Do You Need Snow Removal If You Have a Snowblower?

3 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Plenty of London, Ontario homeowners own a snowblower and wonder whether professional snow removal is still worth it.

A snowblower works fine for light, manageable snowfall on a driveway you have time to clear yourself. The trouble starts with heavy storms, back-to-back snowfalls, or when you're away from home and the driveway needs to be cleared before you return.

Physical strain is another factor. Operating a snowblower in deep, wet snow is hard work, and it isn't always safe for older homeowners or anyone with a health condition that makes shoveling or machine work risky.

Many homeowners land on a hybrid approach: keep the snowblower for quick touch-ups between storms, and rely on a snow removal service for the bigger events or for the whole season if reliability matters most.

At Thames Valley Snow, plenty of our customers still own a snowblower. Our seasonal service runs automatically every snowfall of 5 cm or more, and per-visit service is available for homeowners who only want help with the big storms.

The City Windrow Problem

The hardest snow to move in London is often not on your driveway at all. When City plows clear your street, they leave a windrow, a packed ridge of heavy, icy snow across the end of the driveway. It can be dense enough to stall a smaller single-stage snowblower, and it often shows up after you have already cleared once. Our seasonal service includes clearing the City windrow, which is the part many snowblower owners dread most.

Comparing the Real Costs

A snowblower is not free to run. Factor in fuel, oil, shear pins, belts, spring tune-ups, storage space, and your own time on early mornings. For comparison, our seasonal contracts run $650 to $725 plus HST for a single or 1.5-car driveway and $815 plus HST for a double, covering December 1 to March 31 with return visits in long storms. If you only want occasional help, per-visit clearing is $70 to $85 plus HST.

A Practical Hybrid Plan

When the Snowblower Is Not Enough

Heavy, wet snow in the zero-degree range clogs chutes, and a storm that drops snow overnight then keeps going means clearing twice before work. Snowblowers also struggle with the hard-packed tracks left once a car has driven over the snow, which then freeze into ruts.

Think about who clears the snow when you are sick, travelling over the holidays, or simply need to leave early. A service removes that question entirely for the season.

FAQ

Will you still come if I already cleared my driveway?

Seasonal service is automatic for every snowfall of 5 cm or more, so you never need to call. If you have already cleared, there is simply less for us to do, and we still handle the windrow.

Is per-visit service guaranteed on a busy storm day?

Seasonal customers are on the route automatically. Per-visit customers are fitted in as the route allows, which is why many people who rely on us for every storm choose seasonal.

Ready to stop worrying about winter? Get a free quote (we measure from City of London maps and aerial imagery and reply within 1 business day), or call or text (548) 888-8702. Compare options on our snow removal prices page or read about per-visit snow removal.

What's included… and what's extra

A Thames Valley Snow seasonal residential plan starts from $650 for a standard driveway. It covers clearing the driveway every time snowfall reaches the trigger depth in your agreement, plus the windrow the city plow leaves at the end of the driveway. Larger driveways are priced on our snow removal prices page.

Popular add-ons, priced per season: walkway and steps from $150 (walk plus up to 6 steps $175), salting $175 (including freezing rain and refreeze visits), priority early-morning clearing $125, pet-safe de-icer $120, a season extension from Nov 1 to Apr 15 for $95 and city sidewalk clearing $90. Add only what your property needs; everything is listed on the quote so there are no surprises. Get your fixed price or call or text (548) 888-8702.