How to Store a Snow Blower

Just one more time pushing that snow blower before you can put it away for next year. Snow is coming to the upper Midwest and Northeastern United States, and it will definitely be enough to justify breaking out the snow blower one last time.

However, that looks to be the last big snowfall of the season. So you'll likely be interested in how you can go about properly storing your snow blower through the summer. You definitely don't want to just push it to the back of the garage and forget about it.

Below is a list of things you should do to ensure an easier start next winter:

1. Drain the Fuel - Use a gas can to store it over the winter with some fuel stabilizer. If you don't want to, at least add fuel stabilizer to the tank.

2. Remove the Spark Plug - Follow the spark plug wire to find where it's attached, then remove it with the appropriate sized socket wrench. Store it in a clean dry place where it wont get lost.

3. Consider pouring a small amount of oil onto the pistons through the spark plug hole to prevent rusting or corroding of engine parts.

4. Cover it with a snow blower cover to make sure it stays clean and protected.

Shop for Maintenance Kits

Keeping Up Appearances - How to keep your snow blower looking new.

Ariens Touch-up Paint

As you use your snow blower, it inevitably gets scratched and dinged, often times stripping small amounts of paint from the metal.

Leaving the scratches and dings unattended to may seem okay, excusing it as average wear and tear, but what if they begin to rust? Without the protection of the paint, the metal is now exposed to harsh environmental factors such as water, ice, and salt.

You change the oil, you add fuel stabilizer, you buy and use maintenance kits, and you keep it sheltered and covered during the off-season, so why leave it rust when you put such effort into keeping everything else on it so nice?

Cub Cadet Touch-up Paint

I spoke with one guy who told me how he keeps his snow blower looking great from year to year and prevents rust and corrosion.

With a stainless steel brush, he brushes off any rust or corrosion that's there, and smooths out the area that's missing paint.

Once it's clean, dry, free of rust and corrosion, and smoothed down, he takes a matching color of snow blower touch-up paint and sprays the spot. As long as you keep using a matching color of paint, which comes in brand specific colors at Snow Blowers Direct, it'll look great.

By doing this after each season, he gets to start the next season with a brand new looking snow blower, keeping his neighbors wondering why his stays so nice!

What Does the Groundhog Say?

6 More Weeks of Winter - Time for a Snow Blower!

The groundhog said, "Bring more snow."

Winter's far from over, and more snow is on its way. A snowstorm is sweeping through the country from Denver, Colorado to Maine and New York.

The strongest portion of the storm will stretch from Kansas City to Vermont and New Hampshire, bringing with it 6-12".

Omaha, Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, and Boston will be seeing around 3-6" of snow between tonight and Wednesday. And Denver, New York, and Philadelphia will only see around 1-3".

If you're in the more severe strip, you're probably wishing you had a snow blower right about now. If you don't have one, it's not too late to get one in time for clearing that 12 inches of snow off of your drive and walkways.

If you're in the lighter areas between 1 and 6 inches, you may be fine with a single-stage snow blower as long as you keep on top of the snow as it comes. Anything more though, and you'll want a two-stage snow blower with a bigger opening in the front for taking in snow deeper than a few inches.

If you've got a city plow that likes to come by and plow your driveway shut with a pile of frozen slush, you'll be happy to see we've got the all new three-stage snow blowers in that can handle that frozen mountain with no problem.

Take a look around Snow Blowers Direct, and visit the Buyer's Guide for help finding what you need.