If you can’t tell the direction of the wind, try licking your finger and then holding in front of your face. The wetness will help you feel the wind better. You can also throw a handful of loose snow up in the air. The direction it lands is the direction that the wind is blowing. Look at moving or waving objects, such as trees, flags, or wind chimes. If they’re bending or turning a certain way, it means that the wind is pushing them in that direction.
Aim to blow the snow towards an unused area of your yard. Avoid blowing the snow into places like walkways or near the mailbox. Remember that the pile of snow will melt in spring, so try to blow the snow towards an area that has good drainage. Make sure your snow blower does not blow the snow too far out. You don’t want to use a setting that would blow your snow into a neighbor’s yard.
Check the machine’s oil before every use (applies to 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. 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. Add a fuel stabilizer if it is extremely cold outside. This will help prevent the fuel from freezing and gelling inside of the snow blower. Check the skid shoes, which are the metal pieces on the bottom of the snow blower. If you have a paved driveway, make sure the skid shoes are set to the lowest setting. For a gravel driveway, skid shoes should be set higher up to avoid displacing the gravel.
Alternatively, if you know there are difficult areas, clear those areas first so that you do not have to shovel them later.
If you have pets that you allow outside, keep them indoors while using the snow blower.
Dress in layers in the winter to keep yourself warm. Tuck your layers into one another to prevent any loose clothing from getting caught.
