When to service the snow blower

Service or buy a snow blower in September, before the October rush and the first storm. The right week depends on when snow season tends to arrive at your place.

Your place

Snow season arrives – Set your place

Service by –

Yearly reminder, four weeks before snow season.

Why service early

Snow blowers fail most often on the first storm of the year, when old fuel has gummed the carburetor and repair shops are booked solid. Servicing four weeks before snow season gives time for parts, for the work, and for a test run.

The date above is computed from the 30-year mean monthly temperature at your nearest station: snow season is defined as the first month from September onward with a mean temperature at or below 36F.

Snow season and service dates for major cities

City		Snow season arrives	Service by
New York	NY	January 1	December 4
Los Angeles	CA	n/a	n/a
Chicago	IL	December 1	November 3
Houston	TX	n/a	n/a
Phoenix	AZ	n/a	n/a
Philadelphia	PA	January 1	December 4
San Antonio	TX	n/a	n/a
San Diego	CA	n/a	n/a
Dallas	TX	n/a	n/a
Austin	TX	n/a	n/a
Miami	FL	n/a	n/a
Tampa	FL	n/a	n/a
Atlanta	GA	n/a	n/a
Seattle	WA	n/a	n/a
Denver	CO	December 1	November 3
Boston	MA	January 1	December 4
Las Vegas	NV	n/a	n/a
Portland	OR	n/a	n/a
Minneapolis	MN	November 1	October 4
Detroit	MI	December 1	November 3
Nashville	TN	n/a	n/a
Charlotte	NC	n/a	n/a
Honolulu	HI	n/a	n/a
Anchorage	AK	November 1	October 4

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Questions, answered plainly

When should I service my snow blower?

Service or buy a snow blower about four weeks before snow season tends to arrive at your place. That is usually September in the north and September to October across the snow belt. The first storm always creates a shop rush; the goal is to be ready before it.

What happens if I wait until the first snowfall?

Repair shops and parts shelves get busy, and a machine that sat with old fuel may not start when you need it. Stale fuel and a seized carburetor are the most common reasons a snow blower fails on the first snowy morning.

Do I need to service a new snow blower every year?

Yes. At minimum, change the oil, inspect the drive belt and auger shear pins, and run fresh fuel treated with stabilizer. Even a new machine needs the same checks if it sat unused for months.

How this page was made

Data source: NOAA 30-year climate normals via the site dataset. Method: snow season is the first month from September onward with a mean monthly temperature at or below 36F; service the snow blower four weeks before that date. Verified 2026-06-12. Full notes on the methodology page.