As any seasoned northerner can tell you, dealing with the winter snow is a major hassle. Between shoving the walkways, icing the stoop, and clearing the car, it often seems like snow removal has become a full time job. If you’ve considered abandoning the project altogether and letting the snow sit where it may, you’re far from alone. Lots of disheartened people have given up after battling what feels like the millionth storm of the season.
Unfortunately, leaving the snow sitting around for months can have serious long term consequences on your property. Taking this potential damage into account, you’re much better off sucking it up and removing the snow. Here are six problems likely to arise if you fail to do so.
The Snow Becomes Gross
While this issue might not be quite as consequential as the other items on the list, it is still something to consider. We all know that snow can be remarkably beautiful in the first few hours after it falls. Over the following days and weeks, however, it tends to get progressively uglier until it winds up looking flat-out gross. Animals and people alike will track dirt through the snow , turning much of it brown. This problem will only get worse as the snow starts to melt and mud mixes with the crystals. What’s even nastier is the sudden appearance of yellow blotches in the snow, often left by nocturnal animal visitors to your yard. If you don’t want your property to become the ugly duckling of the neighborhood, you’re better off simply clearing the snow as quickly as you can.
The Snow Freezes Solid
If you think shoveling is a pain right after the snowfall, wait until you see how annoying it is when the snow has frozen solid. Many a procrastinating person has waited a few days to shovel, only to find the point of the blade can barely pierce the outer layer of frozen snow. Some have even had to clear their snow with regular, narrow-bladed shovels since typical snow shovels can no longer do the trick. Avoid this issue by clearing the snow before this freezing process happens.
Frozen Snow Is Dangerous
Not only is frozen snow difficult to shovel, but it can also be dangerous. While your foot passes easily through freshly fallen snow, it might well stay on top of snow that has frozen solid. At first glance, this might seem beneficial. Suddenly, you can walk across your yard without snow boots. The problem is that this snow surface has become incredibly slippery, turning your property into a giant ice rink. A single misstep could result in a serious fall.
Muddy Patches Develop As Snow Eventually Melts
As the snow eventually melts, the excess of water will mix with the solid to create large, nasty muddy patches in your yard. This is hardly the aesthetic you want for your property as you head into spring. By shoveling your snow and piling it in a single space, you allow the rest of your yard to dry out faster once spring comes around.
Erosion Around Your House’s Foundation
Melting snow will also send water running down toward your house’s foundation. Nothing worsens erosion like water, and you’ll soon find the soil disappearing around the base of your house. This can cause serious structural problems down the road.
Ruts In The Soil From Melting Snow
The water from melting snow won’t run off in a uniform pattern. It will find small ruts in the soil of your yard and run through them like streams. This will deepen and widen the ruts, turning your yard into a series of unsightly gashes.
