Choosing the correct snowblower for your needs is an important step so you don’t make a purchase you regret. How much snow you typically get each year and how much snow-covered areas you have to clear each time will determine which one you need.
While I’ve written a long article on this website called How Does A 3 Stage Snowblower Work (Is It Worth It) that discusses 1 stage, 2 stage and 3 stage snowblowers, the purpose of this article is how to troubleshoot something that can happen with any model.
A snowblower can clog with snow that is too heavy and wet and also when you haven’t properly adjusted the moving speed to the throttle speed. If you try to plow too quickly with the engine running slower than it should, this can easily result in the machine clogging and stalling.
How to ensure your snowblower doesn’t get clogged
To ensure your snowblower doesn’t get clogged and performs optimally each time, do the following:
- Check the area you’re plowing beforehand to gauge the snow type.
- Figure out your plowing path and where snow will be deposited.
- Choose an engine speed for the snow type.
- Choose the correct moving speed for the conditions.
- Use a snowblower non-stick spray to prevent auger blockages.
- Get your snowblower tuned up each year.
Below we will go over each suggestion in more detail. We’ll also briefly explain the different between single, two and three-stage snowblowers to ensure to get the one that makes sense for you.
Check the area you’re plowing beforehand to gauge the snow type
Wet snow is heavier and harder to move and is more likely to clog your snowblower than light fluffy snow. This is especially true with smaller, less powerful machines. Once you step into the snow with your boots, you can get a better sense as to the type of snow and how deep it is.
By quickly walking around (if it’s not too deep) or at least visually inspecting the area to be plowed, you can also ensure you don’t run anything over. A forgotten kids toy or newspaper may have blown onto your driveway and is now covered with snow so you want to ensure you don’t clog your snowblower and possibly damage it.
Figure out your plowing path and where snow will be deposited
The less space you have to throw your snow, the more important this is. If you have a large lot and lawn, you have more space to deposit the snow. Smaller lots provide less space and will limit your options especially if you have neighbors who also need to remove their snow and are piling theirs into the same area.
Snowblowers give you the ability to throw snow farther and without you having to do it yourself. Not only does this give you more options for moving snow away from where you walk and drive, it may save your life, too.
Shoveling snow is a major cause
for injuries, heart attacks and death during winter months due to the strenuous nature of the work and the typically very cold weather you’re doing the work in. The research shows that around 11,500 emergency room visits per year are due to snow shoveling injuries alone.
Also, plan a path that involves depositing snow on the lawn or wherever its final spot is supposed to be, the first time. Don’t blow snow halfway across your driveway and then end up having to blow it again once you reach that spot as you’re wasting time and making your job harder.
If you check the photo at the top if this article, the man using the snowblower is doing exactly that. Adjust the angle of the chute when needed to raise or lower the height of the snow’s output.
You might have to take wind into account especially with light fluffy snow which can blow right back in your face if you’re not careful.
Choose an engine speed for the snow type
You can usually control two types of speed with your snowblower and the engine speed is one of them. The higher your engine revs, the better it can deal with large amounts of snow.
Some snowblower manufacturers simply tell you to run the snowblower with the engine at full throttle to achieve the best results and the best fuel efficiency. If you run the machine at full throttle, the engine is running at top speed which can help to minimize the chance the engine stalls due to a snow blockage.
For lighter snow loads, you might find you can operate the throttle lower but for large loads, opening the throttle all the way is the way to go. Each time you use the snowblower might have slightly different requirements than the prior one.
Choose the correct moving speed for the conditions
The second speed you can choose with your snowblower is the speed of the machine’s movement on the ground: How quickly does it move forward when blowing snow and also how fast it reverses if necessary.
The speed of your forward motion is an interesting one: On the one hand if you go too fast, it can be too much for the snowblower to handle and can clog the machine.
But if you move too slowly, it slows down how quickly the snow moves through the machine which can cause it to get stuck around the impeller and chute which leads to blockages.
Modern snowblowers have up to 6 forward speeds and 2 reverse speeds. The lowest forward speeds can be used when blowing snow. For heavy snow you may find that you only use the first, second and third speeds.
The fastest speeds can be used when you are simply moving the snowblower in areas you have already plowed or when you are returning the machine to storage when you’re done the job.
If you find that your snowblower is getting bogged down and struggling to keep up, switch to a slower gear and ensure the throttle is fully open.
Use a snowblower non-stick spray to prevent auger blockages
Check your owner’s manual for their recommendation but a snowblower non-stick spray is a commercial product in an aerosol can that you spray onto various parts of the snow collection and removal areas to prevent snow sticking and blockage of key parts. This includes the auger, scraper bar as well as the discharge chute and chute deflector which can be sprayed before you start the snowblower.
While some manufacturers such as Ariens suggest using a cooking spray or WD-40 if you don’t have their recommended non-stick spray on hand, do check with your manufacturer as some might warn against using DIY replacements.
You might find that you don’t even need such a spray – I’ve never used one – but if you are getting frequent clogs, a non-stick spray might be worth a try in conjunction with the other suggestions on this page.
Get your snowblower tuned up each year
This is something you can do at the end of the season or before the next winter season starts. Over time, your snowblower will need a belt tightened, new spark plug and parts replaced such as the shear pin, skid shoes, shave plates and scraper among others.
If you haven’t drained the gas from the year before and haven’t changed the oil regularly this can impact machine performance over time. In some cases, the engine may not start or runs poorly. It’s always recommended to drain gas from small engines like snowblowers and lawnmowers at the end of the season.
A professional small engine servicing at a qualified shop can ensure your snowblower is in top condition so you don’t experience a breakdown when you need to use it. A well-maintained snowblower can last 15 years or longer.
My current snowblower was bought in 1998 and still runs even though the company that made it (Noma) is long since gone. Yearly oil changes and basic maintenance goes a long way to make this happen.
Yearly tune ups also ensure that the machine’s parts are adjusted to ensure snowblowing success including no blockages.
Choose the correct snowblower that meets your needs
Take a look at the snowblower above. It’s a single-stage model with that likely has a clearing width between 18″ and 21″ and an intake height of 13″ maximum. Those are the general specs offered by a single stage machine of this kind.
Is it big enough for your needs?
In case you’re unaware of the three main types of snowblowers, here’s a quick rundown:
Single-stage snowblower
Like the model shown above, this smaller machine has one auger (hence the name single-stage) that pulls snow in and forces it out the chute. As such, it can only handle a smaller workload and will simply not work in very heavy, high snowbanks.
If you experience light snowfalls and have a small area to clear, this might be all you need.
Two-stage snowblower
This machine can be medium to large sized (clearing width of 24″- 30″ and snow intake of up to 23″ in height) with a two-stage system: A large auger pulls snow in and a smaller impeller inside the bottom of the discharge chute propels the snow out at a high speed.
As such, this extra stage enables these machines to clear heavier and more snow than a single-stage. If you have a decent-sized driveway and perhaps a sidewalk and get snowfalls higher than 13″ at a time, this could be the model for you.
Many homeowners will easily get by with a properly-sized 2-stage snowblower.
Three-stage snowblower
As the name suggests, this model has an extra stage not featured in a two-stage model. While a 3-stage machine has both an auger and impeller, it additionally has an accelerator which speeds up the propulsion of the snow out of the chute.
This extra stage generally increases the throwing distance of the snow and helps to throw wet, heavy snow better than the other two models. It’s the newest type of snowblower.
If you get significant snow and have enough room to throw it, you can pile snow farther away with the extra propulsion power which can come in handy during large accumulations. Anyone with 6′ high snow piles on their front lawn knows what I’m talking about.
This type of snowblower can certainly help when you frequently get large dumpings of snow and have to deal with wet snow as well.
Summary
Choosing the correct size and type of snowblower up front can help to minimize the chance of blockages. Not only are blockages frustrating and slow down your progress, they can be dangerous too. You have to stop the engine and using a tool of some kind to remove the snow. Do not place your hand in the machine due to the inherent dangers.
If you still experience clogs in your snowblower, check the above suggestions because assuming the snowblower is optimally tuned, it’s most likely a case of making a change to your engine speed, clutch speed and adjusting your snowblowing habits.