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. 

Prepare Your Mailboxes for Winter

Winter is coming, which makes now the perfect time to repair mailboxes. It’s fairly common for individuals to repair mailboxes after winter, but if you take the time to fix them up now, winter won’t be nearly as tough on them.

A mailbox that is old or damaged needs maintenance before the winter months to avoid extra work in the cold. This is especially true if residents need to perform maintenance on mailbox posts. Mailboxes that are damaged by snow plows are often the result of snow, not the plow itself. Many places have rules regarding replacing a mailbox, and the majority of the time a damaged mailbox does not meet the criteria. For example, many areas require the mailbox to be physically struck by the plow itself, not the snow from the plow.

There are steps you can take to prepare your mailbox for winter. That first step comes with the mailbox post. In general you can choose between a wooden post, a plastic post, or a metal post. A sturdy post made from high-quality wood is recommended. Plastic can also be durable depending on the manufacturer. If you plan to go with a steel post, use caution. Your mailbox must give way in an accident or you will be liable. In addition, before installing a post be sure you meet the USPS standards, which you can find here. If you have a mailbox post that is rotting, damaged, or can be easily shifted, make sure to repair that now before the ground freezes. Once the ground freezes replacing a mailbox post will become very difficult or even impossible.

The post is the most important step for preparing your mailbox for winter, but there are other steps as well. For example, you should check on your mailbox hinge to see if it is rusty or otherwise damaged. If your hinge is damaged mailboxes may fall open exposing your mail to the elements. It’s also important that your address is clear on the mailbox, preferably using reflective numbers so it is easier to see.  

Take these steps to fix your mailbox before the problem is too severe in winter! 

Maintenance for Your Mailbox

June is here, and with it comes warmer temperatures. And with those warmer temperatures, more and more people are spending time outside. Those of you have yards are probably doing a lot of yard maintenance. Maybe you’re working on patios. Or making fire pits. There’s probably a fair amount of you gardening, whether it’s flowers, vegetables, or both. A huge amount of work goes into maintaining the outside of a home. Make sure you add your mailbox to that To-Do List.

Mailboxes are probably not something that most people think about in the warmer months. There’s plants to look after, and grass to care for, and patios to design. But your mailbox actually has a huge impact on the look of your house.

A mailbox with chipping paint or rust can make people observe your home negatively. Not only that, but a mailbox that is in need of repairs is a hassle to our mail carriers. Mailboxes have to deal with a lot. Rain, hail, snow, and ice are only a few of many things that can cause wear and tear for a mailbox. Like any item that lives outside, a mailbox needs to be looked after, especially if you live in an area that sees rough winters. Snow can be particularly hard on mailboxes.

Here are some tips for maintaining your mailbox:

1.       Repaint a mailbox that has slight rusting or peeling paint.

2.       Replace loose hinges on mailbox doors.

3.       Replace or add house numbers if they’ve fallen off or if they’ve become faded.

4.       Remount mailboxes to walls or posts if they’ve become loose.

5.       Clean your mailbox with disinfectant and water if mildew begins to occur.

6.       Trim grass that may be around a mailbox post for aesthetics and to keep bugs from settling around mailboxes.

These simple tips will keep your mailbox looking nice, and will make it easier for letter carriers to deliver your mail.