Handling Snow and Ice Problems on Your Property

It’s not always a guarantee but sometimes the UK sees an unexpected amount of snow at this time of year. Snow and ice can build up quickly so being prepared and knowing how to properly handle it can prevent damage to your property and help you stay safe and warm.

The UK isn’t great at handling snow. We’re just not used to it. But if it snows you might find yourself having to take action to prevent damage to your home or business, or for reasons such as safety.

Note: Don’t use boiling water to melt snow or ice. This can freeze over and create black ice, hugely increasing the risk of you or someone else slipping.

Snow and ice accumulate anywhere but can especially be an issue for property owners when it sets on the tops of buildings, balconies, drives, pavements, doorways, and other outdoor areas or access/entry points.

While the sight of snow is enchanting, it also brings hazards such as potential slips, falls, and damage to property. Slippery surfaces are a leading cause of injuries during winter. Removing snow and ice reduces the risk of accidents for you, your family, and anyone visiting your property.

If you own a business, it could also potentially raise a legal matter if someone injures themselves due to you not removing snow or ice on accessways, paths and car parks.

Keeping your property safe and accessible during winter is essential—not only for your household but also for visitors and neighbours. It’s also not uncommon for example to have a freezer in the garage or building away from the main house. Keeping pathways clear ensures that you can move around safely and maintain access for deliveries, emergency services, and waste collection.

So, if you know snow is forecast, think about those areas that might require snow clearance and create a plan for addressing it.

Snow is both heavy and wet. Heavy snow can dislodge roof tiles and too much melting snow can lead to excess water, which means the potential for floods, leaks or water damage. You might want to remove it, but make sure to remove it to somewhere where it will cause less problems before it melts. This might be a grassy area for example, and out of the way of others.

You may also need to make sure things like your gutters and external drains are kept clear and not blocked by ice and snow during this time. If your gutters are blocked don’t attempt to get up a ladder and clear them yourself. Often these things settle down once the snow has gone but call for professional help if it’s urgent.

If it’s cold enough to create snow and ice, this also means that the water in your pipes (particularly outdoor pipes) is vulnerable to freezing, which can cause them to expand and leak or burst. Fix this by using insulation covers for pipes and/or making sure to run water regularly as running water is a lot harder to freeze. If a pipe does burst don’t panic. It’s a common issue in the cold and can be fixed.

Obviously, the freezing temperatures that accompany snow are not generally ideal for your living environment. So, you’ll want to make sure that you are cosy and warm inside during this kind of weather.

A home that’s too cold can also experience problems like damp and mould and may even affect your boiler.

Make sure your heating system and/or boiler are functioning at their best. Regular boiler inspections mean there are no surprises when the colder weather does come so don’t overlook that annual check-up.

Wrap up warm too as the cold can make you more susceptible to illness and other health issues.

In order to prepare for any potential coming snow, you’re going to need to stock up on a few supplies. It’s best to catch it early and pre-empt the snowfall if you know it’s coming, but either way here are some tips for dealing with it before and after it sets.

Rock salt is readily available to buy online or from hardware stores, so you can lay it down in important areas like pathways beforehand to stop snow from settling or after it settles to create grip and help it melt faster. 

You can also use table salt or dishwasher salt. Sand is effective at creating grip, but won’t melt the snow.

Also watch out for grassy areas and plants, which can become damaged by salt.

It’s handy to have various tools such as shovels to clear heavy snowfall, and scrapers for windows, cars and ledges. Plastic scrapers may be best as metal ones can potentially damage surfaces.

To keep you warm and safe whilst removing snow, it’s a good idea to wear gear such as waterproof gloves, boots with anti-slip grip and other warm clothing for comfort.

Here are a few handy tips to make removing snow easier…

Snow is easier to manoeuvre when it’s fresh as it will be softer. If temperatures continue to drop, which will likely happen in the evening, then the snow that has set will harden into compacted ice, which will make it much harder to remove.

• Reduce strain on your back by pushing snow to the side rather than lifting it up if possible.
• Clear small amounts of snow at a time, rather than trying to pick up too much.
• When moving snow, be mindful of drains that could potentially be blocked by it. Instead move snow from pavements to grass, where it will just melt and be absorbed by the soil.
• When creating a pathway, create a single clear path first then expand the area to ensure the path is wide enough for wheelchairs, prams, bicycles, etc. if needed.

• Salt helps both snow and ice. Salt lowers the freezing point of water, so not only does it melt the ice, but it prevents refreezing. Do be careful and avoid using too much salt as this can damage any nearby plants and soil.
• You can also use sand or non-clumping cat litter as an alternative to grit or salt. It will provide temporary traction on the snow.
• Warm water can help melt thick ice on paved areas, but immediately follow up with grit to prevent the water from refreezing. A common mistake is using boiling water, you should avoid using this as it can create a thin layer of refrozen ice and make the surface even more slippery. 

With a little thought and pre-planning you can reduce the chances of snow and ice damaging your property and keep yourself safe.

Use the right tools for the job and ask for professional help if your heating, drains or electrics experience problems. It’s important that you don’t put yourself at risk. 

So if you do experience problems that impact your comfort this winter, Able can help. With our expertise in 7 different trades, there’s very few winter-related issues we can’t cover. Just call us, 24/7, on 0330 108 4111.