How to Store Your Snow Blower for the Summer

As the days become longer and the weather warms, it looks like winter is finally behind us. You might be eager to start working on getting your lawn prepped for the summer, but doing this first could save you many hours of frustration and a costly repair come winter.

We’re here with summer snow blower storage tips, to help you store your snow blower right. 

How to Store Your Snow Blower

1. EMPTY THE GAS TANK

One of the most common reasons snow Blowers don’t start after sitting in storage all summer is because of clogs caused by old broken down gasoline. The best way to store your snow blower so that it starts up again come winter is to empty all of the gas from its fuel system. This can be done in several different ways:

1. Run your snow blower until it runs out of fuel. 
2. Drain the fuel through the fuel line. 
3. Use a fuel transfer pump to siphon the gas out of the fuel tank, then run the engine dry.

2. IF YOU CAN’T EMPTY THE GAS TANK

If you run into a situation where you can’t empty the gas tank and have to store your snow blower with gasoline in it, then you will need to use a fuel stabilizer.

Fuel stabilizer prevents fresh fuel from breaking down by preventing the ethanol in the fuel from oxidizing and potentially damaging the internal components of your snow blower.

Although not foolproof, if you’re in a pinch and have to leave gas in your tank over the summer, a fuel stabilizer will minimize the chances of gas-related issues. Remember, although fuel stabilizer will keep fresh gasoline from breaking down, it will not make deteriorated fuel useable again.

3. PROTECT YOUR ENGINE

After taking care of the gasoline, you should make sure the engine is good to go before putting your blower away.

Remove the spark plug from your blower and put a small amount of oil into the combustion chamber. After dropping the oil in, make sure the spark plug cap isn’t over the spark plug hole and slowly pull the cord a couple of times to distribute that oil throughout the internal components.

Put your spark plug back and pull slowly once again until you feel resistance. For instructions on how to protect the engine in your specific model of snow blower, you can refer to the operator manual.

4. DO A GENERAL CHECK ON YOUR MACHINE

While you’re at it, this is a good time to take care of any other issues that might plague you down the road. Check your engine oil and replace it if need be. You should also check on your spark plug which should be replaced or cleaned each season.

Lubricate components as needed and make sure major parts such as the auger belt and wheels are in good condition.

5. WIPE IT DOWN

At the end of the snow season, your snow blower is bound to have accumulated a buildup of dirt and salt. Grab a mild soap solution and a warm cloth to remove salt and buildup that can cause the metal parts on your machine to corrode over time.

You can also power wash it with that same mild soap solution on a lower pressure setting.

After washing your equipment, take another step by putting a rust preventative on any exposed metal to protect it from rust and corrosion over time. 

6. WRAP IT UP AND STORE IT

You’ve put all the work in to make sure your machine is in great shape for summer storage, now all that’s left is to wrap it up and put it away. If a snowblower cover came with your machine, you should use that to wrap it up.

Snow blower covers are designed to breathe and prevent moisture from accumulating during those hot and humid months. Make sure you do your research to find a snow blower cover that properly fits your machine.

However, a tarp will also do the job and will prevent your machine from collecting buildup and will protect it from getting scratched. Find a safe area in your garage or storage unit to store your machine for the summer.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Snow blower storage doesn’t have to be rocket science. Follow this guide and take some time this spring to make sure that your snow blower is stored properly so that you don’t have to deal with a headache when the first winter storm hits.

At Blain’s, we understand that even with the best preventative maintenance, things could still go wrong. If you experience any issues with your Blain’s Farm & Fleet snow blower, bring it to one of our stores where a trained professional will be more than happy to take care of it for you.