5 snowblower tips and tricks

Your snowblower makes it so much easier to clear the snowy mess from your sidewalks and driveways.

These tips help your snowblower clear snow as efficiently as it can, so you can return to the warmth of your home faster. 

Once you're done reading the tips, check out our snowblower repair guide page for more tips, answers to most frequently asked questions, repair guides and other articles and videos. Shop Sears PartsDirect for all your snowblower replacement parts, too.

Snowblower tips and tricks

1. If possible, blow snow that's newly fallen, before it gets packed down or hardens.

2. If you keep the snowblower in a heated garage, move the snowblower outside for 5-10 minutes and let it adjust to the outdoor temperature. Then, start the engine and let it warm up for a few minutes. Letting it adjust to the outdoor temperature allows the engine start and adjust to the operating air temperature for smoother and steady running.

3. Before you start, spray a small amount of silicone spray inside the chute to prevent clogging. If the chute starts to clog, pause to allow the chute to clear. If the chute clogs completely, turn off your snow blower and then use the clean-out tool that came with your machine or a thin wooden stick to remove clog.

4. Start out slowly, increasing your speed only to the point where you feel the engine is working at peak efficiency. If the engine strains, slow down or blow a smaller swath of snow.

5. For deeper snow, push down on the handles to raise the front and make a first pass to remove the upper layer of snow, and the do a second pass to remove the rest.