Snow-Proofing Tips for Residential Mailboxes at Home

Winter brings more than just a chill in the air; it introduces real challenges for your residential mailbox, from snow build-ups to ice damage. But don’t let the cold weather freeze your mail delivery or damage your curb appeal. In this blog, we’ll share essential tips to safeguard your mailbox against winter’s harsh conditions, ensuring it remains a dependable hub for your letters and packages. Discover how to keep your mailbox accessible and in top shape, regardless of the snow and ice. Join us as we navigate the frosty journey to a winter-ready mailbox.

Embrace the Winter, Protect Your Mailbox

Tens of thousands of curbside and post-mount residential mailboxes have snowed in this year. The United States Postal Service (USPS) enforces strict guidelines for snow removal around residential mailboxes. USPS postal carriers brave the elements, but vast accumulations of snow around post-mount mailboxes prevent many homeowners from receiving home mail delivery.

Unwittingly, many snow plow services, in an effort to clear the roadways, are simply removing the snow from the streets and piling that snow around residential mailboxes – sometimes even completely burying the residential mailbox in a wake of snow.

According the U.S. Postal Service, postal carriers will not deliver mail if access to the curbside residential mailboxes has been impeded by the snow accumulations.

Real-Life Snow Removal Challenges: A Fort Wayne Case Study

Jerry Maidment, the owner of the snow removal service that Mr. Hillyard contacted, stated that removing snow from the areas around column mount or post mount residential mailboxes is very difficult. “Even with a big truck or a bobcat, these mounds of rock-hard snow are stubborn,” Mr. Maidment explained. He added that his firm often damages equipment while extricating curbside residential mailboxes from the snow mounds.

USPS Clearance Requirements and Guidelines

Other neighborhoods facing similar snow issues with their residential mailboxes should first contact their local postmaster. Mr. Hillyard and Mr. Maidment recommend this to understand the clearance requirements for regular home mail delivery.

In their case, the snow removal team had to clear the area around the residential mailboxes twice. The postal carriers informed them that the initial snow removal did not provide enough clearance for the postal truck to access the mailboxes.

According to the diagram given to them by the U.S. Postal Service carrier, there needs to be at least 15 feet of clearance on each side of the curbside residential mailboxes in order for mail delivery to resume.

The U.S. Postal Service provides additional instructions for clearing snow away from curbside column and post-mount residential mailboxes. Postal carriers have the final discretion to decide if the mail can be delivered safely.

Of course, if homeowners fail to remove snow properly around their residential mailboxes, they can pick up their mail directly from the Post Office.

Solutions for Damaged or Inaccessible Mailboxes

Clearing the snow mounds around residential mailboxes is not just a chore to assist in mail delivery but it is also quite beneficial to homeowners who attempt to collect their mail during difficult winter conditions. And when snow removal efforts or automobile accidents cause damage to residential mailboxes as often occurs in winter conditions, The MailboxWorks, the nation’s leading retailer of residential mailboxes has a wide array of choices for replacement column mailboxes and post mount residential mailboxes. You can even find a snow plow proof mailbox.

During difficult winter conditions, you don’t need to permanently mount a curbside residential mailbox into the frozen ground. Instead, you can use a temporary solution until the weather allows for permanent installation.

You can set up a temporary post mount mailbox by inserting the post into a flowerpot or packing it with dirt or concrete. This setup works until spring arrives, and the snowmelt allows for permanent installation. If the mailbox or the post is damaged, The MailboxWorks offers a variety of replacements for both curbside posts and post-mounted residential mailboxes.

Secure Your Mailbox Against the Snow

In wrapping up our journey through the challenges snow poses to residential mailboxes, we understand that taking proactive steps toward protection and durability is crucial. Choosing the right materials and location can significantly enhance the resilience of your mailbox against harsh winter conditions.

Your mailbox is not just a utility for receiving mail; it symbolizes your home’s character and your dedication to ensuring uninterrupted communication, snowfall notwithstanding. For those considering an upgrade or in need of a snow-proof mailbox, The MailboxWorks offers a diverse selection designed to meet your specific needs and aesthetic desires.

Don’t allow winter’s fury to compromise your mailbox’s functionality or curb appeal. Act now by visiting our homepage or browsing through our catalog to find your ideal mailbox solution. Should you require customized advice or have any questions, we’re here to help at 1-866-717-4943 or through our contact page. Ensure your mailbox remains accessible and stylish, in all seasons.

Categorized in: Mailbox Tips & General Information, Residential Mailboxes