6 tips for making snow blowing your driveway easier

A snowblower makes clearing your driveway easier in the winter. Nevertheless, even with the extra help, moving all that snow still requires a lot of work. A little strategy can make blowing snow less arduous, so you don’t have to dread the next snowstorm. Here are five tips to make snow clearing a breeze.

1. Use the wind. Always blow snow downwind, so the wind helps you throw the snow away from your driveway. If there’s a strong crosswind, start on the upwind side of your driveway and work downwind.

2. Change direction as little as possible. Always move up and down the length of your driveway rather than perpendicular. Turning and changing direction requires more effort, so do it as few times as possible.

3. Start down the middle. If winds are light, leave the chute pointed one way. Start by cutting a path down the centre of the driveway and work from the middle outwards in bigger and bigger circles. This method means you can keep the chute pointed to one side, saving yourself the work and time of changing the chute direction every time you turn around.

4. Keep snow piles far away. Throw the snow as far as possible away from your sidewalks and driveway. Piling the snow next to your driveway will create higher and more challenging snowbanks the next time it snows.

5. Tackle snowfalls immediately. Always clear the snow right after a snowfall before the fresh powder has time to pack in or freeze. Avoid letting the snow accumulate: removing 15 centimetres of snow twice is more manageable than moving 30 centimetres of snow once.

6. Upgrade your equipment. If you have a lot of square metres to clear and a single-stage snowblower, consider upgrading to a dual-stage blower. A two-stage snowblower has more power, can tackle deeper snowbanks and throw snow further than single-stage machines.

To avoid costly breakdowns and repairs, always ensure there’s nothing under the snow that may jam or damage your snowblower, such as a newspaper, dog chain or children’s toy. Never use your hand or foot to clear out the machine. Turn off the engine, wait 10 seconds, then try to remove the clog with a clean-out tool or broom handle.

Snow plow and snowblower dealers in Barrie, Scarborough and Mississauga

At Hitch City, we carry a wide variety of single-stage snowblowers, two-stage snowblowers and snow plows to help you tackle the harshest GTA winters. We also offer after-hours snow plow services, where we stay open extra hours during snow storms of five centimetres or more. Contact us today to learn more about our products and services.