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. 

Frozen Mailbox Locks

It may be a mild winter across much of the USA, but that’s not the case for everywhere in Canada. In fact, many of the outdoor community mailboxes have frozen in the cold weather! While we are used to car locks and car doors freezing, it’s not so common to have our mailboxes frozen shut.

Some Canadian citizens have resorted to de-icing fluid to get into their mailboxes, with mixed results. Canada Post has advised residents to contact them directly, rather than attempting to get into their mailboxes themselves out of fear of the mailboxes being damaged.

This has been a problem for many citizens who are waiting for checks, medications, and important documents in the mail. In addition, letter carriers are also unable to access mailboxes, so even if residents do get into their mailboxes they will likely be missing some of their mail.

Frozen locks aren’t the only problem Canadian residents have had to face this winter. Some community mailboxes have been challenging for citizens to get to at all. This is due to a buildup of snow and ice blocking some of the mailboxes.

The decision to end door-to-door delivery and replace it with outdoor community mailboxes was already fairly unpopular across the country, but this has only made matters worse. Citizens are left asking why mailboxes weren’t outfitted with better locks, or built under an enclosure. Others are asking who is responsible for clearing the snow and ice. Some even complain that making their way to the mailboxes is dangerous because of snowy and icy conditions.

There have been few reports of similar conditions happening here in the USA, though of course outdoor community mailboxes are less prevalent here compared to Canada.

Hopefully temperatures will soon be on the rise and residents will begin getting back into their mailboxes.

Snow and Your Mailbox

January is underway, and for much of the country that means snow is likely in the future. Parts of the country have already had snowstorms this year. You may be distracted by the idea of clearing your car of snow, getting to work in traffic, and keeping your driveway clear, but don’t forget about your local letter carrier!

Letter carriers brave the elements all year to make sure you have your letters and packages. In spring this often means rain, in summer it often means hot temperatures, and in fall it means cooling ones. Arguably the toughest time of the year for letter carriers is winter. During winter they brave snow, harsh winds, and freezing temperatures. Do your part to make this a little easier on them by clearing snow and ice around your home.

There are some very simple steps you can take to do this:

·         Shovel your sidewalks, not just a path from your door to the street. Letter carrier’s travel along the sidewalk, so even if a path is clear to your door it’s only polite to clear the entire sidewalk.

·         Shovel your stairs. This is important not only for letter carriers, but for anyone who may come to your door during winter.

·         Shovel the area around your mailbox. Don’t make your letter carrier stretch to reach the mailbox or step in snow to deliver your mail. Be sure there is a decently sized area around your mailbox shoveled out.

·         If your sidewalks are icy use salt. Letter carriers can easily fall and get hurt due to ice, especially if it is covered by a layer of snow. Not only that, but you and your neighbors could be harmed as well.

·         Individuals who have mailboxes at their door should keep railings on stairs clear of snow and ice.

·         Be sure your mailbox is secure on its post to reduce the risk of damage from a snowplow.

·         If snow is plowed into your mailbox clear it away promptly.

If streets or walkways are too dangerous mail delivery might be delayed or curtailed. This may happen on occasion due to inclement weather, but may also happen if people do not do their part to keep streets and mailboxes clear.  

Blue collection boxes must meet those same standards, and the USPS asks that those are kept clear of snow and ice as well.

If you have further questions about mail delivery and snow conditions, the USPS site has a Q&A HERE.