4 Tips For Using A Snow Blower

Congratulations, you did it--you finally decided to spare yourself the grueling wintertime chore of shoveling snow buy investing in a snow blower. But hang on just one second before you fire that thing up. While snow blowing may seem like the simplest thing in the world, there are actually a few important things you should know before you get down to business. This article will provide four tips to keep you--and your snow blower--in tip top condition.

Prep your lawn before snow season hits.

One of the most helpful things you can do for yourself is getting your yard prepared for snow blowing weather ahead of time. Plan to do a thorough once-over, removing such problem causing items as:

• rocks
• dog leash cables
• extension cords
• hoses
• fallen tree limbs

Then use a rubber mallet to pound in tall stakes along any pathways adjoining gardens or planter beds. Otherwise you run the risk of sucking up rocks, or damaging beloved plants when these areas become unrecognizable under heavy snow.

Pick up your newspapers every day.

Newspapers are one of the most common causes of clogged snow blowers. Not only that, but a frozen paper hidden in your lawn can easily damage components such as belts, shear pins, and impellers. Therefore, it pays to be vigilant and remove any newspapers daily--before they get buried under the next snowfall. Otherwise, you may end up having to spend an afternoon unclogging your snow blower.

Let the machine cool before refilling with gas.

Face it, snow blowers aren't exactly frugal machines when it comes to their gasoline consumption. In order to be able to displace all your excess snow, it is sometimes necessary to refuel in the middle of a job. Yet as tempting as it may be to fill it back up immediately, this practice puts both you and your snow blower at unnecessary risk.

In case you didn't already now, the engine inside of a snow blower gets incredibly hot. Thus standing over that red hot machine with a gas can is a risky business--especially if you happen to spill any as you pour. Instead, turn the machine off and let it cool completely before adding more gas. Think of it as a great opportunity to head inside for a cup of hot chocolate.

Add stabilizer to your gas tank each time you refill it.

It's not always possible to know when it's going to snow again. And unfortunately, pure gasoline has a fairly short lifespan--about 30 days, to be precise. Gasoline older than this can lead to generally poor performance, and may even end up damaging your machine.

Luckily, you don't have to empty your tank every time you pass the 30 day mark. Instead, make a point of adding gasoline stabilizer to your tank each time you refuel. This will greatly extend the shelf life of the gas, in the event that you have to wait another couple months before firing it up again. For more information about preparing your yard for winter, consult with a lawn care business such as Headman Lawn Care and Christmas Lighting.