Blowing Snow with a Leaf Blower: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you looking for an efficient way to clear snow from your driveway? You might be surprised that a leaf blower can do the job. Our guide provides step-by-step instructions and expert advice to help you quickly tackle snow removal.

Blowing Snow with a Leaf Blower

Gas leaf blowers work best for snow. Start at one end and sweep across the area. Avoid heavy, wet snow. Wear gloves and ear protection. Bring a leaf blower inside to dry. Limit use in freezing temps. Clear vehicles starting on one side. It’s safer than shoveling but avoid heavy snow.

Winter is coming, but are you ready? Learn how to use your leaf blower to clear snow quickly and efficiently. It’s a winter hack you won’t want to miss. Let’s get started!

● Can You Use a Leaf Blower to Blow snow?

You can clear snow in several ways; however, some methods are much more efficient. While the traditional standard tool of choice would be a snowblower, a snow shovel, or a rake, other non-conventional options work just as efficiently as the conventional standards, if not more so.

Apart from being a perfect substitute, a leaf blower is one of the best ways to conserve energy while clearing snow. If you’re looking for a leaf blower that can clear your walkways and driveway, you should check out our article on things to look out for while shopping for a leaf blower.

The short answer is Yes, you can! You can use your snow blower to blow off the snow. However, there are certain limits to the effectiveness of your leaf blower. Still, it can be considered an excellent alternative for many people, especially when using a trusty shovel or snowblower.

– Leaf Blower: An Alternative to Shovels and Snowblowers

Most leaf blowers can do more than just clearing or blowing off leaves. They can be a very effective alternative in clearing away snow as well. A leaf blower can be an excellent investment if you live in a place that experiences a lot of snowfall yearly.

Not only will it get rid of excess snow, but it will also conveniently perform its original purpose of clearing leaves. That being said, it is vital to know that using your blower to clear snow differs significantly from blowing leaves.

● Why Should I Use a Leaf Blower?

If you own a snowblower, you might wonder why you must use a leaf blower to clear off the snow in your driveway or yard. If you own a snowblower and prefer to use it during the winter, you can use it to remove snow and probably save your leaf blower for the greener months.

However, if you do not have a snowblower but already own a leaf blower, you can use it to get your job done just as well as a snowblower, especially when the snow is not heavy.

Besides, it is better to use a tool stored away for other seasons of the year because it can help you save money and space in your garage and even minimize the number of appliances you need to maintain, repair, or replace.

– Clearing Snow from Your Driveway with a Leaf Blower

Another great advantage of using a leaf blower is removing your vehicles and garbage cans from every snow while clearing your driveway. You can even remove your mailbox with the leaf blower.

Using a leaf blower is even more efficient when clearing off vehicles and other machines that are not easy to access or structures that are oddly shaped.

A leaf blower can collect snow in tiny crevices that are difficult to reach. Instead of using tools such as brooms and rakes, a leaf blower can prevent you from scratching your car or causing any damage.

● How do you clear out snow with a leaf blower?

The first thing you will need is a leaf blower that is powerful enough to handle snow. If you know you won’t cover a large area or yard, a simple handheld leaf blower will do your job.

You don’t need to unnecessarily stress yourself since you wouldn’t be working in a large area. When clearing away snow, your leaf blower should be used the same way as you would a snowblower.

If you are going down your sidewalk, aim your leaf blower and ensure it is pointed at a stable angle while gently sweeping from side to side. When clearing, you don’t need to be aggressive with your movements; a good angle can get your job done efficiently.

– The Importance of Safety: Watching Your Step

Moreover, ensure you watch your step because there could be some solid ice stuck on your sidewalk that the blower may be unable to move. Knowing that leaf blowers do not do very well against wet snow is essential.

Some powerful blowers might be able to handle it well, but it might probably not be easy. Therefore, you should always try to use your leaf blower on fresh snow that is not wet or slushy yet.

Using a leaf blower to clear away snow may require patience, depending on how much snow you are dealing with. If you are dealing with more than 7 inches of snow, know it will take a long time to clear.

● How is a Leaf Blower Better than a Shovel?

Many people assume that a shovel is better for clearing snow than a leaf blower, but have you ever considered or even imagined how long it takes to clean your driveway using a shovel?

On some days, especially when there are light layers of snow on the ground, it is much more efficient and less stressful to use a leaf blower, and using a shovel will most likely take more time than necessary.

This also applies if there is about one or two inches of snow on the ground, making it easier for your leaf blower to clear it. On light snow days, the layer of snow on the ground is usually thin enough to be blown away quickly, depending on the size of your driveway.

– Efficiency of Leaf Blowers

You may even have your pavement and vehicles cleared within minutes. This can be a big surprise to many people, but here is another good reason to try to avoid using a shovel.

According to the BBC, over 100 people die every year in the USA due to heart attacks while shoveling snow. According to them, it seems like the combination of exertion, cold air, and early morning routines increases the strain on the body even far more than running on a treadmill.

A cardiologist quoted in the BBC article considers shoveling snow so dangerous that he advises people over 55 to avoid it altogether. Yes, it is that serious. So, a leaf blower should be regarded as a replacement for shovels.

– Comparing Leaf Blowers and Shovels in Snow Removal

As discussed above, whether a leaf blower is a much better option than a shovel when clearing snow from our sidewalks and driveway is not questionable.

Using a shovel will take you at least three or four times as long as using a leaf blower, which is exhausting. Furthermore, a leaf blower may not always be as effective as a snowblower, but it is way better than a shovel.

You may be competent to get away using a shovel on light snow, but it calls for something much more potent when heavier snowfall appears.

● Limitations of Using a Leaf Blower to Clear Snow:

It is usually not a good idea to try this with more than 4 inches of snow, and you should never use a leaf blower if the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The final thing you don’t want to do when clearing snow is damage your leaf blower because you used it when it was too cold outside.

However, sure blowers may be more resistant to colds than others, so check your product’s manual to be sure you are doing the right thing with the tool. Remember to use your leaf blower only on freshly fallen snow; this measure will make your job much easier.

● Precautions for using a Leaf Blower for Blowing Snow:

Taking necessary precautions before using a leaf blower on snow would be best. Because the atmosphere is moist, moisture can settle inside the engine, which can cause a lot of damage to the tool and the user.

Therefore, you must put the leaf blower in an arid area once you use it to cause any damage. You must also avoid using your leaf blower on snow for long periods. As said above, extremely low temperatures can be pretty harmful to the inner components of the leaf blower.,

Which can cause severe damage. In addition, if you start to notice that your leaf blower is not working as well as it usually should, then you should turn it off to rest before you resume. For those with an electric leaf blower, you may also consider getting a gas-powered one.

– Understanding the Limitations of Electric Leaf Blowers in Cold Weather

Electric leaf blowers tend to get damaged more easily when used in the cold to blow off snow, so you may want to keep that in mind before purchasing your leaf blower. It is also advisable not to use your leaf blower for an extended period.

This is because the machine also requires rest. You also wouldn’t want the leaf blower to confront the elements too long because it could cause issues with the machine you wouldn’t like. If there are moments when the leaf blower doesn’t seem to be working effectively as you want, turn it off.

Let it rest for some time. One last call for caution- do not use an electric leaf blower to blow snow. One common fact is that electricity and water don’t match up well. Therefore, if moisture gets into the motor, the machine can shock you, and you don’t want that to happen.

● Which Kind of Leaf Blower Should You Use?

Several kinds of leaf blowers are available today, but you wouldn’t want to use just any of them to clear snow off your driveways. It is ideal for getting a powerful leaf blower with high MPH and CFM.

Now, a backpack leaf blower is ideal for clearing out snow. This is simply because it can cover a large area and has a high airspeed. That way, you can do your job easier and faster without complications.

However, a simple handheld blower will do just fine if the snow isn’t too much and it isn’t slushy. If you decide to go all out with your spending or power, you can find ideal options for you on the market.

– Understanding the Power of Leaf Blowers

Just know that the more powerful your leaf blower is, the more effective it will be at clearing snow. You don’t necessarily need a commercial-grade leaf blower for blowing snow.

You can find affordable models that would also get the job done. As stated above, gas-powered leaf blowers are best for blowing snow away. This is because there is just too much risk of damage or injury when using an electric model.

Quality Indicators: What the Brand of Your Leaf Blower Tells You

It is also essential to look for a leaf blower with a reputable brand. This is because the brand name of your blower is also a good indicator of quality, so it is not necessarily something you would want to ignore.

You also don’t have to spend much money or break the bank when purchasing a leaf blower. However, it would be best if you didn’t opt for something too cheap. Knowing that you get what you pay for when it comes to leaf blowers is essential. So always go for the quality.

● Clearing Snow off Your Vehicle with a Leaf Blower:

Now, when you want to clear snow off your vehicle and you want it to be as efficient as possible, there are a few things that you will need to know before you proceed. Clearing snow off your vehicle involves logic to get the best results.

Once you begin, start at one end of your car, going side to side in a sweeping motion with the leaf blower. To achieve a perfect result, you should start at one end, sweeping softly until one side is cleared off.

Once you have cleared out one side, move around to the next, blowing the snow off the top and out of every opening or crack that seems inaccessible as you go. Make sure you keep going at the same pace and angle until you make it round and clear the entire vehicle.

– How to Use Your Leaf Blower Effectively in Winter

If you follow this method, you should be able to clear off your car much faster, with minimal effort. This simple trick can save you time and energy during the snowy season and help you put your leaf blower to good use.

Don’t forget to go around your vehicle until all the snow has been removed. Remember to remove the snow on your car, which can blow off other vehicles while driving.

Leaving a pile of snow on your car’s roof can be dangerous for you and other drivers. I’m sure you wouldn’t want that. Using a leaf blower to clear away snow on your car is much faster and more efficient than using the standard brush.

● Can I Use A Cordless Leaf Blower For Snow?

Although we recommend a gas leaf blower for clearing snow, you can also use a handheld cordless model besides a gas-powered leaf blower. These models work best for tasks that involve small snow removal.

This includes removing snow from a car and a pathway. However, buy a robust model to do your job well when getting a cordless leaf blower. You can find the best cordless leaf blower for you in trusted stores.

● Which kind of Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Should I Buy?

Gasoline-powered leaf blowers are always recommended because they work like a charm for removing snow from your driveways, porch, deck, and vehicles.

As mentioned, a branded model is often the best bet and will pay off later. You can look at the gas-powered leaf blower reviews and find just the one you need for your job.

● Which safety measures should be adopted?

First, you need to be conscious of the hazards caused by the type of leaf blower you’re using. If you use a corded electric leaf blower, make sure it is plugged into a GFCI outlet to minimize the risk of electrocution, especially in wet conditions.

If you use a gas-powered leaf blower that gets hot often, you must wear safety gloves to avoid the risk of burning yourself or causing damage. In addition, most gasoline leaf blowers and snow blowers are extremely loud, so much so that they measure up to over 100 decibels and can damage hearing.

Therefore, when clearing your driveway or vehicle with any blower, always wear safety earmuffs or earplugs to protect your ears from damage. In addition, this doesn’t just apply to you but to anyone close to you.

– Protecting Your Hearing: The Role of Special Gear

They should also protect their hearing with special protective gear to avoid damage. Also, make sure you don’t use your leaf blower late at night or early in the morning because it will most likely disturb the peace of your neighborhood.

You can begin clearing the snow away once your safety gear and leaf blower are running. When removing your driveway, walkways, or pavement, start at one end and sweep the blower back and forth until you reach the other end.

– Clearing Snow: Step-by-Step Guide

Keep this going until the snow is driven and falls to the outer edges. Once you reach the end of your driveway, you can turn around and go back over it again for better results. After successfully clearing the snow, it is time to go back inside.

You probably want to bring the leaf blower inside to give it a chance to dry off. Leaving it outside in the cold and moist weather won’t do any good. So make sure you put it somewhere to dry and allow it to rest before you reuse it.

Remarks

According to all that has been written above, you can see that the leaf blower is a very reliable alternative to the trusty traditional shovel or a dedicated standard snowblower (under the right circumstances).

Clearing away snow from your driveway, sidewalks, walkways, porch, deck, and vehicle shouldn’t be as challenging and exhausting as it used to be when you used a snow shovel. Instead, you can quickly get rid of snow with a leaf blower.

Start feeling even more confident about stepping out into your yard during winter. However, it’s best to remember that using a leaf blower in icy conditions could potentially damage the blower engine and put the fuel lines at risk.

– Engine Stall at Risk in Cold Weather

The frigid temperatures can cause the fuel’s water to freeze, forcing the engine to work harder and potentially stall. It’s essential to have the right tools for maintaining your leaf blower engine to prevent these issues and fix them if they occur.

In addition to snow, leaf blowers are also great for clearing leaves and debris from your gutters in the spring. They can even be used to clean your window sills.