How to Snowplow a Parking Lot

Having a snowplow is a great solution to the problem of a field of white that used to be a parking lot, but operating it can take a bit of tricky maneuvering. After all, you’ll be driving on snowy, icy ground, and it’s difficult to be precise when you’re at risk of sliding around. Clearing out a parking lot of snow is a job you want to get done quickly and easily, and it takes a few tricks to accomplish without sputtering around in the cold.

Your friends at Scott’s Power Equipment want your snowplowing work to go as smoothly as possible, which is why we’ve put together this short guide with some tips and tricks to effectively clear a parking lot of snow. Read on for more information or head into one of our locations in Bridgeton, Arnold, Wentzville, and East St. Louis, Missouri.

Master Your Domain

A proper parking lot snow plowing starts with evaluating the terrain. It’s a lot like being a general strategizing over a battlefield, and no commander wants to show up to fight without proper reconnaissance. You need to know how the ground is going to affect your mission. When you pick up a new client, go ahead and familiarize yourself with the job site. Figure out if there are any speed bumps, strange curbs, landscaping, fire hydrants, or any other issues that could get in the way of an efficient plow. 

If you’re just dealing with your own parking lot, you probably know that blacktop like it’s your own backyard. However, you’ll still benefit from evaluating your lot with this same detailed inspection. 

Designated Snow Piles

Plowing snow doesn’t make it disappear; it still has to end up somewhere, and it’s your job to figure out where the best place would be. You’ve likely seen those blackened mountains of snow, ice, and gravel in the corners of parking lots. No, they’re not natural formations. Those are snow piles! Many customers will have a prefered location for you to pile the snow so it won’t be too much of a bother during its melt, but you should be able to evaluate on your own what works and what doesn’t.

Getting the best spot for a snow pile comes down to a few basic points: don’t pile snow over drains as to block them, don’t pile snow where it may obstruct or block traffic or vehicle visibility, don’t pile or block handicapped parking spaces, and do not pile snow in the middle of a lot. That’s a lot of places not to pile snow, but the options those restrictions leave you with should be acceptable.

Don’t Wait for Storms to End — Get Out There Now!

Your logical mind is sure to believe that it’s best to wait for all the snow to fall before starting a plowing job, but you’ll be happy that you got started earlier as the process gets increasingly more difficult when snow piles up higher and higher. However, if you’re using a truly powerful vehicle to drive the snowplow, then you can deal with more snow at a higher pack. 

For general plowing, start by moving up to the building with the plow in the raised position. Get as close as you can without endangering your equipment or the building, drop the blade into position, and hit reverse to drag snow back with you. Give yourself enough room to come around from the other side later. This will give you some extra room to work with and best utilize some of your vehicle’s power. 

Use a back and forth pattern to continue clearing the parking lot and pushing snow into your designated pile. The wider your plow, the fewer passes you need to make. After you’ve completed all the broad passes you can, move onto the curbs and around any landscaping and other edges. Still a few spots you can’t clear? Then it’s time to pull out the shovel and salt!

Plow Away from Businesses and Buildings

Always plow snow away from any buildings and businesses. You might be surprised how much potential energy can rack up in a pile of snow being plowed forward, and that’s not considering the possibility of running your vehicle right through a storefront. You’re still operating on icy and snowy ground after all, so cut down on your own potential to make this kind of mistake. Start by back-dragging, and when you’ve cleared enough space, push the mounds further away from the structure. If snow is right up against a building, you might want to pull out a shovel and salt for some detail work. 

With a few of these tips, you should have an easier time plowing a parking lot filled with snow. Your business will be good to go, or your client will be happy that their business is all set! If you’re after more snowplow tips, or you’re just interested in buying a new or used snowplow, head into Scott’s Power Equipment at one of our locations in Bridgeton, Arnold, Wentzville, and East St. Louis, Missouri. Let our team of courteous professionals help you find what you’re looking for today!