How do I keep a snow blower running well in Ottawa cold?

This question is about snow blower maintenance rather than driveway work. While snow blowers do impact driveways (metal augers can gouge sealcoated asphalt and catch raised interlock pavers), snow blower maintenance falls outside my expertise as a driveway and paving specialist.

For snow blower maintenance, small engine repair, and winter equipment guidance, I'd recommend connecting with mechanical contractors or small engine specialists through the Ottawa Construction Network at justynrookcontracting.com. They'll have the expertise on carburetor winterization, oil viscosity for cold starts, fuel stabilizers, and spark plug maintenance that keeps equipment running reliably in Ottawa's brutal winters.

What I can help with is protecting your driveway from snow blower damage during Ottawa's long winter season. Metal augers and impeller housings can scrape sealcoated asphalt surfaces, especially when the sealer is fresh or when operators run the auger too low. On interlock driveways, snow blower augers catch raised or shifted pavers and can chip edges or displace units entirely.

To minimize driveway damage during snow removal:

Set your snow blower height properly — the auger should clear the driveway surface by 10-15mm. This prevents gouging asphalt sealcoat and reduces the chance of catching interlock paver edges. Most Ottawa homeowners run their augers too low, thinking they need to scrape down to bare pavement.

Avoid using snow blowers on fresh sealcoat for the first winter after application. Newly sealed asphalt remains slightly soft and vulnerable to scraping damage. Use a plastic shovel or leaf blower for light snow, and only use the snow blower for heavy accumulations when absolutely necessary.

On interlock driveways, address settled or raised pavers before winter. Snow blower augers will catch any paver that sits even 5-10mm above its neighbors, potentially chipping the paver edge or displacing the unit. Have settled areas releveled and raised pavers reset before the first snowfall.

Need help finding contractors for driveway maintenance or snow damage repairs? Ottawa Driveways can match you with local paving professionals who understand how Ottawa's winter conditions affect different driveway materials.