Snow Blower Tips and Tricks

Considering the difficulty and possible health hazards of manual snow shoveling, it is a great idea to acquire a decent snow blower if you are in a suburban setting and professional snow removal is not an option. With models that run on electricity or gas, snow throwers come in many shapes and sizes that cater to different properties and climates. Yet, even with the best snow blower, you are going to need to apply a few simple tricks if you want to avoid some of the most common problems people face when clearing their yard.  

Although using a snow thrower is safer than working with a shovel, one has to remain cautious. Eye protection against flying debris from the chute and decent footwear are indispensable. Loose clothing is not a good idea because there is a risk that the machine will catch and suck parts of it. You must also keep children away from the operation zone. It is needless to mention that one must never use bare hand to remove anything from the chute or the auger when the machine is on.

Planning ahead before pushing the thrower into the nearest snow pile is the best course of action if you want to complete your task in the shortest time and with minimal effort. There are many pathway options for covering the entire area such going in circles or straight lines. It is essential that you take the wind direction into consideration as well as the point where you want the removed snow to accumulate. Also, it is best to hoard snow as far from the sides of your driveway as possible. This way, there will be no massive snow builup on the sides after the next snowfall.

The most frequent reason for snow blowers to go repair is the failure of the belt that connects the auger with the engine. Sometimes, the belt is ripped when the unit comes across an obstacle such as very tough ice or stones. You can prevent such incidents simply by not exposing your machine to excessive exertion. More often, the belt is torn apart because of the ice buildup on the auger makes it impossible to turn and the torque created by the engine causes to the best to disintegrate. To avoid this, the user must take precautions against ice buildup on parts of the unit. Removing piles of snow from the machine after the snow removal task is complete and the engine is turned off, is the first measure. Next, the unit should be kept in a warm environment until the remaining water evaporates. Finally, it is very important to check the auger for frozen water before each session.