How Much Does A Snow Blower Tune Up Cost?

Jessica Stone
by Jessica Stone

Depending on where you live, your area may be highly susceptible to massive snowstorms that bury your home and leave you with no way of getting out of your driveway. Digging yourself out with a shovel is tedious, cold, and takes a considerable amount of time and effort. Snow blowers, on the other hand, make snow removal easy and quick – but only if they are properly fueled and maintained.

Purchasing a new snow blower can be a pricey investment, and one you’ll want to protect with the necessary maintenance and repair. It helps to understand proper snow blower maintenance and repair to maximize your machine’s efficiency and extend its lifespan. Having a snow blower tune up done each year ensures that the machine is functioning properly and is ready to be put to use when winter rolls around.

The average snowblower tuneup cost is $180, but single-stage snowblowers cost $90 to tune up. Double-stage snowblowers cost an average of $140 to tune up, and standard gas snowblowers cost $72 per year to keep up. You will spend another $22.74 for an oil change after every 50 hours of use.

We’ll explore the maintenance needs of a snow blower, as well as the costs involved, to help shed some light on the long-term costs associated with investing in one of these machines.

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What Snow Blower Maintenance is Required?

The maintenance that your snow blower requires will depend on the type of blower you have. Electric snow blowers require virtually no maintenance at all. Aside from occasionally replacing components that wear out, these machines don’t need oil changes and don’t have any spark plugs to worry about. Cordless, or battery-operated, snow blowers also don’t require much regular maintenance, expect for replacing the batteries as needed.

Gas snow blowers, on the other hand, are pretty much the only type of snow blower that requires routine maintenance. They need oil changes, shear pin replacements, new spark plugs, and more.

Electric Snow Blower Maintenance

Whether corded or cordless, electric snow blower are known for being very low-maintenance tools. Many manuals even claim that lubricating moving parts isn’t required, the same way it is for larger gas-powered blowers. With electric snow blowers, prevention is the best form of maintenance. For instance, running your electric snow blower for a couple of minutes after you’ve used it is an excellent way to prevent the rotor blades from freezing up.

However, electric snow blowers still have parts that should be inspected on a regular basis, and potentially replaced once they show signs of wear. These include:

  • Scraper blade
  • Drive belt
  • Battery (for cordless blowers)
  • Extension cord (for cored blowers)

Components such as the snow blowers’ drive belt and scraper blade usually get replaced as needed. The scrape will likely need replaced sooner than the belt, as it makes contact with the ground. Some manuals suggest swapping out the scraper blade after every 20 hours of use.

For cordless snow blowers, the battery is the most important component. Always make sure the battery is charged at full capacity before operating the blower. Also, avoid storing a battery fully charged after use, as this helps keep it in stable condition and won’t damage the internal components.

Corded snow blowers, on the other hand, get their power via a cold-weather extension cord. Before each use, make sure that there isn’t any damage, fraying, or bending to the plug’s prongs. If the cord needs to be replaced, choose one that is the proper length and gauge for your snow blower’s power draw.

How Often Do Gas Snow Blowers Need Maintenance?

Here’s a snapshot of the maintenance that gas snow blowers need, and how frequently each task must be done:

  • Oil changes should be completed after the first five hours of use, but are not necessary again until the end of the year or once the machine hits 50 hours of use. Though, it’s recommended to inspect your snow blower’s oil after every five hours of use to ensure that it maintains the correct level and doesn’t get too dirty.
  • Spark plugs have to be replaced once every season, or after 100 hours of use. Though, it’s also a good idea to clean your spark plug every 20 to 30 hours of use and inspect its gap. That way it always stays clean and if it needs to be changed sooner, you’ll be aware.
  • Fuel stabilizer should be introduced in the tank at the end of each season to help preserve the remaining gas. This will make the snow blower easier to start the following season when you wheel it out and gas it up. Though, instead of fuel stabilizer, some prefer to run the engine until the tank, lines, and carburetor are clear and the engine turns off.
  • Skid shoes are responsible for helping to keep the augers on two-stage blowers from scraping against the ground or collecting rocks. Over time, skid shoes will become worn and should be replaced as needed.
  • Shear pins are additional components that are crucial to the longevity of your snow blower. Also known as shear bolts, these elements are designed to break if too much torque is put on the augers. They are very inexpensive and are meant to prevent much costlier damage from occurring. Shear pins should be replaced as needed.

So, when you consider the average costs of all of these maintenance materials, along with the number of times a year that you’ll use them, what is the annual cost of maintenance for a gas snow blower?

Gas Snow Blower Maintenance Annual Costs

To calculate a reasonable estimate of the annual costs associated with maintaining a gas-powered snow blower, we’ve put together the average prices for each item needed during a year’s worth of maintenance:

Maintenance Material(s)Average Price
Oil & Spark Plug$22.74
Fuel Stabilizer$9.87
Shear Pins$8.78
Skid Shoes$30.99
TOTAL$72.39
  • Oil & Spark Plug: Oftentimes, you’ll find these two together in a maintenance kit. They are only needed about once a year.
  • Fuel Stabilizer: This is only required once a year when you’re preparing the snow blower to be stored during the off-season.
  • Shear Pins: These are only necessary when one is broken or lost. Assuming that you may need a couple per year, they’re relatively inexpensive to replace.
  • Skid Shoes: These also don’t always need to be replaced every year, only if your snow blower is frequently used on gravels surfaces.

With all of these numbers in mind, the average annual cost to maintain a gas snow blower is approximately $72.39.

Single-Stage Snow Blower Maintenance

All gas-powered machines have similar components in common that must be maintained in similar ways – a single-stage snow blower is no exception. For specifics on when to inspect and replace parts, it’s always best to consult your product’s manual. Aside from the oil, spark plug, and drive belt, single-stage blowers have two parts that are particular to them that require maintenance: the paddles and the scraper blade (also known as the shave plate).

Unlike rotor blades on two-stage snow blowers, paddles on single-stage blowers make direct contact with the ground and will wear down over time. Inspect your snow blower’s paddles after every 10 hours of use and if they’ve been worn to the indicator hole, replace them. Your scraper bar should be inspected for wear around the same time as your paddles. Like the paddles, it will start to see wear from making contact with the ground, as it scrapes up dense snow that the rubber paddles leave behind.

Two-Stage and Three-Stage Snow Blower Maintenance

Like single-stage snow blowers, two-stage and three-stage blowers require that you check and change the oil and the spark plug on a routine basis. Consult your manufacturer’s manual for the specific maintenance schedule, but a general rule of thumb is to check the oil level after each use and change it every 25 hours of use. Whereas, the spark plug should be replaced every 100 hours of use.

Two-stage and three-stage blowers also have a scraper blade at the base of the auger house. This should be inspected every 10 hours of use and replaced when you start to see a thin layer of snow on the ground after you’ve run your blower over it. These machines also have components that must be lubricated at least once a season with lubricant recommended by the manufacturer:

  • Gear shaft
  • Auger shaft
  • Chute directional control

Professional Snow Blower Tune Up

Having an annual snow blower tune up performed by a professional is a great way to ensure that your blower is functioning properly and efficiently. It also takes the time and stress out of having to maintain your snow blower yourself. Many lawn mower and power tool repair companies offer tune ups for snow blowers. For best results, have the tune up done by early fall and you’ll be all set for the winter.

What’s Included?

Most professional snow blower tune ups include changing the engine oil, swapping out the fuel, and replacing the spark plug. Though, depending on the company you hire, their snow blower tune ups may include the following services:

  • Change the oil
  • Engine tune up
  • Set the tire pressure
  • Replacing the spark plug(s)
  • Inspect the drive disc
  • Clean or replace the air filter
  • Clean or replace the fuel filter
  • Inspect and adjust the drive system
  • Clean the block and cooling fins
  • Clean the carburetor
  • Inspect, replace, and adjust the drive belt(s)
  • Inspect, replace, and adjust the auger belt(s)
  • Test and/or service the recoil and electric starting system
  • Inspect and adjust the discharge chute operation
  • Inspect and adjust the drive engagement
  • Inspect and adjust the auger engagement
  • Position, adjust, or replace the skid shoes
  • Position, adjust, or replace the cutting bar
  • Rebuild the carburetor, as needed
  • Inspect the bearings and pulleys

Regardless, the professional will likely clean and adjust the carburetor bowl, ensure the tires are the right pressure, adjust belts and skids, and grease the lubrication points. They will also be able to replace the blower’s essential filters and any other components that needed replacing.

In general, a professional snow blower tune up will provide you with an overall evaluation of how well your snow blower is operating. Inspect the primer bulb for damage if gas leaks from your primer bulb.

Snow Blower Tune Up Costs

The price of a snow blower tune up will vary based on a number of factors, including the maintenance that’s needed and the professional that you hire. However, the average cost of a single-stage snow blower tune up is between $60 and $120, while a dual-stage snow blower tune up costs an average of $80 to $200.

Your professional will have the necessary training to assess and fix and mechanical problems that come up during the tune up. Of course, anything that requires substantial snow blower repair or replacement parts will likely drive up the overall cost of the tune up.

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Tips to Extend the Life of Your Snow Blower

Tune ups are a necessary part of owning any sort of power equipment. However, in addition to the main annual maintenance tasks that a snow blower needs, there are steps that you can take to reduce the need for some types of maintenance, while also making others easier:

  • Add fuel stabilizer each time you fill up your snow blower’s gas tank.
  • Drain the fuel tank completely before you store your snow blower at the end of the season. This protects the engine and prevents fire hazards.
  • Apply a non-stick spray to the auger and the inside of the snow blower chute.
  • After each use, clean salt and other materials off of your snow blower using a warm, damp cloth.
  • Store your snow blower a safe distance away from areas that are exposed to potential open flames or sparks, such as clothes dryers, furnaces, and water heaters.
  • Cover your snow blower to keep it protected from the elements when not in use – even if you store it in your garage. This also prevents excessive dirt or dust from damaging the mechanical components.
  • Store your snow blower on a garage mat to prevent snow from melting and forming puddles underneath.

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Jessica Stone
Jessica Stone

Jessica considers herself a home improvement and design enthusiast. She grew up surrounded by constant home improvement projects and owes most of what she knows to helping her dad renovate her childhood home. Being a Los Angeles resident, Jessica spends a lot of her time looking for her next DIY project and sharing her love for home design.

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