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Alright, it is officially cold outside. The air has gotten chillier, our sweaters are warmer, and — if you’re lucky — there might even be some fresh snow on the ground.
The winter season comes with a whole new set of responsibilities, and this includes your dumpster rental. While there might be a few additional challenges when you decide to rent a dumpster during wintertime, we guarantee it’s nothing you can’t handle.
If you’re considering a winter dumpster rental, stay tuned for 5 tips for using a dumpster during the winter months that you should keep in mind. Renting a dumpster in the winter for your project can be complicated, especially as the snow falls.
How Does Winter Weather Affect a Dumpster?
It is no surprise that winter weather tends to wreak havoc on, well, everything. Unfortunately, your dumpster rental is not going to be immune to that.
When the weather drops below a certain temperature, the garbage stuck inside your dumpster rental can freeze, which essentially creates a large, garbage-icicle. Combined with extremely cold metal, this makes it harder to clean out the dumpster. Also, it takes up space where you could be tossing additional waste. Frozen hinges are also a big concern.
Furthermore, if you’re renting a dumpster during a snowstorm, snow storage might accumulate on/inside your dumpster rental. Usually, any accumulated snow will melt as the weather thaws. However, you’re going to be stuck with additional water weight. Water-logged items are heavier, and they might bump your dumpster rental over its allotted weight limit, causing you to pay additional fees.
Freezing Road Conditions
Another risk of a rented dumpster in the wintertime is all the challenges with navigating dangerous driving conditions. Snow, ice, and other winter-related weather conditions negatively affect driving conditions, posing a greater risk of accidents.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, 70% of U.S. roads are located in snowy regions, putting them at risk for winter-weather-related accidents and dangers. Accident Treatment Centers tell us that 24% of weather-related accidents occur in winter conditions, part of which is because cars can take up to 10 times longer to stop on snowy roads.
Unfortunately, these sorts of winter road conditions have the potential to disrupt your dumpster rental delivery and pick-up.
5 Winter Dumpster Tips
According to Reico Kitchen & Bath, summer is the most popular time for home remodels and improvements. What this means is that dumpster availability in the summertime is limited.
That being said, a winter dumpster rental is a terrific option because there is greater availability. If you decide to rent during the winter months, you won’t have to wait long to get your hands on your dumpster rental.
However, we’d be lying if we said that renting a dumpster in the wintertime doesn’t come with some additional responsibility. Follow these 5 winter dumpster rental tips, and you shouldn’t have anything to worry about:
1. Keep Your Work Area Plowed
If you’re renting a dumpster during a snowfall, you’re going to want to make sure the area surrounding your dumpster is shoveled and free from any snow piles. Although our team members are experts at dumpster transportation, it makes for an easier delivery and pick-up when the dumpster is easily accessible and free from snow.
2. De-Ice! De-Ice!
It is inevitable that you will be making multiple trips to and from your dumpster during the rental period, especially for indoor projects. Therefore, you’re going to want to make sure the area surrounding your dumpster is safe and slip-free.
Once you have cleared the snow from the surrounding area, we recommend throwing some rock salt down to thaw the remaining ice.
3. Use a Tarp or Cover
As we mentioned, fresh snowfall can accumulate inside your dumpster. Although it will inevitably melt, the water might pool in the bottom of the dumpster, creating excess water weight. Additionally, melted snow waterlogs your debris, which makes it heavier.
Water weight is a common reason many dumpsters run overweight, so be careful! You don’t want to pay overweight fees when you don’t have to.
Here at Discount Dumpster, all our rentals are open-top containers. Therefore, we recommend using a tarp or lid to cover your dumpster if there is an expected snowfall.
4. Dress Appropriately
Using a roll off dumpster requires a lot of walking to-and-fro, as mentioned earlier. If you’re working in particularly cold weather, this means you have to dress appropriately!
Just as it is important to protect your dumpster from the cold and wind, it is important to bundle up yourself. Make sure to wear plenty of layers, boots, and wear gloves while you’re working.
5. Clear a Path
If snow has fallen over the course of your dumpster rental, make sure to clear a truck-sized path leading up to your dumpster, especially for a driveway. This way, when haulers come to pick up your dumpster, we’ll be able to do so as quickly and easily as possible!
Final Thoughts on Winter Dumpster Rental
If you’re looking to rent a dumpster in the wintertime, don’t let the cold weather get in your way! As long as you follow the tips given here, you shouldn’t have any problems with your winter dumpster rental.