{"id":31,"date":"2010-11-27T17:12:41","date_gmt":"2010-11-27T17:12:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/?p=31"},"modified":"2010-11-27T17:12:41","modified_gmt":"2010-11-27T17:12:41","slug":"snow_thrower_safety_and_maintenance_tips_for_winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/snow_thrower_safety_and_maintenance_tips_for_winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Snow thrower safety and maintenance tips for winter"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Soon it will be time to clear snow off driveways and walkways. Before starting up the snow thrower this year, it&#8217;s important to follow proper safety procedures to prevent injury and review maintenance tips to keep your snow thrower in tip-top shape all winter.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;One of the most important things to do when getting ready to use a snow thrower is to read and understand all instructions before operating it,&#8221; says Jack Drobny, product marketing manager for MTD Products Inc. &#8220;When you&#8217;re ready to start up your snow thrower, always wear protective eyewear, like safety goggles, and make certain you wear proper winter gear.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>When operating a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yardmachines.com\/webapp\/wcs\/stores\/servlet\/product_10451_18503_90851_36257_-1#%29,\">snow thrower<\/a>, MTD Products recommends the following safety tips.<\/p>\n<p>* Remember to inspect the area that is going to be cleared before using the machine, and remove any objects from the area that may cause harm; such as doormats, newspapers, sleds, wires, pet leashes and other objects that can be tripped on or pulled into the auger and\/or impeller.<\/p>\n<p>* Always use an approved chute clearing device to clear a clogged chute; never use your hands.<\/p>\n<p>* Remember that children age 14 and under should not operate a snow thrower.<\/p>\n<p>If you are looking to buy a snow thrower, it&#8217;s important to know which is right for you. If you receive light snowfall, about 0 to 6 inches at a time, and have a smaller area to clear; try the Yard Machines Snow Fox Electric Single-Stage snow thrower, which has a 12.5 inch clearing width and a 6 inch intake height. For a slightly larger driveway, about 20 to 40 feet long, that receives light snowfalls, a gas powered single-stage snow thrower may be best for you.<\/p>\n<p>If you live in an area that receives more than 6 inches of snow at a time, try a two-stage snow thrower, like the Yard Machines Summit Series with an electric start and a 30 inch clearing width. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yardmachines.com\/webapp\/wcs\/stores\/servlet\/product_10451_18503_1536489_36258_-1\">Two-stage snow throwers<\/a> break up snow with an auger (stage one), churn it up and send it to the impeller; a high-speed fan that throws it out of the chute (stage two). These snow throwers are larger and are ideal for long driveways, compacted snow and heavy snowfalls.<\/p>\n<p>If you already own a snow thrower, maintaining it is an important step for smooth winter operation. Here are a few tips to help keep your snow thrower running properly.<\/p>\n<p>* Add fresh fuel before you use your snow thrower for the first time and prime the unit as specified by the engine manufacturer to make starting easier.<\/p>\n<p>* Change your oil and spark plug at the beginning of each season, and check the oil before each use.<\/p>\n<p>* Run the unit regularly, at least once a month, to circulate the fuel &#8211; even if there&#8217;s no snow.<\/p>\n<p>* Always use a manual pump or portable electric tire inflator to inflate your snow thrower&#8217;s tires because the tires are low-volume, low-pressure tires. Do not use an air compressor, because it is generally a high-volume, high-pressure unit that is capable of overinflating a tire quickly, possibly rupturing the tire assembly and causing harm.<\/p>\n<p>* Always turn off the engine and wait for it to come to a complete stop before performing any repairs.<\/p>\n<p>* Run your snow thrower out of fuel before putting it away for the season.<\/p>\n<p>* Look for signs of wear and tear, and take the unit to a dealership for a tune-up or have it serviced if it has been a while since the last visit.<\/p>\n<p>* Check and make sure there are no recalls associated with your snow thrower by visiting snowthrowersafety.com or the CPSC&#8217;s website.<\/p>\n<p>For more information on winter health and safety, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.snowthrowersafety.com\">www.snowthrowersafety.com<\/a>.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aracontent.com\/PrintSite\/ViewTracker.aspx?ArticleId=12016&#038;ArticleNumber=8051740101&#038;MemberId=40132\" 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Before starting up the snow thrower this year, it&#8217;s important to follow proper safety procedures to prevent injury and review maintenance tips to keep your snow thrower in tip-top shape all winter. &#8220;One of the most important things to do when getting ready to use a snow thrower is to read and understand all instructions before operating it,&#8221; says Jack Drobny, product marketing manager for MTD Products Inc. &#8220;When you&#8217;re ready to start up your snow thrower, always wear protective eyewear, like safety goggles, and make certain you <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":187,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[37,38],"class_list":["post-31","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-holidays","tag-snow-blower","tag-winter-maintenance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/187"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}