As the weather turns from the balmy, lazy days of summer, the seasonal change offers a reminder of the harsher weather realities of fall and winter. Many people happily plan snow-related fun or an excursion to a southern locale in anticipation. Others, however, know that when the days become shorter than nights (at the Autumnal Equinox), it is time to prepare for a heaping helping of ice- and snow-covered walkways and roadways – crafting perilous walking and downright dangerous driving conditions.
Although there are many ways to appropriately plan, most agree that the best way to prepare for the dangers created by ice, sleet, and snow is to make sure your steel snow plow blades and equipment are storm or snow-ready – today, before the inclement weather hits.
And while it seems easy enough to walk into a store or visit an online website to select from the available blades, new, quality snow plow blades can be pricey. But note to bargain-hunters – the least expensive snow plow blades may turn out to be the costliest in the long run if the blade needs to be replaced or repaired (and out of service) frequently. Both potential outcomes are expensive and untenable in terms of safety or business operations.
The blade choice, operator training & applied preventative maintenance will likely extend the blade’s useful life, which will ultimately, in turn –
- Ensure optimal performance making roadways and walkways safer for family, customers, visitors, and friends.
- Offer investors an opportunity to optimize the snow plow blade’s Return On Investment (ROI) – a business metric that calculates the true measure of an investment’s potential profitability.
Note that steel snow plow blades should match the equipment manufacturer’s recommendations; however, some snow plow blades are better engineered – constructed to handle the unforgiving conditions of the job better. Selecting the right blade and adequately maintaining it can lead to years of use and minimal downtime for repair.
Knowledgeable Investors & Business Operators Understand The Difference Between Value & Price
Routine and other maintenance recommendations, tips, & suggestions make logical sense. Therefore, anyone can meet the manufacturer’s guidelines to maximize efficiency and longevity.
Regular Maintenance
- Daily, comprehensive visual inspections of the equipment are the best way to avoid the impacts of the harsh conditions in snow removal. Include the hydraulic system and its components in this inspection before minor repairs evolved to expensive lessons or tragic consequences.
- Regularly grease the blade’s moving parts. The extra cost of moisture-repellent oil helps to keep melted snow (water) from infiltrating un-greased parts and seizing them. The owner’s manual provides a recommended sequence and schedule – it is provided to operators for a reason!
- Routinely check that the fasteners/parts or bolts along the blade’s edge are tightly in place.
Annual Maintenance
Steel snow plow blade manuals offer specific guidance to help optimize its useful life. Annual maintenance can be performed at the beginning or the end of the snow plow season – it just must happen each year. Consider the following –
- Clean the blade before and after storing it when the season ends. Cleaning makes it easier for you to see which parts need to be tightened, adjusted, or replaced – before Murphy’s Law happens in the middle of the most significant snowstorm of the year.
- Consider skid shoe replacements yearly.
- Use recommended OEM parts (Original Equipment Manufacturer). This usually means having the professional forethought to keep OEM backups available, so you won’t need to use a less-than-recommended option in a pinch.
- Cover worn- or scratched paint to prevent rust and increase blade life/resale value.
Optimizing a snow plow blade’s useful life also requires the correct operation of the equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
The Take-Away
There’s more to consider than its price tag when it comes to maximizing a snow plow blade’s value. It begins with a diligent effort in researching before buying. It continues with carefully operating the machinery supported by consistent, comprehensive maintenance efforts.
