Leaf blowers are a great tool for keeping your yard clean in the fall. But what do you do with them when winter comes around?
If you just wrap it up and keep it in the garage until winter passes, you could damage internal parts that are pricey to replace and have to buy a brand new leaf blower. It’s important to manage the fuel, spark plug, and air filter before storing the equipment.
Here are some tips to help you winterize your leaf blower so it’s ready again for spring.
What you’ll need before you winterize your leaf blower
Here are some essential tools you should have ready so cleaning and storage of your leaf blower goes without a hitch:
- Fogging oil
- Microfiber cloth
- Brass brush
- Screwdrivers
- Jerry can
- Spark plug removal T-bar (optional)
This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it’s enough to get the job done.
With that said, let’s head on to the actual doing part of keeping your leaf blower safely before winter, starting with the fuel.
Step 1: Store the fuel
If you’re going to store your leaf blower for an extended period of time, the first step is to drain the fuel. The easiest way to do that is with a jerry can.
Just open up the cap and pour the fuel into a jerry can, using a funnel if you need it.
Next, you’ll need to make sure any remaining fuel is burned off so the reservoir is empty.
Run the engine a few times until the leaf blower no longer starts, which means there’s no fuel left in the carburetor.
Leaving gasoline in the leaf blower can leave varnishing or cause issues with other components.
Once you’ve placed the fuel cap back, it’s time to check the spark plug.
Step 2: check and clean the spark plug
First, take off the cable to reveal the spark plug.
Turning counter-clockwise, remove the spark plug with your tool of choice. It’ll likely be too tight to do by hand, so a suitable wrench is recommended.
Clean the spark plug of any debris and dirt with a brass brush that has soft bristles. Consider replacing the spark plug if the top is rounded or it’s too dirty to clean.
Before you replace the spark plug, spray some fogging oil into the cylinder to prevent buildup of corrosion. You can turn the motor over by turning the engine slowly with a few gentle pulls to ensure the fogging oil is spread around in the engine.
After you’ve done that, replace the spark plug and tighten with your tool. Bear in mind it needs to be tightened at the right torque, so check your user manual if you’re unsure how tight it should be.
Step 3: clean the air filter
Take out the air filter, usually at the back of the leaf blower, and give it a few taps on a hard surface.
You can use a soft brush to remove any dirt if it’s not clean. Compressed air blowers can also help remove finer dust and debris.
Make sure to give the filter cover a wipe down as well before replacing the filter.
Step 4: wipe down the leaf blower
You’ll want to give the leaf blower a good clean using a damp cloth. Wipe it down with a damp microfiber cloth.
Remove any stray leaves that you find in the equipment.
Additional tips for preparing your leaf blower for winter
The fuel, spark plug, and air filter are the most important parts to manage before winterizing your leaf blower, but you can also check a few other components before storing it.
Check that the switches still function as intended and they’re not sticky or unresponsive.
Take note if the rope is fraying, as you’ll need to buy a replacement in order to start up the machine in spring.
Why Winterize Your Leaf Blower?
Properly winterizing your leaf blower will prevent engine corrosion and major parts corroding, which might save you from having to buy a brand new leaf blower when next year rolls around.
The steps above might not take long, but spending the extra bit of time will go a long way to preserving your leaf blower for the long run.
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