the snow plow, including passengers and all other load.

Plow Compatibility

After checking that you can attach a snow plow to your truck, determine which snow plow packages would be compatible with your vehicle and the weight of each package. Typically, a package includes a scraper or snow blade that shoves the snow and all the necessary hardware such as the frames, mounting hardware and wiring mechanism.

Attach Snow Plow to Truck

Step 1: Assemble the snow blade and plow hardware following manufacturer’s directions.

Step 2: Jack up your truck so you can work safely and comfortably beneath it. Ensure you’re using a jack stand while working underneath your raised truck.

Step 3: With the truck safely jacked up, install the plow’s mounting brackets. Attach the brackets as well as the cross-member loosely to the truck’s frame. Once all the bolts are placed correctly, tighten the hardware evenly.

Step 4: Connect the wiring mechanism of the snow plow to the battery and winch.

Step 5: Attach the snow plow to the mounting hardware using the hitch pins provided by the manufacturer.

Ask a Snow Plow Expert

Need more time to purchase a snow plow and learn how to attach one to a truck? You may want to consider professional snow removal services while you’re still in the process of buying your own equipment. Find a local snow removal company now with Seva Call, your quick and reliable connection to the best service professionals in your area.

Tags: attach to truck, snow plow
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How to Check Snow Tires Performance

Tuesday, January 28th, 2014

In winter weather, one of the most important safety additions you can make to your vehicle is to switch out the regular tires to snow tires, especially when your area gets a lot of snowfall. Here are some points to look for when checking snow tires performance to make sure you purchase the right product.

1. Hard grip on snow or ice. Obviously, any winter tire has better grip on snow- or ice- covered roads than an all-season or regular tire. However, the best snow tires performance is characterized by an incredible grip that’s significantly superior to average winter tires.

2. More durability. With their softer rubber material, snow tires wear out more quickly than regular tires. Nonetheless, when you choose good tire models, they should last you about three winters or at least 20,000 miles.

3. Improved ride comfort. It used to be that snow tires with their hefty treads made rides very uncomfortable, but there has been a lot of improvement in this specific area of snow tires performance. Today, there are snow tires without studs that allow for a quiet and comfortable ride. Studded types, however, still have noise issues.

4. Good warranty. Usually, snow tires don’t come with a warranty for tread wear. However, the best products will always include a five-year tire warranty against defects.

Using Snow Tires

Snow tires performance can also be affected simply by your usage. Before you decide to switch to snow tires or keep them on, think about whether you do need to use them or not.

Snow tires are recommended when you drive regularly on snowy or icy roads. You’ll be able to put your brake on faster, keep the car from sliding when turning corners, and go uphill better when you have winter tires instead of all-season tires.

Snow tires performance is simply better overall in areas with cold temperatures. Go for performance winter tires if your winters are mostly either rainy or dry. This type of winter tires is suitable for snowstorms but does not compromise the grip on wet roads or cold and dry pavements, unlike regular snow tires.

Get Expert Snow Removal Help

The best snow tires performance cannot stop your vehicle or your entire yard from getting buried in several inches of snow during harsh winter. To take care of snow removal quickly, hire expert local professionals with the help of Seva Call. We can connect you with reputable snow removal companies within minutes to clear the snow outside your home.

Tags: Snow Tires Performance
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Snow Removal Pricing Guide for Homeowners

Thursday, January 23rd, 2014

Snow-filled landscapes are beautiful, but clearing deep snow from the pathways outside of your home can be backbreaking work. An easier way to get the job done is to either buy power snow removal equipment or hire a professional to do the work. Either way, you will want a snow removal pricing guide to help you weigh the costs of your options.

Typical Cost Estimates

Snow blowers or snow throwers, which are used for removal of light snow less than 4 inches deep, usually cost around $100, and up to $500. For moderately heavy snow, a single-gas snow blower is used, and this costs about $300 up $800. A two-stage gas snow thrower used for extremely heavy snow or difficult snow removal jobs costs at least $1,000.

If you’ll be hiring a single worker who will use simple tools and machines like a shovel, a mower equipped with a snow blade attachment or a snow blower, you can expect to pay an hourly rate of around $25 to $75. Remember that when reviewing a snow removal pricing guide for hourly jobs, how long the job will take to complete will depend on site conditions and the type and size of the area. You will generally pay more for having sidewalks and walkways cleared than driveways since it takes more time to clean them.

When you contract a company to provide snow removal services for a standard driveway during the winter, be aware that one snow removal pricing guide will differ from another based on location. In general, such services can cost around $30 up to $45 for every storm, but longer driveways would cost at least $50 up to $65. Clearing gravel and steep driveways would also be about the same price. Expect to pay more when hiring emergency snow removal services or when hiring only after a storm.

Additional Snow Removal Costs

Depending on the snow removal contract, there may be a limit for one season on the number of snow plows on your property, so you may be charged an extra cost for visits that exceed this limit. You may also be billed extra for sanding and salting, although some companies already include this in their plowing rates.

How to Get Some Savings

Sign a snow removal contract before winter to get better rates. If you own a vacation home, you may get a discounted rate if you agree to having your property plowed last after all other occupied homes have been plowed. It’s also possible to get affordable snow removal services for private driveways from your local public works department, but this would be largely dependent on the availability of resources, since the department is primarily responsible for clearing public roads.

Looking for Snow Removal Services?

When you decide to hire a professional snow removal company and are not sure who to call, turn to Seva Call first. We’ll connect you with reliable service providers within minutes, and all for free.

Tags: Snow Removal Pricing Guide
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Are Snow Tires Necessary?

Thursday, January 16th, 2014

Snow tires are one of the main factors responsible for bad gas mileage during the winter months. In addition, replacing summer tires with winter tires is a costly annual ritual that many drivers feel tempted to skip.

Are snow tires necessary or are they merely a waste of time and money? Keep reading to discover the answer to this question, and don’t forget to contact a snow removal specialist if you require additional information.

How to Decide if Snow Tires Are Right for You

If you live in an area where hard winters with heavy snow are common, then you should definitely use snow tires during the cold season. All-season tires may be perfect for roads affected by rain, sleet, or thick layers of mud, but they can’t guarantee your safety while you are driving on ice and piles of snow.

Experts agree on the fact that snow tires perform admirably on icy, sloppy roads. Also, if you want to avoid traffic accidents at all costs, make sure you buy and install four tires. Some drivers choose to put only two snow tires on their vehicles. This is a considerable safety risk, since the driver has less control over her car when cornering and braking.

Why Are Snow Tires Necessary?

Snow tires are a great investment because they help you reach your destination safely, even in the winter’s most difficult driving conditions. They display special tread patterns and guarantee a superior grip on ice and snow. Moreover, they are manufactured from soft, resistant rubber compounds, ensuring the flexibility of your tires even in the harshest environments with negative temperatures.

Ask an Expert

Are snow tires necessary? Yes, they are, especially if you care about your safety and want to keep your car in excellent condition for the long-term. If you need more information on premium winter tires, don’t hesitate to contact a snow removal specialist. Identify the best ones with help from Seva Call, a free service designed to connect you with a wide range of professional services at your convenience.

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Roof Snow Removal

Wednesday, December 25th, 2013

During the cold season, when powerful snowstorms are a part of the picture, roof snow removal becomes a pressing necessity. Snow buildups can make your roof cave in and flood your rooms, destroying your furniture, your carpets, and basically every other item whose appearance and functionality can be compromised by water damage.

Even if your roof can support the weight of snow buildups, melting snow can lead to extensive water intrusion. In this case, water can easily get inside your house through the tiniest cracks in your roof.

The results are easy to imagine: lots of mold spores, unaesthetic brown stains on your walls, and a warped or rotten roof. Fortunately, a time and cost-efficient roof snow removal process is the simplest method to prevent this unpleasant situation.

Make Sure Your Safety Remains Your Number One Priority

You can definitely remove snow from your roof on your own, as long as you take a few mandatory measures of precaution.

1. Use a ladder to remove snow from hard-to-reach roof areas, but ask a friend, a neighbor, or a family member to hold the ladder in place for you as you climb on it.

2. If you have a steeply angled roof or a very tall one, it is advisable to call a snow removal company, and let real experts complete this assignment.

3. Remove snow using a roof razor. It can come with additional poles and cost less than $130 dollars. With a total length of 24 feet, this useful product can help you eliminate snow buildups on your roof in a timely manner.

Call an Expert

Don’t have the time, patience, skills or tools required to remove snow from the roof of your house? In this case, it is advisable to count on professional roof snow removal services. Find the best local contractors with TalkLocal, your dependable service introduced to help connect you with first-class professionals who live and work in your area.

Tags: Roof Snow Removal
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Snow Removal Pricing

Thursday, December 19th, 2013

During the cold season, people are looking for accurate info on snow removal pricing methods. As long as you do your homework properly and consult more than one trustworthy source, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the best snow removal companies in your area. If you want to avoid the hard labor and potential dangers associated with snow removal, let real pros do the heavy lifting.

Extensive Research is the Key to Success

Start by surfing the Internet to find the most competent providers of snow removal services. Keep in mind that there are three different price structures that you should consider. Some companies charge seasonal rates, others charge by the hour, and some contractors prefer to bill you “per push”.

The relatively common “per push” system means that your contractor will charge you for every single visit. The average “per push” snow removal rate depends on several factors, including:

– The average fees charged for snow removal in your area

– How labor-intensive and how lengthy the snow removal process is expected to be

– What kind of equipment is required in your case

– The total surface that you plan to clear of snow

Identifying the Best Pricing Method

The “per push” pricing structure is considered the best alternative at hand by numerous homeowners. This is because it enables them to determine the exact amount of money that they would have to spend to get the job done.

Of course, prices differ a great deal based on the surface that requires the snow removal process. For instance, a client could pay less than $30 for plowing a small-size driveway. At the same time, a different customer would have to take a few hundreds of dollars out of their pockets to clear snow from the gigantic parking lot of a large commercial center.

Note that you can be charged extra for supplementary services, like salting, for instance. To avoid unpleasant surprises, contact more than a few snow removal companies and ask for up-front estimates.

Ask an Expert

Know very little or nothing at all about your local snow removal pricing method? If so, discuss your options with a snow removal expert who lives and works in your area. Find the best one with TalkLocal, your best connection to the top professionals in your area.

Tags: Snow Removal Pricing
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Used Snow Removal Equipment

Monday, December 16th, 2013

People who want to save money and put their DIY skills on full display often choose to remove snow from their properties on their own. Of course, this decision enables them to save anywhere from $30 to a few hundreds of dollars, depending on the total surface that requires a timely snow removal process.

However, used snow removal equipment can pose huge safety risks, especially when they are used by people who aren’t really up to this challenge.

Snow Shoveling Can Put Your Life on the Line

At the beginning of each cold season, doctors advise people with a wide range of health problems, including elevated blood pressure, heart diseases, and elevated cholesterol levels, to rely on professional snow removal services, rather than trying to shovel snow on their own.

Recent studies indicate that more than 1,600 annual premature deaths are associated with heart failure triggered by the labor-intensive snow shoveling process.

Snow Blowers Shouldn’t Be Considered a Risk-free Option

People who want to save time, money, and effort during winter by avoiding the tiresome chore of shoveling snow buildups, often choose to purchase or rent a snow blower. The question is this: can this type of used snow removal equipment actually represent a major safety threat?

According to a report issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 6,000 individuals were injured after utilizing these snow removal machines in 2009 alone. These injuries include hand and finger traumas, triggered by the sharp blades that collect the snow.

Furthermore, people who still use older corded models of snow blowers risk electrocution. At the same time, a snow blower running on gas could very well make you deaf, especially if you utilize them regularly. In this case, the safest option at hand seems to be a rechargeable snow blower, running on a powerful lithium-ion battery.

Ask an Expert

Used snow removal equipment may be a bargain, but it could also expose you to a long list of major risks. To avoid any kind of threats and eliminate snow buildups the easy way, count on professional snow removal services. Find the best snow removal companies in your area with TalkLocal, your direct connection to the best professionals in your area.

Tags: Used Snow Removal Equipment
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Snow Tire Tutorial

Wednesday, December 11th, 2013

With the wintry season fast approaching, drivers start thinking about preparing their cars for snowy and icy roads. This means first installing snow tires. However, it’s not always clear for everybody why snow tires are important. Here’s a snow tire tutorial that will help you understand why you need snow tires.

What Are Snow Tires?

Also called winter tires, snow tires are specially designed tires for winter conditions. Snow tires have special features, which make them suitable for snow-covered roads and ice.

What Are the Particularities of Snow Tires?

Rubber Compound

Unlike regular tires, they are made of a special rubber compound, which has a superior performance in cold temperatures. Regular tires are less flexible than snow tires, which makes them become rigid when exposed to cold weather.

The rubber in snow tires keeps its elasticity even when temperatures drop significantly. This allows you to have better traction and more control over your vehicle on snow-covered roads.

Tire Tread

Snow tires have deeper treads, which allow them to have a much better grip on snowy and icy roads. They also have a wear indicator, which shows you when you need to replace your snow tires. If they’re worn out, snow tires can’t do their job properly.

Why Are Snow Tires Better Than All-Seasons?

All-season tires are designed for cold and wet weather conditions. If you live in an area with mild winters, all-season tires might be a good choice. However, for winter driving, specialists recommend snow tires.

Can I Use Only Two Tires or Do I Need Four?

The answer is to never use just two snow tires, because it’s dangerous. If you do that, your traction and road grip will be affected, because regular tires behave differently on snowy roads. Although buying four snow tires may seem like a more costly option at the moment, it’s a profitable investment over the long term, both financially and for safety reasons.

Need Assistance?

If you want to know more about snow tires or need the help of a mechanic, TalkLocal can connect you with reliable professionals in your area. Just give us a call. It’s free.

Tags: Snow Tire Tutorial
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Why Tread in Snow Tires Matters

Friday, December 6th, 2013

Snow tires, or winter tires, are specially designed for snow and ice. Their tread patterns are different from those of all-season tires or regular tires. The tread in snow tires allows them to dig down deeper into snow and bite into ice. Moreover, the rubber used in manufacturing them is softer, which makes it more flexible during harsh weather conditions.

This allows winter tires to adjust more easily to the road. Unlike snow tires, regular tires may become rigid and brittle when it’s cold.

What Are the Main Features of Good Snow Tires?

The performance of snow tires during winter depends on:

– Tread design

– Tread rubber compound

– Tread depth

What Is the Right Tread Depth?

Generally, tires need to be replaced when their tread depth reaches 2/32 inch. In the U.S., tires should have visible tread wear indicator bars, which show when the limit has been reached. Specialists advise drivers to change their tires before they reach the 2/32 inch limit.

With winter approaching, if the tread depth of your tires has reached 6/32 inch, it’s recommended to replace your tires. Worn out tire treads influence braking and traction. Shallow treads make braking more difficult, which means that you will need a longer interval to stop your car. Deeper tire treads can compress snow, making traction much easier.

Snow Tires Wear Out Faster

Another important aspect to keep in mind is the fact that snow tires may wear out faster than all seasons or regular tires. You are going to use your snow tires for about three months per year, probably on a daily basis. Depending on snow tire quality and the wear and tear they are subjected to, your snow tires may last for about two to five seasons.

To increase their life span, make sure you replace them in spring with regular tires.

Need Help with Your Car?

Contact TalkLocal and we’ll connect you with the snow removal and tire experts in your area, in just minutes, and for free.

Tags: Tread in Snow Tires
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