How to Snow Blow your Driveway with Ease

It’s the height of snow season, and you know what that means: snowball fights for the kids and snow shoveling for the adults. In the modern era, snow shovelers across the country who are fed up with the daily grind that the snow season brings they invest in a snowblower. A machine that does all the work for you by picking up the snow and throwing it to the side should solve all your problems, right? Actually, there is a right way to use the snowblower, and the wrong way can add more time to the chore. To give you some pointers on the most helpful snow blowing techniques, Cross Country Powersports has provided some of our tips and tricks we’ve learned over the years. If you still need the right snowblower, then stop by our location in Metuchen, New Jersey to see what we have in stock right now. We proudly serve the areas of Newark, New Brunswick, Paterson, and Trenton, New Jersey.

Don’t Wait for the Snow to Stop

As tempting as it may be to leave all the snow for clearing when the last snowflake has fallen, think about some of the most recent snowstorms on the East Coast. Your snowblower can only handle so much snow at a time and letting it accumulate not only makes it harder for the machine, but it also means it can’t throw the snow as far. Try not to let the snow pile up for more than six inches before clearing it away. It’s also best to throw as far as you can, especially if you have to clear the rest of the driveway as well. You won’t want to have to throw it all a second time.

Plan Ahead

And on that note, make sure you think out the logistics of clearing your property. Where does the snow seem to be gathering the most and might require some extra work? What direction should you move your snowblower? Where do you want the snow to be thrown? What obstacles will you either need to remove or work around? Can you tell where your driveway ends and your garden begins? If you need to, walk through your property first and clearly mark where you’ll need to stop and turn.

No Wind? Start in the Middle

If you’re clearing your property on a day where there’s no wind, start in the middle and move in in a circular path around that center point. This will ensure that the chute is throwing away from the cleared areas, rather than dumping snow back onto areas you’ve already worked on.

Wind? Start Upwind

If you’re clearing your property on a windy day, start by figuring out which direction the wind is blowing. Start upwind and work your way downwind, moving up and down in straight lines. This will use the elements to help carry the powder to the area you’ve chosen to throw the snow, rather than getting it blown back in your face.

Watch Out!

Try to keep your eyes peeled as best you can for debris other than snow. This may include newspapers, rocks, and anything else that’s too big to get funneled through the chute. However, they may be difficult to see while you’re moving around your property, so scan the snow before starting in with the snowblower. If you do accidentally suck up large debris, turn off the engine and try to remove it with something other than your hands, like a broom or shovel. If you can’t get it out, you’ll want to take it to a professional to get fixed.

So what about gravel? Lots of driveways are made out of gravel, but here’s the bad news: single stage snow blowers aren’t really built to handle gravel safely. Not only can it damage the insides of the machine, but it’ll fling that gravel out through the chute with the snow and potentially hurt someone. If you have a gravel driveway, you’ll want a two stage snowblower with an adjusted height to avoid picking up the gravel with the snow.

Think you’re ready to try out a snowblower? Stop by Cross Country Powersports in Metuchen, New Jersey and let us know what you’re looking for so we can start making your life a whole lot easier. We welcome all patrons from the communities of Newark, New Brunswick, Paterson, and Trenton, New Jersey.