The Common Snow Blower Mistake That's Making Your Winter Cleanup Harder

Winter storms can be brutal, especially when snow keeps accumulating by the hour. It's definitely far more tempting to stay warm and cozy inside, enjoying the snowfall in comfort. It will be much easier to wait until it's done to tackle those heaping mounds of powder, right? Actually, this common snow blower mistake — waiting for the snow to stop coming down — is making your winter cleanup harder, rather than easier.

Waiting until the snowfall stops before you get the snow blower out can affect your machine. When a snow blower has to work harder, it can suddenly have some issues. While snow blowers are designed for snow accumulation, they aren't always equipped to clear the bigger drifts of snow that build up. Even the top rated snow blowers can get the chutes clogged from heavy and wet snow, or possibly overheat when there is a lot of compacted snow to move. Clearing the snow too slowly will increase your chances of clogging up your machine, making things more irritating and possibly hindering you from getting the job done. The snow can become slushy or worse, more dangerous for you to navigate by freezing if it's been left for too long and temperatures drop.

The best approach to this common mistake is not to wait until the snow stops coming down. Give yourself a head start by jumping on it as soon as possible, and remember to follow snow blower safety tips when using your machine. Take your snow blower and go out mid-storm to start clearing away the snow. Even if you know the snow is dry and not wet, you are still far better off clearing it sooner rather than later. Leaving dry snow to accumulate also means that it blows around much more, which can make it more challenging to keep surfaces cleared.

If you leave the piles to settle, they can sometimes harden and become much heavier, and that will make your job more difficult. Instead, tackle it in a few passes over time or throughout the day. Set yourself up with a schedule after checking the weather for the length of the storm so you can stay on top of it and use your snow blower more efficiently. While it may feel counterintuitive, getting outside to clear with your snow blower during a winter storm rather than waiting until it stops will save you a lot of effort, frustration, and time.