What If Your Snowblower Won't Start?

Looking out the window, you see the snow piling up. It's been snowing on and off all morning. There is three inches now and much more expected.

You don't particularly want to go out and get all that snow off your driveway and walks. It's cold and windy and the snow is starting to blow sideways. But thankfully, you have a snowblower. You bought it several years ago and it has served you well every winter. That should help you get the job done quickly.

Before 1925, we only had a shovel to clear all the snow. It was long, back-breaking work. You could only con the kids into doing it once! But Canadian inventor Arthur Sicard made life easier for millions of people worldwide who take advantage of his invention every winter. While Mr. Sicard only lived 22 years after making the snowblower, he will always be remembered as the person who helped so many homes, businesses and cities with their snow removal. Thank goodness he wasn't satisfied with using an old shovel!

Start With The Basics - Check The Fuel

But what if your snowblower won't start? That is a question most homeowners don't even want to think about, especially when the snow is blowing and the wind is howling. It has become a silent expectation that the snowblower will work when we want it to. Getting out the shovel is the very last thing they want to do. There must be something we can do to remedy the situation. Before you give up hope, here are a few things to check. It could be several things you can fix yourself. That will save you dragging your snowblower to the repair shop and worst of all, using the shovel in the meantime.

The biggest problem is usually the gas. You MUST empty the gas out at the end of each season. If you don't, it will affect the motor when you mix it with new gas next year. In a nutshell, old gas loses its ability to combust. This means it won't start the engine. If you think this might be the problem, you can try to empty the snowblower of all the gas, refill it with fresh gas and try to start it again. If this doesn't work, you've only wasted a few minutes of time and a few dollars in gas.

Air Filter, Spark Plugs, and Fuel Mixture

Second, check to see if the air filter is clean. If the air filter is dirty, you need to replace it. The air filter is what lets the motor breath. If the motor can't breathe, it can't start. This is something you can have on hand from year to year. So keep extras. You'll also want to check that the fuel filter is clean. If you use your snowblower every year, it's a good idea to replace the filters every year.

Third, check to see if the spark plug makes a charge. This is a little complicated to do but worth checking. Unplug one spark plug and pull out the wire. Attach this wire to a screw driver. Start the motor and see if it makes a spark. If it doesn't, you need a new spark plug.

Fourth, check to see if you've got the right oil/gas mixture. This is crucial for the engine to run properly and for a long life for the engine. Check the owner's manual for the right ratio. Some blowers take a ratio of 50:1, others take 40:1 and still others take 30:1.

The Last Resort - Check the Manual and Order Parts

Finally, it might be a good idea to read through the owner's manual when the snowblower is working fine and it's not snowing. Go over all the parts and make sure you understand how everything works. It would also be a great idea to take this manual to the store and put together a snowblower "kit" and buy some spare parts for your particular snowblower. This kit should include the manual with the name and model highlighted for easy finding later. It should also have a few spark plugs, a few air filters and fuel filters. Make sure these are the right ones for your make and model. Then find a good repair shop and write their name and number in the manual. It is also a good idea to have your snowblower cleaned and prepped for use in the fall and cleaned and prepared for storage at the end of the winter season. This will help keep your snowblower is perfect running order for years to come.