Pittsburgh Snow Pros

NOAA Pittsburgh International Airport averages 44.1 inches of snow a season (1991–2020 normals)NOAA January is the snowiest month at 13.3 inches; February averages 11.7NOAA About 14.5 days a year bring 1 inch of snow or moreNOAA Normal January low: 21.4°FNOAA About 97 freeze-thaw cycles a year at Pittsburgh International AirportNOAA Median first measurable snow at the airport: November 15 (29 seasons of daily records)NWS Pittsburgh Earliest 1-inch snow on record: October 18, 1972 (1.8 inches)City of Pittsburgh Sidewalks cleared within 24 hours after snow, sleet or freezing rain (Code §419.03)City of Pittsburgh General penalty: up to $300 plus costs per offense; each day is a separate offense (§101.09)City of Pittsburgh Snow emergency: no parking on marked routes starting 1 hour after the declarationCity of Pittsburgh Don’t shovel snow into the roadway; in heavy snows, give up a parking space for the pileMt. Lebanon Businesses clear sidewalks within 4 hours, Mon.–Sat., 7 a.m.–10 p.m.; fine $5–$300 a dayMonroeville Sidewalks, driveways and parking lots cleared within 24 hours; $500 per occurrence for snow on a public roadCranberry Township Sidewalks cleared within 48 hours after snowfall or ice endsProMatcher Pittsburgh driveway and sidewalk plow visit: about $37.06 on average ($32.94–$41.18)SIMA Snow and ice customers are retained 93% of the time year over yearNOAA Pittsburgh International Airport averages 44.1 inches of snow a season (1991–2020 normals)NOAA January is the snowiest month at 13.3 inches; February averages 11.7NOAA About 14.5 days a year bring 1 inch of snow or moreNOAA Normal January low: 21.4°FNOAA About 97 freeze-thaw cycles a year at Pittsburgh International AirportNOAA Median first measurable snow at the airport: November 15 (29 seasons of daily records)NWS Pittsburgh Earliest 1-inch snow on record: October 18, 1972 (1.8 inches)City of Pittsburgh Sidewalks cleared within 24 hours after snow, sleet or freezing rain (Code §419.03)City of Pittsburgh General penalty: up to $300 plus costs per offense; each day is a separate offense (§101.09)City of Pittsburgh Snow emergency: no parking on marked routes starting 1 hour after the declarationCity of Pittsburgh Don’t shovel snow into the roadway; in heavy snows, give up a parking space for the pileMt. Lebanon Businesses clear sidewalks within 4 hours, Mon.–Sat., 7 a.m.–10 p.m.; fine $5–$300 a dayMonroeville Sidewalks, driveways and parking lots cleared within 24 hours; $500 per occurrence for snow on a public roadCranberry Township Sidewalks cleared within 48 hours after snowfall or ice endsProMatcher Pittsburgh driveway and sidewalk plow visit: about $37.06 on average ($32.94–$41.18)SIMA Snow and ice customers are retained 93% of the time year over year

Facts from public sources, not quotes. Where these numbers come from

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Ice Fighter: Snow & Ice Gear

Two sections: For Homeowners and For Contractors & Landscapers. Each button opens Amazon in a new tab, so you can keep this page open. Rather have a crew do it? Get a free quote.

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Run gas snow blowers and generators outdoors only, never in a closed garage. Keep roof rakes away from power lines.

Built for Pittsburgh hills and freeze-thaw

Ice Fighter

Gear to fight snow and ice in Pittsburgh, Mt. Lebanon, Ross Township and Monroeville, in two parts: tools for homeowners, and the machines contractors and landscapers run on malls, hospitals and office-park lots. Every pick opens on Amazon in a new tab.

Stock ice melt before mid-November. The median first measurable snow at the airport is November 15 (our count of NOAA daily records).
Salt steps and steep driveway aprons before the evening refreeze. NOAA counts about 97 freeze-thaw cycles a year here.
Use a pusher shovel on steps, never a snow blower.
Move the car off marked snow-emergency routes within 1 hour of the declaration (City Code Chapter 531).
Run gas generators and snow blowers outdoors, never in a closed garage.

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For Homeowners

Clear the driveway, the walk and the roof edge yourself between crew visits, and keep the lights on when a blizzard takes the power down. Pittsburgh gives you 24 hours after snow, sleet or freezing rain to clear the sidewalk.

Storm backup power

Blizzards and ice can take the power down. A portable inverter generator keeps a fridge, sump pump, furnace blower or phones going, run outdoors and away from snow drifts.

An orange and black open-frame inverter generator in a black tube frame, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Storm backup power

AIVOLT 4,200W open-frame inverter generator

4,200 peak and 3,300 running watts with inverter power for electronics. The listing says up to 16 hours at 25% load on its 2.6-gallon tank, with an RV outlet, two household outlets and two USB ports.

Gas generators run outdoors only, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and garages. Keep snow away from the exhaust.

Snow blowers

Two-stage machines for long driveways and sidewalks. Heavy, wet snow is where two-stage pays off.

An orange two-stage snow blower throwing snow from its chute in a snowy front yard, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

2-stage snow blower

Husqvarna ST224 24" two-stage snow blower

A 212cc engine with electronic fuel injection, push-button electric start, power steering and an LED headlight, clearing a 24-inch path.

Check the clearing height and tire type against the driveways you clear.

A black battery-powered two-stage snow blower with green trim on a snowy path between snow-covered shrubs and a fence, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Battery 2-stage blower

EGO Power+ 24" self-propelled 2-stage XP (SNT2410)

Cordless and self-propelled, with heated grips and a 24-inch clearing width. EGO says it throws snow up to 50 feet and clears up to a 24-car driveway of 8 inches on two 10.0Ah batteries.

Batteries and charger are sold separately.

A black two-stage snow blower with its headlights on in a snowy driveway at dusk, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

2-stage snow blower

PowerSmart 24" two-stage gas snow blower

A 212cc engine, 120V electric start with recoil backup, 6 forward and 2 reverse speeds, hand warmers, LED lights and 13-inch snow tires.

The listing gives the weight as 187 lb. Plan where it will be stored.

Ice melt & heated mats

Pet-safe pellets for the front step, a bag for the driveway and a heated mat that keeps one path clear.

Green ice melt pellets and paw prints on a snowy front step, with two plain white tubs by the door, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pet-safe ice melt

Safe Paw pet-safe ice melt, 2-pack

Salt- and chloride-free green pellets. The listing says it melts ice down to -2°F, lasts up to 3 days and is made to be gentle on paws, concrete and plants.

Follow the label for how much to use.

A clear bag of green ice melt crystals spilling onto snowy ground, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Ice melt

Snow Joe Enviro Blend ice melt, 50 lb

A 50 lb bag with CMA (calcium magnesium acetate), which the listing says is less corrosive on concrete, metal and plants. Green coating shows where you spread it.

Concrete under one year old can still be damaged by deicers. Check the label.

A black rubber mat on a wet, clear concrete walkway with snow on both sides and a cord running off the side, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Heated mat

HeatTrak heated snow melting mat, 30" × 60"

An electric mat that stays out all season. HeatTrak says it melts snow at 2 inches an hour and works down to -8°F.

The power unit is sold separately.

Shovels, pushers & roof rakes

Back-saving hand tools, and roof rakes that pull snow off the roof edge from the ground before ice dams form.

A red snow shovel with a second curved handle leaning on a snowy deck railing, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Ergonomic shovel

Snow Joe 18" shovel with spring-assist handle

A D-ring grip plus a second spring-assisted handle that acts as a fulcrum, so you bend less and lift with more leverage.

Push snow when you can and lift small loads. Take breaks in the cold.

A black snow pusher lying on a freshly cleared strip of driveway between snowbanks, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Snow pusher

The Snowplow Original Snow Pusher, 30"

A 30-inch pusher with a UHMW polyethylene blade that snow slides off, and a reinforced metal handle. Made in the USA.

Best for pushing, not lifting.

A person on the ground pulling a sheet of snow off a house roof with a long roof rake and fabric slide, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Roof rake

SNOWPEELER 30 ft roof rake

A telescoping 30 ft handle and an aluminum blade with a 10 ft slide that peels snow off the roof while you stay on the ground.

Stay clear of power lines and never use it from a ladder.

A blue-gray roof rake head with two wheels on a snowy roof edge above a row of icicles, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Roof rake

Avalanche! SnowRake Deluxe 20

A 24-inch plastic rake head with wheels that protect the shingles, on five snap-together aluminum sections reaching 20 ft. Made to keep snow off roof edges where ice dams form.

Stay clear of power lines.

For Contractors & Landscapers

The machines behind seasonal routes, HOA streets and big commercial lots. Most of it works year-round on landscape jobs too. Mall, hospital and office-park lots from Ross to Monroeville run on this kind of iron.

Skid steer pushers, blowers & plows

Pusher boxes and a blower for skid steers and loaders, the typical machines on big retail and warehouse lots, plus plows for pickups and ATVs.

A black snow pusher box on a wheeled skid steer pushing snow across a big parking lot at dawn, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Skid steer pusher box

McLaren Industries 102" skid steer snow pusher box

A 102-inch containment pusher for skid steers and compact track loaders on a quick-attach mount, with a pullback bar for edges, reversible rubber cutting edges, 5/8-inch replaceable skids and 1/4-inch sidewalls.

About 692 lb. Ships by freight; check your machine's quick-attach and lift capacity.

An orange snow pusher with tall side panels on a black tracked loader in front of a metal warehouse, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Skid steer pusher

Wolfequip 84" skid steer snow pusher

An 84-inch pusher with 36-inch side panels on a universal quick attach. One side of the blade is rubber and the other steel, and the listing says it also handles other loose material off-season.

Freight delivery. Confirm the quick-attach fits your machine.

An orange snow blower attachment on a tracked loader throwing snow beside a long cleared sidewalk, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Skid steer snow blower

Titan Attachments 6 ft skid steer snow blower

A 70-inch hydraulic snow blower for universal skid steer quick-attach loaders, with a direct-drive fan and auger, enclosed chain drive, a 360-degree hand-crank chute and adjustable skid shoes. Hoses and couplers included.

About 1,135 lb. Check your loader's hydraulic flow and quick-attach.

A black straight plow blade mounted on the front of a dark pickup on a snowy road, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Truck plow

DK2 84" × 22" hitch-mounted truck snow plow kit

An 84-inch steel plow for light trucks and SUVs with a 2-inch Class III front receiver. A 3,000 lb wireless winch lifts the blade, it angles to three positions, and it comes with a deflector, skid shoes and blade markers.

Needs a front receiver hitch, sold separately. Non-returnable freight item.

A rider on an ATV with a front plow blade clearing a snowy gravel lane through the woods, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

ATV plow

Neutron Kings Peak 50" universal ATV snow plow

A 50-inch steel blade with a universal mount for most ATVs and five angle positions.

The winch is not included.

Truck, tailgate & walk-behind spreaders

Tailgate spreaders for 3/4- and 1-ton trucks, a hitch spreader for SUVs, a receiver spreader for ATVs and UTVs, and a walk-behind for storefront sidewalks.

A black tailgate hopper on the back of a truck spreading salt across a parking lot at night, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pro tailgate spreader

SaltDogg TGS07 tailgate salt spreader (11 cu ft)

Hitch-mounted for 3/4- and 1-ton trucks. An 11 cubic foot poly hopper takes bulk salt or a 50/50 salt-sand mix, with in-cab variable speed and a spinner that broadcasts up to 30 feet.

Commercial gear for 3/4- and 1-ton trucks.

A black hopper full of salt on the back of a truck, with a spinner throwing salt onto a snowy road, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pro tailgate spreader

SaltDogg TGS06 tailgate salt spreader (10 cu ft)

For 3/4- and 1-ton trucks. A 10 cubic foot poly hopper for bagged #1 rock salt, a 12V electric drive and in-cab variable speed control, broadcasting up to 30 feet.

Commercial gear. Check your truck and hitch rating.

A dark SUV with a small black salt spreader on its rear hitch spreading salt on a snowy street by apartment buildings, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Hitch spreader

SaltDogg TGSUV1B hitch salt spreader (4.4 cu ft)

Fits SUVs and 1/2- to 1-ton trucks on a 1-1/4 or 2-inch hitch. A 4.4 cubic foot hopper, gravity feed with a manual gate, and a spinner that broadcasts up to 14 feet.

Made for free-flowing rock salt.

A black cone-shaped spreader on the back of a utility vehicle spreading salt on a sidewalk, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

ATV/UTV spreader

Buyers Products UTVS16 ATV/UTV broadcast spreader

A 15-gallon (150 lb) poly hopper on a 2-inch receiver, 12V motor, adjustable gate and spread up to 30 feet. Spreads salt in winter and seed or fertilizer the rest of the year.

Check that your machine has a 2-inch receiver.

A blue walk-behind spreader with large tires on a salted storefront sidewalk, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Walk-behind spreader

Chapin 88800B SaltPro 100 lb salt spreader

A 100 lb walk-behind broadcast spreader for rock salt and ice melt, with a spiked auger against clumps, adjustable baffles, stainless steel frame and wide pneumatic tires.

Chapin lists a 2-year limited warranty.

Bulk salt & ice melt

Buy by the pallet for commercial lots and HOA routes.

A wooden pallet stacked with plain white bags beside a loading dock door, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Bulk ice melt

Arctic Runner calcium chloride ice melt, pallet of 49 × 50 lb bags

A full pallet of commercial ice melt. The listing describes a blend of sodium, calcium and magnesium chloride with a corrosion inhibitor that works down to -15°F.

Freight item. Check delivery terms on the listing before ordering.

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