There's nothing quite so disheartening as waking up to fresh snow-just to find your snow blower won't start. Whether yours is a gas-powered machine or a battery-operated model, it's incredibly frustrating when you are ready to clear the driveway, but your blower refuses to cooperate.
Before you drag it in for repairs or give up and grab a shovel, let's walk through the most common reasons a snow blower won't start-and what you can do about them.
Top 9 Reasons Your Snow Blower Won't Start (and What You Can Do About It)
1. Old or Stale Gasoline
Gas-powered snow blowers don’t like old fuel. If gas has sat in the tank since last season, it may have gone stale and is likely clogging the fuel system. Gasoline starts to degrade after just 30 days, especially if it wasn’t stabilized.
What to do:
- Drain the old gas and fill the tank with fresh, stabilized fuel.
- If the blower still won’t start, carburetor cleaning may be required.
2. Gummed-Up Carburetor
This is a common problem if the fuel has sat for too long. Gummy residue from old gas blocks the jets in your carburetor, preventing fuel from getting to the engine.
What to do:
- Try spraying carb cleaner into the carburetor intake.
- If that does not work, a full cleaning or professional service may be required.
3. Weak or Dead Battery
If your snow blower has either an electric starter or is fully battery-powered, the problem could be a dead or frozen battery, particularly under extremely cold conditions.
What to do:
- Charge the battery indoors.
- If it's a cordless model, make sure it clicks firmly into place.
- If it won't hold a charge, then it might be time to replace it.
4. Bad Spark Plug
A worn or fouled spark plug won't provide the spark to ignite the fuel-air mixture inside the engine. If you've used that spark plug for several seasons, it's probably worth checking.
What to do:
- Pull out the spark plug.
- Check if it is dark, oily, cracked, or covered in carbon.
- Replace it if this is the case.
- Make sure the plug gap is correct per your user manual.
5. Flooded Engine
If you have pulled a starter cord multiple times or hit an electric starter repeatedly, you might have flooded the engine with fuel.
What to do:
- Allow 10–15 minutes for the fuel to evaporate.
- Then try again, without using the choke.
- If this doesn’t work, the next step is to check the spark plug and air filter.
6. Fuel Filter Clogging
Over time, the fuel filter can become clogged by dirt or debris, which ultimately restricts fuel flow and prevents an engine from starting.
What to do:
- Check the fuel filter if you are familiar with your blower's layout.
- If it looks dirty or discolored, replace it with the correct part for your model.
7. Dirty Air Filter
Engines require clean air to fire properly. A clogged or soaked air filter can choke airflow and make starting difficult or impossible.
What to do:
- Take out the air filter and check it.
- If it is dirty or soaked with fuel or oil, replace it with a new one.
8. Safety Key Not Inserted
This catches a lot of people off guard: most snow blowers won't start unless the safety key is in correctly there at all.
What to do:
- Check that the safety key is properly seated.
- And that all switches or levers are in the correct “start” position.
9. Recoil Starter Problems
If your pull cord is loose, won’t retract, or offers no resistance, then the recoil starter assembly may be broken or disconnected.
What to do:
- This generally needs repair or replacement.
- If you're not comfortable disassembling the starter housing, bring it to a technician.
Snow Blower Still Won’t Start? We’re Here to Help.
If you’ve made it through this checklist and are still having issues with starting your snow blower, well, you can bet that you are not the only one. These devices get used pretty hard every year during the winter months, and sometimes it just needs that little extra attention. If you are in need of snow blower repair services in Bethel, let Bethel Power Equipment work on diagnosing and fixing any issues that may be affecting you.
Why Customers Trust Us with Snow Blower Repairs
- Quick, honest service
- Repairs for most major brands
- OEM replacement parts
- Experienced, in-house technicians
- Pickup and delivery available
Don't Wait for the Next Storm
The best time to repair a snow blower is before the next snowstorm hits. Be it a minor problem or an outright no-start, we will take care of it for you. Contact us today to schedule your snow blower repair service, and we'll have you ready for winter again.
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