Frequently Asked Question
You should find the answers to all your questions here. However, make sure to contact us directly should you require more information!
Q: What areas do you serve?
A: Hull and Aylmer
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Q: Do you use plows or snowblowers?
A: We only use snowblowers. Our tractors are equipped with 92'' wide rear-mounted blowers in particular, which give our drivers more flexibility in terms of placement of the snow and more place to put it! In other words, the issue of not having enough space to put the snow or having to put it only in a pile on the corner of your driveway is avoided. In addition, blowers cut much straighter edges through the snow than do plows, allowing for a much neater and tidier finished product.
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Q: What is the minimum snowfall amount before you provide service?
A: Our minimum snowfall amount is 5 cm.
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Q: Do you have a seasonal snowfall limit? And, what is your policy once this limit is reached?
A: Yes, our contract will cover you for service up to 300 cm (10 Ft) of snow for the season. We reserve the right to invoke a surcharge for accumulations in excess of this limit. In such cases, a fee of $50 will be charged to the customer.
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Q What is your contract period?
A: The contract period is from November 15th to April 1st.
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Q: Will my driveway be cleared before 6:30 a.m.?
A: Although we would love to be able to guarantee a 6:30 a.m. arrival time it would be deceptive advertising to promise this, as we cannot guarantee when the snow will start! Obviously, the later the snow starts the later we start. In order to predict our arrival time at your location, please assume the following. We will wait at least 2 hours for enough snow to fall (at least 5 cm) before sending out our tractors. You can then add another 5 hours onto this time (if you are at the very end of a route) and this will be the latest you can realistically expect to see us for your first cleaning.
For instance, if it starts snowing before midnight you can see that all driveways above are cleared once before 6:30 a.m. If it only starts to snow after midnight, however, we will not send our tractors out until at least 2-3 a.m., meaning that 75% of our driveways will be cleared by 6:30 a.m. and the other 25% by 8:00 a.m. Of course, when the snow starts at only 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. we will not send the tractors out until 6 a.m. Usually by this time there is not enough snow to prevent anyone from getting out of their driveway. Please use the chart above to gauge the time when you can consistently expect to see us.
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Q: What if the city plows come by after you've already cleared my driveway?
A: We perform repeat cleanups after the city plows. Please be patient. We will naturally come by again within a 4-5 hour timeframe. Do not hesitate to leave us a message when the city plows your street.
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Q: I know that you are very busy during a snowstorm but will there be someone to answer my call?
A: Absolutely, during a snowstorm we have 3 or 4 telephone operators in the office to assist you. Also, we have an automated telephone system to provide much information as to our start and end times during a snowstorm. This system will greatly reduce call volumes, but the option to speak directly to our staff will always be there. We only ask that our customers understand that due to our high volume it may occasionally be necessary to leave a message (with your address, phone number, time and reason for your call) which will be dispatched as quickly as possible. Our website is also complete with all the information as to our start and end times during a snowstorm.
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Q: How can we contact you?
A: Phone is the preferred method as it guarantees faster results than email, but we can also be reached by email.
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Q: Do you offer any discounts?
A: Yes! There are a number of ways in which you can save a lot of $$ when you sign a snow contract with Techni-Snow. For instance:
Early Bird Discount: Sign up before October 15 and get a 5% discount. (Applicable on standard parking only)
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Q: What methods of payment do you accept?
A: Cheque, Credit Card (Visa or MC only), cash or Paypal (on our website).
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Q: Are you insured?
A: Yes, we are insured for $2,000,000.
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Q: How many tractors do you have?
A: This year, we will have 40.
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Q: Is there a problem if a car is parked on my driveway?
A: No, our drivers are trained to work around them. And, generally, by the time the driver makes his second round (5-6 hours later) parked cars have usually been moved allowing for full cleaning of the driveway. If you expect to have a car on the driveway when we arrive we recommend that you make sure to place it as close to the top and side of the driveway as possible to give the driver maximum accessibility, or to move it onto the street if possible. If not, the driver will at least clear away behind where the car is parked including any snow banks left by the city plow. *Please note, for the sake of efficiency, that we do not ask our drivers to get out of their tractors and knock on your door to get you to move your vehicle(s). It is the customer’s responsibility to move vehicles from the driveway in order to assure proper snow removal.
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Q: My driveway is gravel. Can you still use a snowblower on it?
A: Yes, however you should be aware that some of the gravel on your driveway may get blown onto your lawn. Although our drivers make every effort to be as careful as possible it is impossible to avoid some gravel displacement until the ground freezes and the stones harden into place.
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Q: Does your equipment make a lot of noise?
A: Believe it or not our equipment makes 1/10th of the noise of a traditional walk-behind snow blower! Plus, we are in and out of your driveway in less than 2 minutes minimizing the amount of disturbance caused to both you and your neighbors. In all likelihood, you probably won't even realize that we are there!
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Q: Your equipment looks big! Will it damage my driveway or grass?
A: No. The tractor and blower will not crack your asphalt or interlocking stone. Although it looks large the weight of the machine is evenly distributed over the extra large surface area of its tires, so that there is actually more weight per square inch being applied to your asphalt by your own car than by our tractors! And, our drivers are trained to lower their blowers in a controlled manner so that unnecessary jolts to the asphalt by the blower are minimized during the snow blowing process. Furthermore, driveway markers are installed on the edges of your driveway to identify the boundaries of the asphalt so that the drivers do not drive on your grass! Snow blowing with a tractor is currently one of the gentlest ways to clear snow from your driveway!
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Q: Will your equipment damage my interlocking stone?
A: Of all equipment available on the market today the snow blower is the most 'interlock friendly'. If your interlock is uneven, minor scratching or discoloration may occur. However, by equipping our blowers with Teflon blades we have further reduced the risk of this from occurring!
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Q: What about water valves on my driveway?
A: It is the responsibility of the home owner to contact the City of Gatineau at *311 if any water valve caps are protruding into the driveway. You will need to request that they send a service technician by to lower the pipe and cap to the level of the asphalt. If the cap is not flush with the level of the driveway it may very likely get picked off and blown onto the lawn! So, please make sure that the city takes care of this before the snow begins to fall. Otherwise, once snow arrives and covers the surface, this problem is not apparent and the city may charge you for repairs in the spring.
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Q: What is your repair policy?
A: Our drivers are required to report any damages caused to your property on their worksheets at the time of the incident. This information is then extracted from the worksheet at the end of the shift and logged for repair in the spring unless it is of a more urgent nature. Exclusions to this rule include any and all items left in the immediate work area of our equipment (i.e. on the driveway). Examples would be flower pots/planters, downspouts, recycling bins, garbage cans, basketball nets, children's toys, and extension cords. Although our office or driver will usually report any damage directly to you at the time of the incident we always encourage you to verify with the office the day after the snow storm as well if you have any concerns.
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Q: Do you spread salt on the driveway if it is icy?
A: No, salt has been known to cause grass damage. If it is applied to the surface of your driveway it will be dispersed onto your lawn during subsequent visits to your property with our snowblowers. In the event of freezing rain, therefore, it is the homeowner's responsibility to apply any necessary abrasives.
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Q: When are the driveway markers installed and removed?
A: All of our driveway markers go up by November 1st and are generally removed during the first week of April. Please do not throw the markers away. If you would like to remove them yourself prior to April we ask that you kindly lay them down beside your garage or house and we will collect them when we arrive.
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Q: Your driver is blowing snow on my neighbour’s property. What can be done about this?
A: Please notify our office the day after the snowstorm when you see this happen. We will bring it to the attention of the driver and make sure that is does not happen again. Please do not hesitate to let us know about this. Otherwise the longer the pattern is repeated, the harder it is to correct.
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Q: What training do your drivers receive?
A: The most thorough training in the business! In October of every year, each new recruit is trained on the navigation of his route, familiarized with the technical aspects of his equipment, provided with hours of practical driving exercises, and thoroughly briefed on safety issues surrounding both the public and himself. He is provided with both literature and hands-on training, so don't be surprised if you see a couple of Techni-Snow tractors out on the road before the snow begins to fall! No, the drivers aren't crazy; they're just practicing. We believe that preparedness reduces stress, the opportunity for damage, and the loss of time, which ultimately translates into the delivery of better service to our customers.
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Q: If I am at the end of a route does this mean I will get poor service?
A: No, the service is the same for every one of our customers; just the timing is different. And, we try to 'flipflop' our routes every 2nd to 3rd snowstorm so that if you were at the end of a route one time you might be at the beginning the next time!. Our routes are logistically organized to be able to deliver service as efficiently as possible based upon your geographic location. There are no preferences or favoritism. Everyone has equal priority.
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Q: If I move mid-way through the season can I get my money back on the contract?
A: No. If you move to a location within our service zone, we will transfer the service to your new address, or if not, try to get the new owners at your old address to assume payment for the balance of the contract. In the event that the new residents at the old address do not wish to take over the contract, however, we will not issue a refund. The contract between Techni-Snow and yourself is for an entire season unless stipulated otherwise.
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Q: What is the average amount of snow Ottawa receives each year?
A: Environment Canada reports an average of 191.28 cm for the past 5 years of snowfall. If you would like information on any other period please click here
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Q: Do you offer any summer programs?
A: Yes, we offer lawn care under the name of Le Groupe Vert Plus Inc. Our services include fertilization, aeration, weed control, landscaping and much more. Please visit our website at www.groupevertplus.ca or contact us at: 819-682-8868. Please check back in the spring for current promotions relating to these services.
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Q: Is Techni-Snow hiring?
A: Yes, we are always looking for reliable, conscientious, hard-working, and honest staff. Please contact us at 819-682-8868 for more information regarding available positions and remuneration offered.
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Q: Our Services
A: 24/7 on-call service from Nov. 15- Apr. 1st (including Christmas & New Year’s)
Repeat clean-ups after city plows pass by
Professionally trained operators servicing the same area year after year
Tractors equipped with GPS to provide more efficient service
Specialized equipment for superior results
Extra equipment in case of a breakdown
Interlock friendly
Ask about our early bird rates and our contest
Techni-Snow is a premium provider of snow blowing services for the residents of Hull and Aylmer. We look forward to being able to offer you the best snow blowing services possible for your driveways each season!
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Q: Snow blowing vs. Plowing
A: Unlike other companies that may remove snow from your driveway by pushing it with a pickup truck and plow, Techni-Snow blows it away with a tractor and snowblower, preventing unsightly piles of snow on the corners of your driveway and damage to your lawn