A snow blower can be stored outside if you do not have space for it in your garage, although care should be taken to protect it as much as possible.
If you decide to store your snow blower outside, then you should pick a spot that will not get soggy or buried under snow. The last thing you want is to have to dig out your snow blower with a snow shovel before you can even begin to use it. For instance, you can park the snow blower on a wooden platform to keep it high and dry. Cover the snow thrower with a tarpaulin and tie it down securely. If the snow blower is not going to be used for a few weeks, then you should either add a fuel stabilizer or run the engine until the fuel tank, fuel lines and carburetor are dry.
Is it safe to leave a snow blower outside?
It would be nice to store a snow blower inside the garage, and yet often there is not enough space for it. Nevertheless, you might be able to keep a snow blower outside where it will not be in the way.
You should probably clean the snow blower before storing it away for a few weeks or months. Some people even recommend that you remove the spark plug. The most important thing is to drain all the fuel from the fuel system to prevent old gasoline from clogging up the fuel lines.
You do not want the snow blower to get wet or stand in a puddle of melted snow or water. Therefore, some sort of platform or elevated spot might prevent the snow thrower from getting soaked. However, you should never park it on an incline, since this will make it more difficult to handle. Moreover, you might place a few wooden blocks against the wheels to prevent it from shifting. Although, you should probably put the axle or the frame of the snow blower on blocks to reduce the amount of weight pressing on the tires.
The last thing to do is to cover up the snow blower with a tarpaulin or snow blower cover to keep out the rain, dust and mice. Of course, for security reasons, you should not store it in your front yard where it is easy to see and easy to steal.
Can a snow blower be stored outside?
After the last snow of winter has fallen and been cleared away, and spring is in the air, then it is time to store the snow blower until the next winter.
If you want to store your snow blower outside, then you need to keep it off the ground and cover it up with a tarpaulin to keep out water and dust. It might be tempting to just park the snow blower in a corner and forget about it until the next winter, and yet a snow blower needs to be prepared for long term storage over the spring and summer months. Otherwise, it might fail to start when the first snow falls and the snow shovel calls your name.
Foremost, you should wipe down the snow blower to remove dirty deposits.
Second, replace any parts that need replacement, and repair rusty spots where the paint has chipped off. You might also need to use a rust prevention spray on exposed metal parts such as the auger housing, auger blades and the impeller.
Third, the fuel system of a gas-powered snow blower needs to be emptied of fuel to prevent sticky deposits from forming during storage. Usually, this means running the engine until it runs out of fuel, and there is no more gas in its fuel tank.
Lastly, fold down the handles and cover the snow thrower machine with your choice of either a heavy canvas cover or outdoor storage shed.
How To Store Snow Blowers Outside
If you are not going to use the snow blower for a few days, then you should make sure that the machine is free from snow and dirt. Inspect the machine for signs of wear and tear, also checking the bolts and screws for tightness. Close the fuel shut-off valve and park the snow blower in a dry, protected area. Then, cover it with a snow blower cover to protect it against rain, wind and sun.
Long term storage requires more attention to detail, which is usually explained in the owner’s operator manual that came with the snow blower. Generally, the snow blower should be cleaned with water and mild soap, but avoid using a high pressure washer. Next, lubricate all the parts indicated in the operator manual with either grease or oil. Wipe each part clean after lubrication, and do not let grease or oil fall on the belts, friction plate or friction disc. It is also a good idea to repair any scratches in the paint before it starts to rust.
As discussed, gasoline tends to gum up the fuel system if unused for months at a time: because of that, it should be treated with a fuel stabilizer according to the instructions. Remember to run the engine for about 10 minutes to allow the stabilizer to get to the carburetor before shutting down. Be that as it may, you should never store a snow blower with a full fuel tank inside a building where there might be a source of ignition. Therefore, running the fuel system until it is empty and draining out the carburetor might be the safest and most complete way to protect the fuel lines against sticky deposits during long term storage.
Conclusion
To conclude, you can store a snow blower outside if you have a safe, secure and dry area where the machine will not suffer damage from summer storms. Still, some manufacturers would probably not be happy about seeing their snow blowers sitting outside under a tarpaulin.
Photo by Seb Cumberbirch on Unsplash