Businesses across the Midwest know and trust Earth Development for many reasons – not just because of our expert teams of snow removal experts and our ability to work with businesses large and small, and not just because of our large fleet of commercial snow removal equipment. Earth Development is also trusted to provide constant support throughout the winter months and to offer advice right here on our website.
Our commercial snow removal services are perfect for all kinds of businesses with parking lots, walkways, and outdoor spaces. We ensure reliable and regular snow removal services with all the right snow removal equipment, and our teams know exactly what pieces of snow removal equipment should be used, and when.
In this piece, we’ll take a look at how to handle the Midwest winter weather, and the kinds of snow blowers and other snow removal equipment required to keep your business open.
Snow Blower
First and foremost, there’s the snow blower.
Snow blowers are one of the most recognizable and useful pieces of snow removal equipment. These machines are designed specifically for snow removal and are capable of moving large quantities of snow in one go. The snow blower literally blows snow as it moves, allowing the operator to create piles of snow at the side of the road or the side of a walkway.
When used in commercial property snow removal, a snow blower uses a rotating auger in the first stage of its work, scooping up the snow. The snow is then moved to an impeller that expels the snow. Depending on the model used, this may be as far away as 50 ft.
Loaders
Snow loaders are another kind of snow removal machine that comes in different variations and can be used with different snow removal attachments. These machines are designed to push, move, and load snow into specific areas.
After the snow has been piled, a snow loader can remove the snow to another location or load it onto trucks to remove it entirely.
Skid-Steer Loader
Skid-steer loaders are designed to plow through piles of snow, specifically in tight areas. This makes the skid-steer loader an ideal snow removal tool for parking lots, walkways, and other small outdoor spaces.
All-Wheel Steer Loader
An all-wheel steer loader is designed to be more versatile and is less suited for small spots. If the snow has piled up on difficult terrain, the all-wheel steer loader uses its bigger, thicker tires to effortlessly travel over the difficult terrain.
This is ideal for people who need to remove large quantities of snow from.
Backhoe Loader
A backhoe loader is even more versatile and is designed not only to plow snow but also to dig snow. This is the kind of professional snow removal equipment required in spaces that need a quick removal of large quantities of snow. The piles can be dug using one attachment on the vehicle after being plowed and moved by the same vehicle.
Wheel Loader
A wheel loader is another piece of powerful snow removal equipment that can move several feet of snow at once. The machines also have large windows, offering greater visibility, and headlights that make it possible to remove and load snow during low visibility or at night.
While highly effective, these machines are not ideal for small spaces.
Mini Track Loader
A mini-track loader is compact, making it perfect for use on sidewalks, driveways, and narrow paths. These loaders function in a similar way to backhoe loaders, meaning they can compact snow as well as lift and move it.
These loaders are so small that the driver does not sit in them. Instead, the operator stands behind the machine and walks with it as it moves the snow.
Utility Vehicle
Utility vehicles, like an all-wheel steer loader, are designed to move snow on rugged terrain – though these vehicles tend to be much bigger. They are also ideal for plowing snow on roads and highways, owing to their size.
These four-wheel drive vehicles can be equipped with a host of different snow removal attachments, making them one of the most versatile pieces of snow removal equipment.
Snow Auger
A snow auger is a piece of snow removal equipment designed with a very specific purpose.
The snow auger can clear snow from underneath semi-trailers, where snow and ice very quickly build up and make it difficult to move the vehicle.
Snow augers can remove snow even if there are deep drifts, and they can easily be connected to semi-trailers.
Salt Spreader
As well as providing snow removal services, Earth Development also specializes in ice control services. We use salt spreaders to help property owners prevent the buildup of dangerous ice on their parking lots, walkways, and other outdoor spaces.
A salt spreader does exactly what it says on the tin – it spreads salt. Different kinds of salt and deicing agents may also be used in these machines, making it easy to spread large quantities of deicing agents on large pieces of property. A salt spreader makes snow removal easier by preventing the buildup of ice beneath the snow.
Snow Removal Attachments
Many of the pieces of snow removal equipment above are designed to be used with snow removal attachments. These attachments make the best snow removal equipment even more versatile and effective.
Let’s take a look at the kinds of attachments that can be used with the best commercial snow removal equipment.
Snow Buckets
Some of our best snow removal equipment use snow buckets. These are great for commercial property maintenance as they make it easy to quickly scoop and move large volumes of snow. There are no electric or hydraulic parts, either, meaning they’re easy to maintain.
Snow Pushers
Snow pushers are often used for driveway snow removal. This piece of snow removal equipment is designed to push snow in a straight line. The attachments can come in different widths to accommodate your space, and they can even be used in very wide areas.
It’s important to note, however, that the wider the snow pusher the harder it is to maneuver.
Snowplow Blade
Finally, there’s the snowplow blade. This piece of snow removal equipment works on hydraulics and is capable of removing snow very quickly and piling it into one place. It can work on uneven terrain, and the v-shaped blade allows it to pick up and move more snow than other pieces of machinery.
Trust Your Local Commercial Snow Removal Experts to Get the Job Done
If snow removal, the use of snow blowers, and learning how to use a machine to remove snow sounds intimidating…it doesn’t have to be! At Earth Development we have all the equipment required to keep your business open and safe to access this winter.
To find out more about our snow removal services or to get a free quote and consultation for your property, why not give the Earth Development team a call today?