9 snow blowing mistakes to avoid this winter

Snow removal in the winter is a must. Thankfully, with the help of a snow blower, like the Sun Joe Single Stage Snow Blower, the task doesn’t have to be back-breaking work. Still, working as efficiently as possible will save you time and energy when snow blows on your property. 

Without knowing the proper techniques, you can do more work out of snow-blowing than it has to be. You can also put the snow blower engine and components at risk if you don’t store it properly, push it too hard, or make a few of these common snow-clearing mistakes below. 

“The most common repairs we see are fuel-related issues. People improperly store their machines,” said Andrew Mikesell, Sales Representative at Wilkinson Supply Inc. Wilkinson Supply Inc. has been repairing and selling power equipment in Ogden, Utah, since 1979, and Andrew provides expertise on how to eliminate common snow blower mistakes, so you don’t need to take your blower in for repairs at the beginning of every season.

Knowledge is power, and by knowing these common snow-clearing mistakes, you can work to avoid them. With proper snowblower maintenance and by correct snow blowing your property, the best snow blowers will last many seasons, and you’ll conquer winter year after year. 

Here’s a list of snow-blowing mistakes to avoid this winter.

9 snow blowing mistakes to avoid this winter

1. Forgetting to remove debris from pathways  

One of the most common mistakes is forgetting to remove debris, like your children’s or the dog’s toys, from the driveway or walkway before snow blows your property. The snow blower will suck the debris into the auger, and it could cause damage to the auger or motor (depending on the debris). It’s worth checking for debris in the snow before you start to avoid this hazard. 

2. Waiting for the snow to stop before starting  

It's natural to think, “If I just wait for the storm to end, I only have to remove snow once.” While that line of thinking is semi-true, removing too much snow at once can be detrimental to your snow blower. Single-stage snow blowers, especially battery-powered ones like the Greenworks Single Stage Snowblower, aren’t made to tackle huge snow removal jobs. But, if you clear the snow on your property more than once during a snowstorm, the snow removal task will remain manageable for your machine.  

3. Not wearing the right shoes 

Even though you're clearing snow, your walkways may remain slick. Shoes with no grip can lead to falling and put you at risk for injury. You also don’t want to fall and lose grip of your snow blower. That’s a hazard waiting to happen. Having proper footwear like snow boots with grippy soles goes a long way in preventing falling and injuries. 

4. Removing more snow than recommended  

Piggybacking on the previous point, trying to remove too much snow can cause a multitude of pain points. “It’s important to use a machine that can handle your regional weather. If you live up in the mountains and get a ton of snow, an inexpensive, single-stage snow blower isn’t going to work very well,” said Mikesell. The snow blower may not be able to throw snow far enough, resulting in snow being thrown back onto your property. That snow will be even more heavy and difficult to remove. Too much snow can also cease the engine. Doing that repeatedly is a surefire way to burn out your snow blower engine.  

5. Not accounting for wind direction  

The wind can make it a real pain to remove snow from your property. Wind can blow snow back onto your property and into your face (which is really not fun), making snow removal a frustrating endeavor. Here’s how you should approach snow blowing and considering the wind: 

If no wind is present, start your first pass down the middle of your driveway and work in an “inside-out” circular motion. By doing this, you won’t waste time to stop and adjust the chute over and over. 

If the wind is blowing, your first pass should start against the wind. After that, every pass after that will be with the wind in a back-and-forth pattern, allowing the wind to help you propel the snow. This is different from the “inside-out” method because you’ll have to adjust the chute with every pass you make, but you’ll be using the wind to your advantage.  

 6. Not adjusting skid shoes 

The skid shoes keep the auger from hitting the ground. And if you’re plowing over a gravel driveway (not recommended), skid shoes that are too low can suck up gravel and rocks into the snow blower, which is not good. “Aside from fuel issues, we make a lot of repairs on skids and scrapers. People don’t check those, and their machine is too low. That leads to damaged parts,” said Mikesell. Make sure the skid shoes are at least three millimeters off the ground or higher if needed. He continued, “And be sure to check the skids every time you go out to remove snow.” 

 7. Unclogging chute and auger without turning engine off 

This is a grave mistake that can cause serious injury. When the chute and auger are too packed with snow, it can stop the auger. Reaching in and removing the snow can free the auger to continue to move while your hand is still in there, and that’s a guaranteed ticket to the ER. Before you unclog the chute or auger, make sure you turn the engine completely off and use a chute cleaner or stick to remove clogging or debris.  

8. Not allowing the engine to cool down  

When you turn your snow blower off, you should allow it to run on its lower setting for 30 - 60 seconds before stopping. This is a good practice for proper engine maintenance. Allowing your engine to cool down is also critical for proper refueling safety. Spilled gasoline into a hot engine could cause a fire, putting your personal safety at risk. Allow the engine to cool down for 10-15 minutes if you must refuel in the middle of snow removal. 

9. Not fueling the machine properly  

Finally, when you are done (after you’ve waited for the engine to cool down), you should fuel that machine tank back to full. “More fuel means less air in the tank. Less air means less room for potential residue and moisture build-up,” said Mikesell.  

Snow blower mistakes: FAQs