12-02-2025
What to do if your snowblower doesn't start
DES MOINES, Iowa — It happens every year at P&P Small Engine on University Ave. in Des Moines. The first big snow of the year hits Iowa, and snow blowers won't start.
'Typically they've been put up since about this time last year when we had a couple big snows,' said Jeff Nicholson, of P&P Small Engines. 'So, there's going to be a lot of fuel that's lacquered up in the carburetor and they're not gonna have much success starting a lot of those.'
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Nicholson predicts Wednesday will be a very busy day at the shop, but some will try to solve the snow blower fuel problem on their own.
'The best thing is to try and start it and if it's an electric start to plug it in cause it spins it quicker and sometimes it can ignite,' said Nicholson. 'If it doesn't start, then I will try and get rid of the old fuel, put some fresh fuel in and try and drain the carburetor bowl. There's usually a nut on there. You can drain the old fuel out to get fresh fuel in.'
Shops like P&P are now selling snowmobile fuel in a bottle, which has a longer shelf life than regular gas that you put in your lawn mower.
P&P will be busy Wednesday. They do encourage people who need help to bring their machines in. The shop can repair around 30 or so machines in a day.
'We know the weather patterns going to be really active for the end of February so this probably isn't our last event of the year,' said Nicholson. 'If it doesn't start for you don't push it to the side. Don't wait till the next event and then try and rush it and get it fixed right away we're gonna get a lot of snowblowers done for a lot people here in the next week or so.'
For more information on P&P small engines, click here.
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