Melting snow can be a welcomed occurance in the heart of a Chicago winter. But if bitter cold hits again BAM, ice! And, we all know ice can be more dangerous than snow for driving and walking. That’s why it’s important to manage ice before, during and after the storm. Some Chicago Snow Removal companies talk about deicing, some talk …
Chicago Snow Removal: Slip and Fall Lawsuit Liability
The Illinois Snow and Ice Removal Act provides limited protection from slip and fall liability for owners and managers of residential properties, but not commercial premises. This lack of protection creates an obligation on commercial property owners to spot and correct slip and fall hazards like snow and ice accumulations as quickly as possible. Failure to correct the problem can …
Multiple Ice Melt Options Allow for Optimal Professional Snow and Ice Management
Even though the general public will often refer to ʺputting some salt downʺ for getting rid of ice, professionals actually make use of several chemical options for snow and ice management. This allows management to be tailored to meet specific concerns like safety to pets, avoiding plant damage, and unwanted spread of compounds. It also allows Chicago snow and ice …
Winter Ice Facts vs Fiction – So You Think You Know How To Best Melt Ice?
Have you ever heard of some winter ice melting "facts" that sound a little crazy or you wonder if they are really true? Well, at Brancato, we know ice. We think about snow and ice managment 24/7365, so let us clear up some ice melting facts vs fiction to help you get through the next Illinois winter! There are a …
Politics of Snow Removal: The Debate Over Salt and the Environment
Did you know that even SNOW REMOVAL is involved in politics these days? Sometimes it is surprising the topics that get caught up in political debates… and this time it isn’t even because of something Donald Trump said! Weather has become increasingly linked to politics with concerns about climate change and our impact on it around the world. One area …
Best Practices for Safe Sidewalks and Ice Removal this Winter in Chicago
One of the most important things that Chicago businesses should keep in mind during the winter is ensuring that their customers and employees remain safe while walking down snow-covered sidewalks. However, with the great amount of snow that finds its way onto these sidewalks, developing practices for safe sidewalks and ice removal this winter is necessary. Here are a few …
Is it Better to Anti-ice or De-ice for Chicago Snow Storms?
Most people think of airplanes when they hear “de-icing.” That’s not the whole story, though. De-icing airplane wings is one thing, de-icing walkways and roads is something else. Then there is anti-icing. What is the difference between De-icing and Anti-icing in ice management? De-icing is the application of ice-control materials to walkways and roads to melt existing snow and ice. …
What’s the Difference Between Snow Plowing and Snow and Ice Management?
A snow plower is simply defined: one who plows snow. This could be the neighbor down the street with a blade attached to his pickup; it usually is the one snow plow in a town of 5,000 souls that clears the main emergency routes. The snow plow itself consists of a truck with a blade that will scrape and push …
Which Works Best – Salt or Sand For Ice Removal?
When managing ice removal on Chicago area sidewalks and roads, people have bantered for years about the effectiveness and environmental effects of sand vs. salt. But it’s actually a version of the proverbial apples to oranges. In actuality, only one results in ice removal, the other makes winter ice more navigable. How Salt Works for Ice Management Technically speaking, salt …
Insiders Guide To The Tools Behind Professional Snow and Ice Removal
Ever wonder about what tools professional snow and ice removal contractors use to get the job done fast? This is more than a team of strong backs armed with shovels and several hours to kill; professional snow removal relies on a mix of techniques, tools, and materials to not only move existing snow and ice, but to also help keep it …