Unwanted snow on the driveway and sidewalks is a nuisance. If your area experiences heavy snowing, snow blowing is the most suitable method of clearing the snow. Learning how to use a snowblower the right way will help prevent injuries. It will also make the slow plow technique smooth and efficient.
Here are some tricks and tips that will help you use a snow machine the right way.
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Tricks and hacks on how to use a snowblower the right way
Using a snowblower the right way will also help prevent injury or damage. bellow are ways to prevent any of that:
Prepare your snowblower before the snowing season kicks in
Make sure to prepare your snowblower for the work ahead. Check its working conditions. Add fresh fuel, oil the joints, and check if the spark plug needs replacement. Replace the belts, faulty mobile parts and paint the rusted parts.
Check to ensure that the different parts in the auger are well lubricated. Failure to lubricate these moving parts could cause rusting—the rusting spreads between the auger and chute components, leading to clogging.
Prepare and mark the area you want to snow blow
To ensure you stick to the width of your driveway, use commercial snow markers to set out the perimeters you want to snow blow. If you stray away from the driveway, you could find yourself snow-blowing grass and small rocks. These unwanted materials could clog your snowblower.
Also, check the driveway for pipes, old newspapers, cables, toys, and rocks and put them away. The snowblower could suck these items and trap them, which could damage the machines. If your snowblower has trapped these items, turn off the engine, then use an appropriate tool to remove them.
Don’t let the snow stop falling to start snow blowing
When you wait for the snow to stop falling to take out your personal snow machine, the snow will have accumulated to high snowbanks. The minimum amount of snow to plow varies from one state to another.
The more time you wait to start plowing, the deeper the snow cover. Deep snow cover will make your driveway plowing techniques tiresome. Start the snow plowing basics as soon as the snow reaches six inches. Otherwise, deep snow will overwork your snowblower.
Use fresh fuel recommended for winter
Using last season’s fuel could cause problems while jump-starting your snowblower. Empty the old gasoline or diesel and replace it with fresh fuel recommended for use during winter.
Redirect the chute towards the direction you want to throw the snow
Before you start the snow blowing, adjust your discharging conduit to face the direction where you want to blow the snow. After redirecting the chute, now it is time to snow blow. Ensure that you blow the snow away from neighbors and roadways. Directing the snow towards the road could cause accidents and injuries.
Set the snowblower to throw the snow load far
Save your time and energy by setting your snowblower to throw the snow exactly where you want it. Snow blowing in bits wastes time and works up the machine. Instead of biting large chunks of snow and throwing them to a shorter distance, opt for small amounts set to a high number of revolutions per minute.
Blowing in the direction of the wind also helps to propel the snow farther.
Blow small portions of snow at a time
One of the reasons why a snowblower clogs with wet snow. Is biting big chunks of snow that get trapped in the chute. Instead of speeding up the snow plowing process, scooping large amounts of snow clogs the machine slowing down its efficiency.
You have to stop, turn off the snowblower and unclog it to continue plowing. To avoid time and energy wastage, snow blower experts recommend scooping snow utmost half of the snow blower’s width. The machine can throw a smaller load to a farther distance than a big load.
Wait for the machine to cool down before re-fueling
If you run out of fuel while snow blowing, do not refill the fuel tank immediately. The machine parts are usually hot, and adding gasoline or diesel could start a fire. Please turn off the machine and give it time to cool. You could use this break to rest and rejuvenate.
After the snowblower has cooled down, refill the fuel tank. Ensure you don’t add fuel to the brim. Also, avoid spilling the oil over the snow. These two scenarios could cause leakage. Leaking oils combined with a high-performance snow blower is a recipe for a fire outbreak.
According to experts, you should wait for at least ten minutes before re-fuelling your snowblower.
Add recommended stabilizer to the fuel
Fuel stabilizers maintain the engine and help your engine run seamlessly. When buying fresh gas for the snow season, add an expert recommended stabilizer. You could buy them and mix them at the gas. This gives the two substances time to mix before you can add them to the fuel tank.
Replace your regular engine oil with a synthetic type
When it is cold, the conventional engine oil becomes thick. The thick oil slows down the engine’s revolutions. A good engine will start after approximately 400 revolutions. To achieve this limit, go for synthetic oils. Synthetic oils remain light despite the weather conditions. The engine rotates faster with lighter oil.
Wear protective gear
Wearing protective clothing such as gloves and goggles is an essential step in the snow plowing basics. Snow blowing is a high-risk engagement prone to accidents and injuries. These protective items will protect the vulnerable parts of your body, such as the eyes, ears, mouth, and limbs.
Also, avoid dangling clothing such as scarves. These pieces of clothing are dangerous when trapped inside the moving parts of the snowblower. They could clog the machine and cost you money to unclog. They could also cause injuries.
Check your snow blower grease points and use the proper lubricant
Your snow blower’s maximum efficiency and smooth running depend on good lubrication of grease points. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to pick suitable lube for the different parts.
Synthetic and appropriate regular motor oil is suitable for metal grease points and gears. Plastic knobs and the discharge chute need a mild lubricant such as an anti-friction dry PTFE lube.
Spray an anti-stick substance to the auger and chute
Experts cite clogging of snow blowers as the primary source of injuries when snow blowing. Clogged snow blowers also risk getting damaged. To keep your auger, the impeller, and chute free from stuck chunks of snow, spray them with a commercial snow plow wax, anti-stick spray, or cooking spray.
What causes my snowblower to clog with wet snow?
The main reason behind the clogging of your snowblower has to do with the snow being heavy and moist. When the snow is moist and in large quantities, it tends to clump together to form snow chunks that stick to the auger or the chute. This reduces the efficiency of the machine and slows down the snow-blowing process.
When your snowblower picks hidden materials such as rocks, grass, and newspapers, they get covered in snow and clog it. As you work your way through the snow, the snowblower sucks these materials like regular snow. The impeller cannot break them down, and they clog the discharge conduit.
The other reason is snow blowing slowly. Propelling the snowblower at slow speeds gives the snow ample time to knit together and form lumps. These lumps then stick to the machine parts and cause clogging.
Blowing large amounts of snow too fast can also cause clogging of the snowblower. It does not matter if the snow is heavy or powder-like. Whenever you scoop too much snow in and blow it quickly, the particles clump together and clog the auger. Always blow an appropriate amount of snow depending on the size of your snowblower.
How to prevent snowblower chute from clogging
Preventing any clog on the snowblower chute will enable the smooth functioning of your blower. here are ways on how to prevent the sticking:
Spray non-stick substance on the parts where the snow sticks
Most of the snow sticks to the blades, the impeller, and the chute. Apply anti-stick spray, cooking spray, or snowplow wax to prevent snow from sticking to the parts. Spray the materials before you start plowing and after an unclogging incidence.
Move your snow blower faster
To ensure the snow doesn’t clump together and form chunks, set a good speed for your snowblower. Too slow movements facilitate clogging. Too fast plowing accumulates snow particles, also causing clogging. Find a balanced pace to ensure the snow does not build up.
How do I unclog my snow blower?
Snow blowing is not always perfect. No matter how hard you try, the machine still accumulates sticky snow chunks that clog the auger and the chute. The first thing to keep in mind is you should never try to unclog your snow blower with your limbs. Most of the snowblower injuries result from users unclogging the machine with their hands or feet.
The correct procedure for unclogging your snowblower is first turning it off. After cooling down, use a stick-like object such as a broomstick. Recent brands of snow blowers include an un-clogging tool. If your snowblower has one of these, use it to clear the accumulated snow from the machine.
How do I clean my snow blower?
If you are unsure of how to clean a snow machine, check the manufacturer’s manual for the procedure. After use, keep the snowblower turned on. Work up the lever to remove any snow trapped in the auger or on top of the discharge conduit.
Please turn off the machine and leave it for some time to halt all the mobile parts. Use a small brush to clear any remaining ice particles from the machine parts. Dry the inside and outside with a piece of absorbent cloth. Failure to dry the parts could cause rusting of metal parts.
What are some of the DIY snowblower tricks useful in maintaining my snowblower?
Mild snowblower problems don’t need an expert to repair. You can do it yourself by following the owner’s manual and learning DIY snowblower hacks. The following tricks will help keep your snow machine in good condition:
- Tighten bolts and gear pins
- Check the belts and grips for wear and tear. Replace them when appropriate
- Track whether the levers are working. Adjust them as needed
- Check the tire pressure occasionally
- Check the owner’s manual for lubrication guidelines and recommendations. Grease the snowblower joints as advised
- Check the motor oil level and refill if need be
- Change your machine’s spark plug after every snow season
- Replace the air filters as advised by the manufacturer
- Ensure the batteries are full capacity at the beginning of snow blowing
Snow thrower repair and troubleshooting for common problems
You don’t have to run to a service provider every time you experience mechanical problems. You can correct some of the minor mishaps at home. Here are mild problems and possible solutions in snow blowers:
Snow blower does not turn on
Several factors cause this problem. Try troubleshooting by checking if the battery is overheating. Allow the battery to cool down and try turning it on. You could also replace the spark plug and restart the machine.
The engine starts then shuts down after sometime
Accumulated gases might cause the engine to shut down on its own. To correct this problem, loosen the gas lid to let out accumulated fumes.
Engine running but auger and impeller are not responding
Faulty levers and belts could be the source of this problem. Check the condition of the two components and replace them if need be.
How do I store my snowblower?
Once the snow season is over, it is time to store your snow-blowing machine for the next season. Keep your snow blower in a clean and dry place devoid of destructive chemicals and materials. You could apply an oil cover to metal parts to cushion them against rust.
Conclusion
Learning how to use a snowblower in the right way is crucial to ensure a smooth snow clearing process. Servicing and maintaining your snowblower the right way increases its efficiency. It also lengthens its lifespan.
Prepare the machine before snow blowing. Use the recommended lubrication to oil the grease parts.
