Three Helpful Snowblower Tips

Heavy snow can fall at almost any time in most parts of the country and a light winter can easily be followed by a harsh winter from one year to the next. When winter comes there are very few gasoline powered tools that are as appreciated as a snowblower. Shoveling snow by hand can be good exercise but it can also be too dangerous for some people and too difficult for others. There are many different kinds of snowblowers from completely electric to single stage and double stage gasoline powered machines. No matter what kind of snowblower you have, there are some basic rules on how to use them to your advantage.

Always think about safety first: Snowthrowers are essentially garden tillers that are designed to break up icy snow instead of soil and stones. They not only break up anything in their way, but they also forcefully throw debris and ice through the air. You have to be cautious around the front of the machine as well as near the blowing chute. Many operate by quickly turning a large metal auger with blades very quickly and gloves, ear plugs and goggles are always a good idea.

Blowing snow is like cutting grass: When you need to clear a lot of that cold white stuff you will need to take your time. Move up and down over your surface slowly as if you were cutting a very tall patch of grass and be sure to overlap your walking path to make sure you get everything. Just like when you mow your lawn without a grass bag, you have to be careful of where you aiming your debris. Turn your throwing chute away from structures, automobiles and people when possible.

Use a snow shovel when necessary: Avoid cars, grassy areas or any uneven surfaces if you can. Even after blowing most of the snow out of the way, you will probably need to sweep snow out of some tight areas and spread one of the various types of ice melting chemicals that are now available. You will not be able to use your snowblower in every situation, so learn when you can and cannot use it.

Because they are only helpful a few months out of the year, you should familiarize yourself with your machine and perform any necessary repairs at least a month or so before you will actually need it. A few minutes of caution can save you an entire winter of hard work from shoveling all that snow by hand. Snowthrowers are usually under valued until you actually use one.

These are just some of the many things you should be aware of when you start clearing snow this winter season. You can read about even more snowblower tips here.

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January 11 2012 | Landscaping | No Comments »

Preparing Your Lawn Mower for Winter

Winterizing your lawn mower is a vital procedure often ignored by many people. It is very important that you’re taking as many precautions as you possibly can towards the end of the season to properly winterize your mower if you reside in a place where cold temperatures are a major issue.

Preparing a lawn mower for winter storing is uncomplicated to do with the 7 easy steps shown below. Not only can effective winterizing save you money and frustration, winter preservation is also good for the environment, as it may vastly lessen your mowers emissions next spring. A lawn mower in good working condition is less hazardous and more effective for your garden.

Winterizing mowers takes various steps, like emptying the gas, cleaning the mower, updating air filters, and changing the oil. If not properly maintained, lawn mowers can not only be frustrating and highly-priced but also harmful to the environment and risky. Some older mowers, mainly those that have not been appropriately preserved, tend not to operate as well and may be dangerous. Do keep in mind, at the end of the day your lawn mower is a massive heap of metal with a lot of energy behind it. You’d like it to work for you, not against you. You must always be sure that your mower is working at its greatest capacity.

Keeping up with these easy preservation techniques for your lawn mower before winterizing it this winter could help you save time and irritation with lawn mower auto repairs and substitutions in spring: * Empty all of the gas from the tank. * Clean the bottom of the unit using a brush and hot soapy water, making sure to always rinse nicely. * Touch up the cutting blade and buff it by using a small layer of WD40. * Switch the air filter. * Replace the oil. * After your spark plug is removed, apply a tiny bit of oil into the sparkplug hole. * Oil the cables and throttle control. * Store your mower in a sheltered, and if possible a dark area.

The moment the spring arrives, always be sure to examine the undercarriage of the mower and inside the discharge chute and container for small wild animals that may have decided to utilize your lawn mower as a winter retreat. The importance of this point will be dependent solely on where in the world you live, so you will have a good idea of what type of wild animals to look out for.

Employ these winterizing suggestions and your mower will begin the new spring season as good as new.

For more lawn care tips, check out the Greenworks 26012 and this snow blower for greater insight into lawn care techniques.

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January 08 2012 | Landscaping | No Comments »

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