Winter Mailbox Protection

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.