Winter Weather Preparation: Get the Snowblower Ready!
Prepare Yourself and Your Snowblower Long Before the Snow Falls
(Milwaukee, WI) – September 15, 2004 – Dealing with winter weather means hauling the snowblower out of the garage for many homeowners. Before you’re forced to face the blustery winds and white stuff, take time to check out your equipment and review operating procedures to help make this winter chore go smoothly.
Engineers at Briggs & Stratton Corporation, one of the largest makers of gas-powered engines for outdoor power equipment, advise consumers to perform basic snowblower maintenance before the first snowflakes appear. “Fall is an ideal time to perform an annual tune-up so that your equipment will perform when you need it,” explains Brian Olsson, an engineer at Briggs & Stratton. “This is also a good time to review the entire owner’s manual including the safety information so you can avoid injuries.”
Consumers suffered more than 6,000 snowblower injuries last year, according to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission. Most snowblower injuries are caused by reaching into the discharge chute or the auger/collector to remove a clog. When heavy, wet snow or other debris clogs the blower, shut off the machine and remove the obstruction with a stick, never your hand.
Here are some additional safety tips:
• Clearly mark the boundaries of the area you will be snowblowing long before the snow starts to fall.
• Inspect the area where you will be using the snowblower and pick up toys, debris and other objects that could clog the discharge chute or be hurled along with the snow.
• Keep your hands and feet away from all moving parts of the snowblower.
• Never leave the snowblower unattended while it is running.
• Add fuel to the snowblower outside, before you start it.Never add fuel while the snowblower is running or the engine is hot.
• Warm up the snowblower outside, never in your garage or other enclosed environment.
Briggs & Stratton engineers also recommend regular engine maintenance – an annual tune-up can be performed at an outdoor equipment dealership or by following the directions in the owner’s manual.
“The most common reason a snowblower doesn’t start is the quality of the gasoline,” explains Olsson. “Always start with fresh gasoline and add a fuel stabilizer. Gasoline is formulated differently in winter to aid in cold weather starting, so don’t use leftover summer fuel in your snowblower.”
Also check the engine’s oil level, and refer to the owner’s manual to check and adjust the clutch, if needed. Spraying the inside of the snow blower’s discharge chute with a silicon spray before each use can help prevent the snow from sticking.
For more information on snowblowers and their proper operation, visit www.briggsandstratton.com
For More Information Contact:
Contact:
Terri Kaminski
262-242-2754
lwitk@aol.com
Anita Fisher
414-256-1169
fisher.anita@basco.com
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