How to Remove Snow with a Leaf Blower

If a leaf blower can blow away and clear out light objects like fallen leaves, could you remove snow with a leaf blower?

You’d be surprised at how effective it could be. If it works well for you, well, good news! Now you have one tool that can help you clear your front porch, lawn, and other areas during both fall and winter!

Never tried this before? We’ll guide you through it in this article, so keep reading!

Can I use a leaf blower to remove snow

While the snowblower uses engine power to move heavy amounts of snow, you can use a leaf blower for light snow removal.

Leaf blower vs snowblower

While both blowers use air to blow objects, a leaf blower pushes air downwards and can stir up leaves and small debris.

A snowblower uses the power of the engine to move heavy amounts of snow in one direction.

What do I need to remove snow with my leaf blower

To remove light snows with your leaf blower, you will need:

  1. Leaf Blower
  2. Snow Shovel or other flat shovel Bucket or scoop (optional)
  3. Water (optional)
  4. Warm clothes and gloves (recommended)

How to remove snow with a leaf blower

Here are steps to remove light snow using a leaf blower:

1. Pick up collected leaves from the yard after the fall season so they won’t blow around when you’re using your leaf blower during winter.

2. Put on a warm coat and gloves if it is cold outside.

3. Turn on the leaf blower, then hold it at a 45-degree angle to the ground. It would be best if you were standing up straight while you use this.

4. Place your feet shoulder-width apart and keep your knees slightly bent for stability while you blow snow from the ground. Move slowly across the yard until all of the snow has been removed from your backyard surface or driveway.

5. Sweep up any leftover leaves after removing the snow with a shovel, broom, or dustpan.

6. Use water to rinse away excess dirt stuck in tiny grooves in concrete surfaces since water helps clean these areas more efficiently than air alone.

You can also attach a PVC pipe to the leaf blower, which will blow the snow into a pile.

Or you could attach a gas exhaust tube to a two-stroke leaf blower and blow out a window, much easier than using a broom.

Why use a leaf blower to remove snow

Remove snow with a leaf blower
Source: Howard J (Flickr)

Using a leaf blower is an effective method of removing snow because it does not use physical force.

The fan will blow the snow away without touching it, allowing you to simply pick up the snow that was blown rather than move it by hand or shoveling it.

It can also be used in tight spaces where you don’t have room for a shovel.

Another benefit of using a leaf blower is that you can stand on solid ground while moving around with the leaf blower, allowing your body weight to help push against the leaves and debris being blown.

This helps remove them more quickly than if you were standing in front of them, pushing downward with sheer strength alone. By freeing yourself from having to push with your feet, you can focus on removing the snow.

How much does a leaf blower cost vs a snowblower

A leaf blower can cost anywhere from $20 to more than $200.

The lower-priced leaf blowers are only meant for light tasks, such as removing leaves from a small concrete area or grass.

On the other hand, snowblowers can cost anywhere from $400 to more than $2,000!

The high-priced snow blowers can reach speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. It can remove large amounts of snow within minutes, making them perfect for clearing driveways and sidewalks.

But as you can see, the price difference between a leaf blower vs a snowblower is pretty huge!

How much does it cost to remove snow with a leaf blower

It will cost you nothing but the initial purchase price because you can use the leaf blower to blow leaves in your backyard after winter since it is made for that purpose.

How do I take care of my leaf blower in cold weather

To prevent damage to your leaf blower, do not use it in temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

In colder weather, take precautions before using the leaf blower by wearing gloves and a warm coat, so you don’t get frostbite or get cold easily while blowing snow.

What other uses does a leaf blower have

A leaf blower also has other uses besides removing winter snow from driveways and sidewalks.

It can be used for lawn maintenance, cleaning gutters, roof clearing after heavy storms, and drying off wet surfaces.

What is the limitation of using a leaf blower to remove snow

The leaf blower can only remove snow from flat surfaces.

It cannot be used to clear the snow off of roofs or downspouts.

A more robust and expensive leaf blower model is necessary for this task, and it is likely not worth spending money on such a device just to clear snow from everything in your backyard.

How much noise will I make with the leaf blower

Using a leaf blower to remove snow may make some noise as the fan turns and the blades spin at the end of the tube.

However, many models come equipped with features like mufflers to reduce sound output as much as possible without compromising power.

If you’re worried about disturbing those around you, consider using a leaf blower that runs on rechargeable batteries.

What other option I can use to remove the snow from my backyard

You can buy a snow blower if you want to remove a large amount of snow from your backyard.

If you do not need that much power, then it is reasonable to use a leaf blower for this task.

Or you can use snow removal services if you have a large area of snow to remove.

Snow removal services usually cost between $30 and $100 per half hour, depending on how large your driveway is.

For example, along with clearing sidewalks and driveways, a snow removal service can also shovel out your car.

Conclusion

I hope this article will help you answer all your questions about using a leaf blower to remove snow from your backyard.