What to Do During a Snowstorm While You Wait

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Decide whether you really need to go out

During heavy snowfall, roads, sidewalks and driveways are all at their worst. If you can delay errands or work from home, it is usually safer to wait until roads and driveways have been cleared. If you must leave, give yourself extra time, clear your whole car including the roof and lights, and expect side streets to be plowed after main roads.

Help the crew get a clean pass

• Move vehicles off the driveway, into the garage, or to one side so the plow can clear most of the surface. Ask us how your driveway is usually done if you are not sure.
• Keep garbage and recycling bins, toys and hoses off the driveway and away from the curb.
• Do not pile shovelled snow onto the middle of the driveway or across the end.
• Leave markers in place; they show the operator your edges, steps and drains.

Check vents, exhausts and the furnace intake

Many modern furnaces and water heaters vent through a side wall with plastic pipes close to the ground. Drifting snow can block them, which can shut the appliance down or create a carbon monoxide risk. During a long storm, check these vents and clear them gently by hand. Make sure your carbon monoxide alarms are working. Keep dryer vents clear as well.

Shovelling between visits: keep it light

If you want to keep a path open between visits, clear a narrow strip from the door to the driveway and leave the rest. Push snow rather than lifting it, take breaks and stop if you feel chest pain or shortness of breath. Heavy, wet snow is particularly hard on the heart and back. Do not try to tackle a fresh City windrow by yourself in the middle of a storm; it may be pushed back in again soon.

Why the crew may come back

In a long storm, snow keeps falling after the first clearing. With seasonal service, we make return visits so your driveway does not end up buried by the end of the day, and the City windrow is cleared as part of the service. After each visit you get a timestamped photo, so you can see when the work was done even if you were busy inside.

How our seasonal service handles it

Our seasonal plans run from December 1 to March 31. Clearing is automatic every time 5 cm or more falls, so you never need to call or book a visit. In long storms we come back for return visits, and the City windrow at the end of your driveway is cleared as part of the service. Before the season starts we mark your edges, steps and drains so they can be found under snow. After every visit you get a timestamped photo. We are fully insured with $2,000,000 in liability coverage and registered with WSIB. Seasonal salting is available for $175 plus HST and includes freezing rain and refreeze visits, and seniors and front-line workers save 5% on seasonal plans. Prices are fixed for the season: single or 1.5-car driveways are $650 to $725, doubles are $815, and three-car, paver or stamped driveways are $1,050, all plus HST. We measure your property from City of London maps and aerial imagery and send a fixed quote within one business day. A 30% deposit reserves your spot, with the balance due before December 1.

Want this handled for you this winter? Request a free quote and we will measure your property and send a fixed price within one business day, or call or text (548) 888-8702. You can also read more about residential snow removal and our FAQ.

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 $150–175, salting $175, priority service $125, pet-safe salt $120, driveway extension $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.