How to Start a Snow Blower to Clear Your Home’s Pathways

Project Overview

• Working Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Skill Level: Beginner
• Estimated Cost: $0 to $50

When winter weather hits, most homeowners prepare for the inevitable snowfall by stocking up on ice melt, placing snow shovels in a readily available spot, and doing maintenance on the snow blower to ensure it’s ready to go when the snow starts to pile up.

However, if you recently moved into a house or just made the decision to invest in a snow blower, you may not have a good understanding of how it works or even how to start a snow blower. The good news is, once you get the snow blower started, it takes a lot less effort to clear the walkway, sidewalk, and driveway than it would if you were to stick to a shovel.

When you’re ready, pull the snow blower out of the garage or shed, then use this guide to learn how to start a snow blower to tackle the first snow of the season.

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Safety Considerations

While a snow blower take less physical effort than a snow shovel, there are more safety issues to be worried about when you are using these machines. Before you start using a snow blower, make sure to follow these safety recommendations to avoid accidental injury and to prevent damage to the machine.

• Always read and follow the guide provided by the manufacturer.
• Keep up with regular snow blower maintenance, including checking the air pressure of the tires, replacing the oil and fuel as necessary, and inspecting the belts, shear pins, skids shoes, and the scraper blade.
• Clear the area of any objects that may get caught in the machine before using the snow blower.
• Always make sure to start your snow blower outdoors where the exhaust can escape freely into the air, instead of building up in a confined space.
• Use a snow blower non-stick spray on the inside of the chute and auger to help prevent snow from sticking and clogging the snow blower.