Snow. It’s beautiful to look at a blanket of freshly fallen white stuff glistening as the sun comes up. But, if you’re older than 15, your appreciation of the sight may quickly dissipate as you realize that you have to go dig your way out of it. Shoveling is the tried and true—and most affordable—method. The only costs being a shovel and, of course, your sweat and time.
For many folks who wish to avoid the cost of sweat, the other option is a snowblower. If you’re in this camp and considering, or have recently purchased, a snow blower in preparation for the coming winter, we’ve got some tips to help you on your way to the clearest driveway in your neighborhood. Whether you’re a total newbie or a seasoned veteran of the mechanized battle of the cold war, you’ll find some of these tips helpful.
Safety
Before you even start thinking about using your snowblower, you should review your owners’ manual. Familiarize yourself with the controls and operation of your machine because they are not all the same. Your machine may be gas or electric powered, and may be a single or two stage model—so follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for safety and operation of your specific model. If you’re shopping for one now, we cover the differences in gas, electric, single stage, and two stage machines in our buying guide on the best snow blowers.
Dress appropriately by wearing proper winter gear. This includes winter outwear, snow boots with good traction, a hat, and goggles—ski goggles work well, as they’re designed to protect your eyes from flying snow, which you will certainly encounter at some point.
Snow blowers have controls designed to stop the auger and impeller when you take your hands off them, but NEVER use your hands to clear packed or clogged snow from your machine. Most snow blowers come with a plastic tool long enough to reach in and clear the auger and impeller. If for some reason you must use your hands, turn gas snow blowers off, remove the battery from cordless models, or unplug corded electric models before doing so.
Before Snow Season
Sometime right after your fall leaf clean-up, but before you normally expect snow, is when you should prepare for snow blowing. This way, once the snow arrives, you won’t have any surprises that prevent you from clearing your driveway.
Tip 1: Fuel Stabilizer
Always use a fuel stabilizer and ethanol free fuel if it is available. Whenever you fill your empty gas can, add the right amount of fuel stabilizer for the size can you have. That way your fuel will always be protected from going bad and causing hard-starting issues, or possibly even damaging components of the fuel system. Bonus: It protects your lawnmower, too, since it likely sits idle over the winter months.
Tip 2: Don’t Wait Until You Need It to Start Your Snowblower
When you put your rakes and leaf blowers away, it’s time to pull out your snowblower and make sure it starts—that way you have time to address any problems before it snows. This is also a good time to situate it where it’s easily accessible.
Tip 3: Check Tire Pressure
If you look at the tire sidewall, it will typically list a range or maximum pressure. Refer to your owners’ manual for the correct tire pressure and adjust accordingly. Tire pressure that is too high will make it roll easier but also slip more—too low may feel like it gets more traction, but can make it more difficult to turn.
Tip 4: Adjust Skid Shoes
Skid shoes should be the only part of the snow blower touching the pavement—other than the tires. They are a consumable part, that wears over time, so they require adjustment as they’re worn down. They may be made of metal or non-marking plastic. In either case, they need to be adjusted for the surface they are used on—and readjusted as they wear. For very smooth, flat surfaces they should hold the auger housing 1/8 to 1/4-inch off the pavement. If you have rough or uneven pavement, ½-inch or more clearance may be needed. Dirt or gravel driveway? Depending on how smooth it it is you may need to set the skid shoes for ¾-inch or more.
Tip 5: Install Driveway Markers
Once the snow falls, it may be difficult to locate the edges of your driveway. If it’s common to get more than a couple inches in your area, use driveway markers along the edges to make your job easier. Install them every 20 feet or so, and do it before the ground freezes—otherwise you’ll need a drill bit to break through the frozen earth.
When Snow is Forecast
There are just a couple things to do, right before the snow falls.
Tip 6: Clears Walks and Driveways
Right before it’s supposed to snow, take a quick look to be sure there are no toys, sports equipment, sticks, or other debris on your walkways or driveway. Untangling your kid’s lacrosse stick from the auger is the last thing you want to do in the midst of snow blowing. Move cars along the edge of the driveway.
Tip 7: Make Sure Your Snow Blower is Accessible
If you haven’t already, move your snow blower to the front of your shed or driveway. If you have a cordless snowblower, put the batteries on their charger to be sure they’re topped up.
Go Time—The Snow Has Fallen
A few things to keep in mind as you get started clearing your driveway.
Tip 8: Plan Your Pattern
Before you start blowing snow, plan which direction to throw the snow. Generally, you’ll start down the center, throwing to one side, and throwing to the other on the return to where you started. As your path gets wider, you’ll continue to throw to the closest side on each pass.
Tip 9: Clear Your Driveway Before Driving or Walking On Snow
Driving and walking on snow will pack it down, make it harder to remove, and can create icy patches that linger.
Tip 10: Avoid Throwing Snow Twice
Don’t throw snow on top of areas you haven’t cleared yet. There are two reasons for this. One, is that you’re increasing the amount of work and time it will take to clear the snow. The second is that it packs the snow down, making it denser and harder to clear. This is especially important with heavy, wet snow. Try to direct the blown snow over uncleared areas.
Tip 11: Don’t Blow Snow Into the Wind
This should be obvious, but try to throw snow with the wind, not into it. If that’s not possible, try setting the chute/deflector low, to send the snow lower and more parallel to the ground. Sending it up in the air and into the wind will cause it be blown right right back at you.
Tip 12: Avoid Throwing Snow Towards Your House (or cars, for that matter)
Snow thrown at high velocity can break windows and damage vinyl siding—especially packed, chunky, or icy snow.
After You’re Done
Well, almost done. There are a couple things to be sure you do before you put the snow blower away.
Tip 13: Run It Out of Fuel
Once you’ve completed clearing your driveway, with the machine running, turn the fuel petcock on your machine to the off position. This will prevent fuel from flowing out of the tank, but it will continue to run, until it has used up all the fuel in the carburetor. This ensures that no fuel is left in the carburetor to go bad, gum up, and cause starting issues later. Do this every time you use your snow blower—you never know if it’s the last snow of the season, or not.
Tip 14: Wipe it Down
If possible, while the machine is still warm, use an old towel to wipe off any snow on or in the machine. The goal here is to limit the opportunity for rust to start to form. Areas that start to rust will become rough, allowing snow to stick during use, which will make the snow blower less effective. If you have a cordless machine, take the batteries out and put them on their charger.
Tip 15: Go Have a Hot Chocolate—You Earned It!
Brad Ford has spent most of his life using tools to fix, build, or make things. Growing up he worked on a farm, where he learned to weld, repair, and paint equipment. From the farm he went to work at a classic car dealer, repairing and servicing Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and Jaguars. Today, when he's not testing tools or writing for Popular Mechanics, he's busy keeping up with the projects at his old farmhouse in eastern Pennsylvania.
