How to Snow Blow Your Driveway

How to Snow Blow Your Driveway

Snow blowing your driveway and sidewalks can be
quick and painless when you know how to approach
it safely and methodically. Here is how to snow
blow your driveway effectively in just a few easy
steps.

!! Steps !!

* _ Know which way the wind (and snow) blows.
The first step in successful snow blowing is to blow snow with_
the wind, never against it. While this sounds simple, implementing
this will ensure that you don't have to keep re-doing the same
areas over and over. This direction may change often during a
session, even during the same pass, so constantly adjust your
approach accordingly.
_ Snow soon piles upOnce you have a handle on windage, plan in
advance where the snow will be piled up. Consider that the snow
will need to be piled in the same areas each snowfall, so it may
get very high over time. This height can present safety and
security issues, so care needs to be taken to avoid making a
mound of problems.

* Take into account your and your neighbor's need to see street
traffic when piling snow at the end of your driveway. It may be
necessary to divert piles to other parts of the yard to prevent
sight obstruction.

* Be careful about piling snow against your house. Piling snow high
against your home's foundation may lead to flooding problems when
it starts to melt.

* Take weight of the pile into consideration if piling large amounts
of snow on structures or plantings.

* Be mindful not to blow snow directly at buildings or vehicles,
because the snow blower may pick up and throw rocks and other
debris.

* Keep kids in mind when piling up snow; be sure that there are no
potential traps for them to fall into or from, and that the pile
is not making it difficult to see kids walking around on the
sidewalk, etc.

Decide on a pattern. Now that you know which
way to blow snow, and where you want it to end
up, an efficient pattern to clear the snow must
be created. You can waste a lot of time going
over areas more than once as a result of not
planning your clearing pattern well. Your best
pattern will depend on wind speed and
direction, how powerful your machine is (how
far it is capable of throwing the snow), and
the moisture content of the snow. Bear in mind
that your goal is to throw the snow one time_
only.

* Try to avoid throwing snow onto an area that you'll be making a
future pass over. Instead, always get the snow off the area to be
cleared and onto its final resting area with each pass. This may
be done with a left to right (or vice versa) pattern, or starting
in the middle of the area and working each side alternately.
Adjust the chute direction and height as often as necessary to get
the snow to it's final home with every single pass. Be diligent
about this.

Prepare the snow blower. Be sure to check the
condition of the snow blower before using it
and check the following:

* Fill the machine with fuel before starting, to avoid breaking your
routine and walking back to your garage just to re-fuel. This
should be done outdoors to prevent vapor build-up. Do not add fuel
to a hot engine; a snow blower's engine must be cooled down first.

* Check the machine's oil before every use (applies 4 cycle
engines). Snow blowers can often burn oil without smoking, and the
lack of the proper amount and/or correct type of oil can kill your
machine quickly.

* Check that your own clothes are tucked in so that they can't get
caught up in the blower and wear gloves to protect your hands and
earplugs to minimize the noise, if needed. And even though it's
not often talked about, safety glasses should be worn when snow
blowing. It's very easy to get debris thrown back in your face
under the right conditions. Finally, wear cleats to ensure that
you don't slip over when handling the snow blower.

* If snow blowing near traffic, be aware that you might not hear
traffic over the noise, so either keep a constant eye out or have
a helper spot traffic and alert you, as well as wearing brightly
colored clothing.

Know how to use your snow blower correctly.
Before using a snow blower for the first time,
read through the user manual thoroughly. Once
you're outside, adjust the snow blower chute to
ensure that it will blow the snow in the
direction you've chosen. Start the snow blower
according the manufacturer's instructions and
begin clearing the first path, keeping both
hands on the snow blower at all times. Only
clear ice and snow; slush can clog a snow
blower.

* When snow blowing, always be careful to avoid obstructions such as
hoses and taps, water features, statues, toys, branches, and
cords, etc. These can become projectiles in the path of a snow
blower.

* Ensure that there is adequate light to work by. If you need a
spotlight, be sure to turn it on.

* While snow blowing, be aware that the machine can stop abruptly if
it encounters cracks or uneven spots in the ground's surface. This
may cause you to run into the machine's controls due to your
forward momentum. Try to keep your arms extended a good distance
from your body, to give you more reaction time if the machine
stops moving forward abruptly due to unseen obstructions.

* Leave the shoveling for after the snow blower
has had its way with your property. It's easier to use the power
of the machine to remove 95 percent of the snowfall as efficiently
as possible, then clean up the porches and other areas
inaccessible by the blower afterward. You should not slow the
machine's operation just to avoid blowing snow on a previously
shoveled area, as this is very counter-productive.

* Run the blower. At the end of using the snow
blower, allow it to run for a few minutes to remove the snow
build-up. This will help to dry it out before returning it to
storage.

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* There is really not one snow blower type that will do a great job
on all snowfalls. It is recommended that you have a great single
stage blower (with paddle type augers) for light to medium
snowfalls, and a larger two-stage machine for the big snowstorms.
Even then, there may be certain circumstances when neither type
will be as efficient as a good shovel, so be prepared for that day
and keep your back strengthening exercises underway.

* It's helpful to mark potential obstructions such as small bushes,
statues, etc. with flags, so that you know to avoid them.

!! Warnings !!

* Never, ever clear a clogged discharge chute or auger/impeller with
your hands or feet! Even if the snow blower machine is off, use a
proper clearing stick or broom handle to clear clogged snow. If
you make this your golden rule, it will become habit, a very good
habit. Snow blower augers and impellers can and do rotate without
you at the controls, even if the engine is turned off. This golden
rule keeps you with all 10 fingers and toes, even if the
augers/impeller turn unexpectedly. Most hardware stores and snow
blower retailers will have clog clearing sticks that can be
mounted right onto your machine so they are always handy.

* Most larger machines have reverse gears to aid in moving these
heavy machine backwards. Be very cautious of your position when
using this powered reverse action. It is very possible to forget
the machine is in reverse, and engage the traction control only to
pin yourself against a building, vehicle, snow bank, or just be
knocked off your feet by the unexpected rearward motion of the
machine. Icy conditions compound this problem.

* Watch for and be aware that objects can often be buried in a deep
snowfall. Items like garbage bags, litter from the street, small
chunks of concrete, etc. can become projectiles thrown at high
speeds, or at the least, jam up and disable your machine.

* Do not let bystanders/onlookers get close to your operations. Snow
blowing looks, and can be very fun, but it is not a group effort.
It is far too easy for a person in close proximity to get hit by
the snow, ice, and debris coming out of the chute, or to get hit
by the machine itself. Keep them far away. Perhaps they can watch
through the window of the house!

!! Things You\'ll Need !!

* Snow blower

* Snow shovel

* Fuel for blower

* Storage space for snow blower (out of the snow)

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Drive in the Snow

* How to Enhance Your Driving Skills

* How to Avoid Car Accidents

* How to Improve Driving Skill

* How to Pay Maximum Attention While Driving

* How to Practice Zen Driving

* How to Be a Safe Elderly Driver

* How to Choose a Car for Tactical Driving

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