Why the pool is the wrong place for snow
- Weight on the cover. Winter and safety covers are built to carry the snow that falls on them, not the extra snow shovelled or blown onto them. Check your cover maker's care guide for how much load it is meant to hold and how to deal with water and snow on top.
- Salt and grit. Snow from the driveway, walkway and road edge often carries salt, sand and dirt. When it melts onto the cover or into the water, it can make spring opening harder.
- Hidden edges. Once the cover and deck are buried, it is hard to see where solid ground ends. Nobody, including kids and pets, should walk on a covered pool.
Watch the pool fence and gate
A pool fence only works if nobody can climb over it. Snow piled or drifted against the outside of the fence can turn it into a step, and a pile on the inside makes a soft landing. Keep piles well away from the fence on both sides, and check after windy storms when drifts can build up fast.
Make sure the pool gate still closes and latches on its own. Snow and ice at the bottom of the gate can hold it open. Clear a small area around the gate swing and the latch, the same way you would for a side gate. Our guide to snow paths to sheds, side gates and garage side doors has more on keeping gates working.
Other places not to pile snow in the backyard
- Against the foundation, where meltwater can soak in next to the basement walls.
- In or over basement window wells, which can be an emergency exit. See clearing snow from basement window wells.
- Over furnace and water heater vents, the gas meter or a heat pump. Our guide on keeping furnace vents and gas meters clear explains why.
- Where the sump pump discharges, so the outlet does not freeze or back up. See frozen sump pump discharge lines.
- On top of shrubs, young trees and garden beds, which can crack under heavy, wet snow.
- Against the hot tub, deck stairs or patio doors (see hot tubs, decks and patio doors in winter).
Better places for backyard snow
Look for an open patch of lawn that slopes away from the house, gets some sun, and is not on the way to a door, gate or shed. A spot near the back of the lot often works well. When the snow melts in spring, the water should run away from the house, the pool and the paths, not across them.
What about the driveway snow?
Snow cleared from the driveway has to go somewhere close by, usually beside the driveway. If there is a spot near the driveway where you do not want snow piled, such as a side yard that leads to the pool gate, a garden bed or a low fence, mention it when you request a quote so it can be noted for your property. Our guide on what happens to snow piles on a small lot explains how piles grow over a long winter.
How a seasonal plan helps
The backyard is yours to plan, but the driveway and the path to your door can be taken care of. A seasonal snow removal plan clears your driveway automatically from December 1 to March 31 whenever 5 cm or more falls. In long storms we come back for return visits, the City windrow is cleared, and you get a timestamped photo after every visit. Edges, steps and drains are marked before the season, so they are easy to find under the snow.
Prices (all plus HST):
- Single or 1.5-car driveway: $650 to $725 for the season
- Double driveway: $815
- 3-car, paver or stamped driveway: $1,050
- Walkway and steps: from $150, or $175 for a walk plus up to 6 steps; sidewalk $90
- Seasonal salt, including freezing rain and refreeze visits: $175
- Pet-safe de-icer: $120
- Priority early-morning clearing: $125
- Season extension from November 1 to April 15: add $95
Prefer to pay only when you need it? Per-visit snow removal is $70 to $85 a visit. Seasonal plans take a 30% deposit with the balance before December 1, and seniors and front-line workers save 5% on seasonal plans. We carry $2,000,000 in liability insurance, are registered with WSIB and are LPMA members.
Get a quote
Every quote is measured from City of London maps, and residential quotes come back within 1 business day. Ask for a free quote or call or text (548) 639-2069.
Frequently asked questions
Do you clear snow off pool covers?
No. Pool covers and the pool area are not part of our plans. Follow your cover maker's instructions or ask your pool service company.
What should I tell you about my yard when I ask for a quote?
Mention the pool, the pool gate, any garden beds or fences next to the driveway, and anything low that could be hidden under snow. Edges, steps and drains are marked before the season, and you can request your quote online.
Want it handled for you?
Seasonal snow removal from $650 + HST. Automatic at 5 cm, photo after every visit.
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