Maintaining a Snow Blower: Keeping Snow Blowers Working

Getting a snow blower is a huge step toward keeping the ever-growing mountain of snow at bay. Snow blowers are great for helping you clear your driveway and walkway without having to use too much energy to get rid of the latest snowstorm from your walking and parking spaces.

Since a snow blower is such a benefit to you, you want to keep it working in optimal condition. Therefore, it is essential that you pay attention to some maintenance tips that will help you get years of use out of your snow removal tool.

To keep your snow blower working efficiently and safely, here are some maintenance tips you should consider performing regularly.

Check the oil and replace it

Depending on the type of unit you have, you have to make sure to check the oil after eight hours of use and replace it every 50 hours. Doing this is especially true if you have a four-stroke engine. A good rule of thumb, change your oil once every season.

Have a look at the fuel cap

Your blower fuel caps have vent holes in the top to allow air into your fuel tank. Occasionally, your fuel cap will get blocked from debris or buildup. If you find that your fuel cap is clogged, replace it. It’s also a good idea to keep your snow blower covered during the offseason to keep bugs from getting into your fuel tank.

Check the tires

Just like your car, you want to make sure the tires on your blower are holding air pressure. Since your snow blower tires have to deal with a heavy load, you want to be sure they are resistant to wear and tear.

Inspect the blades and shoes

You want to do a very thorough job of checking your snow blower scrape blades and skid shoes. You don’t want to them wearing down without replacing. These parts are crucial to keeping your unit from being damaged. Replace any blades that are starting to look really thin.

Replace the snow blower Filter

You always want to keep extra fuel filters on hand. Since you can’t really tell if your filter is clogged or clean your filter without damaging it, you should replace it regularly. A good rule of thumb is once per season.

Lubricate all the bearings in the snow blower

Your wheel bearings, auger, and impeller bearings all take a beating during the season. Therefore, since they are moving parts, you want to make sure they keep moving in good order. Throughout the season be sure to lubricate all the moving parts of your blower periodically throughout the winter.

Replace spark plugs as needed

These plugs may be small, but they are crucial to your snow blower working well. Therefore, you should change them out each season, even if you don’t think they need to be changed. The spark plug will decrease in performance over time. When performance suffers so does your fuel costs and emissions.

Add a fuel stabilizer into the snow blower's tank

A fuel stabilizer to fresh fuel will help keep it fresh longer and prevent your carburetor from clogging. Using the owner’s manual as a guide, add a fuel stabilizer to any fresh fuel you put into your snow blower to keep your fuel tank running smoothly.

Inspect the snow blower belts

Your belts are an important part of keeping the motor running in a smooth motion. Therefore, regularly, you should check the belts for cracks, wear, and tear. If you see signs of the belts starting to wear down, replace them right away.

Conclusion: How to maintain a snow blower for many winters of use

Your snow blower is a crucial part of your winter management. If you want to keep your snow blower in good condition, then you must make sure to run regular maintenance checks on it. Every season and throughout the season, you should take these steps to be sure that your snow blower continues to work effectively and efficiently.

Resources— Clintar, RepairClinic, SearsHomeService

About The Author