We’re right in the middle of winter, meaning snow, ice, and
snowplows. Is your mailbox safe from all of these dangers? We’re here to give
you a few tips to keep those mailboxes safe.
1.
Clear the snow away from your mailbox. This is
not only helpful to the letter carriers delivering your mail, but for incoming
cars and snowplows. If your mailbox is located on the street, snow alongside
your mailbox will be kicked up into your mailbox. Keeping your street clear
will reduce the amount of snow hitting your mailbox.
2.
Place reflective tape on your mailbox. This will
make it easier for people, including those driving the snowplows, to see it.
This will significantly reduce the chances of your mailbox being hit by a plow
or vehicle.
3.
Check to see how securely your mailbox is
mounted. With the ground frozen it may be too late to make adjustments to the
post, but you can make sure the mailbox itself is mounted securely to the post.
This will also help prevent it from taking great damage.
4.
If you have a warm spell and are able to do so,
move your mailbox as far away from the road as possible. You must of course
adhere to USPS standards, but the more distance between your mailbox and the
street the better your chances of no mailbox fatalities.
5.
Keep the mailbox itself clear of snow. If the
top of your mailbox is covered in snow, it’s going to be difficult to see. This
goes hand in hand with tip number two. You want to do everything you can to
make sure your mailbox is visible.
None of these tips are, of course,
perfect. Accidents do still happen. While there are specially designed
mailboxes created to reduce the risk of snow plows, they can be very expensive
and even though don’t guarantee your mailbox won’t be damaged or destroyed. But
take heart, because the end of January approaches which means spring, and no
more snow, is on the way.
