From Mowing To Snowblowing: How To Transition Your Equipment from Summer To Winter
- SureCan
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
When the temperatures drop and the growing season shuts down, lawn care professionals and weekend DIY’ers all face the same challenge: how to properly put away summer equipment and get winter machinery ready for the first storm. If there is anything we know at SureCan, a smooth transition from mowing to snowblowing isn’t just a seasonal ritual—it’s one of the most important maintenance practices you can do each year.
If you store your lawn equipment incorrectly or skip winter prep on your snowblower, you risk hard starts, engine failures, gummed-up carburetors, corrosion, and costly repairs. Fortunately, with the right steps (and the right fuel treatment products), you can protect your investment and keep your equipment running flawlessly from one season to the next.
This guide walks through the exact process for:
Storing mowers, trimmers, blowers, and maintenance tools for winter
Preparing snowblowers and winter equipment for reliable performance
Using a storage fuel stabilizer for long-term fuel protection
Using a Fuel Type Label to propery label your fuel before storage
This article is built specifically for lawn care professionals, landscaping crews, and DIY homeowners who maintain their own equipment.
Why Seasonal Equipment Transition Matters
Your equipment works hard all year—mowing turf in the heat, mulching leaves, trimming edges, blowing debris, and tackling nonstop maintenance tasks. When winter hits, that equipment often gets pushed to the back of the shop or shed, sometimes without proper care.
This creates a perfect storm of issues:
Fuel degradation
Carburetor varnish
Corrosion from moisture
Dry, cracking seals
Batteries that fail by spring
Rust on blades and moving parts
Many springtime breakdowns can be traced back to poor storage practices, old fuel, or untreated fuel systems. For lawn care pros, that means lost time and revenue. For homeowners, it means frustration and unnecessary repairs.
A proper transition ensures:
Your summer equipment is protected all winter
Your snowblower starts on the first pull
You avoid mid-season downtime
Your equipment lasts years longer
Let’s break down the right approach.
Part 1: How to Properly Store Lawn Mowers & Lawn Care Equipment for Winter
Clean First, Store Second
Before anything goes into storage, thoroughly clean your equipment. Grass clippings hold moisture, which leads to corrosion, mold, and rust—especially underneath mower decks.
What to focus on:
Removing packed grass from decks and baffles
Clearing debris around cooling fins and intake vents
Wiping down blowers and trimmers
Cleaning off leaf buildup
A clean machine breathes better, stays dry, and doesn’t corrode in storage.
Change the Oil Before Storing
Many people wait until spring to change the oil, but winter storage is actually the ideal time. Old oil contains moisture and acids that slowly eat at internal engine surfaces. Fresh oil protects the engine throughout the winter and ensures a better spring start.
Treat the Fuel With STA-BIL® Storage
Today’s ethanol-blended fuel begins breaking down in as little as 30 days. If untreated fuel sits in your mower, trimmer, or blower all winter, it can create varnish and rust inside the carburetor, fuel lines, and injectors.
STA-BIL Storage is specifically designed for long-term equipment storage. It:
Keeps fuel fresh for up to 24 months
Prevents ethanol corrosion
Stops varnish and gum from forming
Ensures spring starting is fast and reliable
How to use STA-BIL Storage:
Fill your fuel tank with fresh gas
Add the recommended amount of STA-BIL Storage
Run the engine for a few minutes to circulate the treated fuel
This simple process eliminates the #1 cause of spring equipment failures.
Battery Removal or Maintenance
For battery-powered mowers or equipment with electric starters, remove the battery and store it in a cool, dry location. A smart charger or battery maintainer keeps it at a healthy charge through the off-season.
Prevent Rust With Light Lubrication
Moving parts should be lightly lubricated before winter to prevent drying and rust.
Key areas include:
Cables
Hinges
Spindles
Wheel bearings
Throttle linkages
This keeps components flexible and reduces the stress of a cold-temperature start-up.
Store Equipment in a Dry, Safe Environment
Once everything is cleaned, treated, and protected, store it in a covered, dry space. A shed, garage, container, or shop with ventilation is ideal. If possible, elevate equipment slightly off the ground to prevent moisture absorption.
Your summer equipment is now fully winterized.
Label Your Fuel Cans Before Storing Them
One step that many homeowners and lawn care professionals overlook is properly labeling their fuel cans before winter. As you transition into storage season, it’s best practice to apply a fresh SureCan Fuel Type Label to clearly mark what’s inside each can—whether it’s regular unleaded, ethanol-free gas, or a specific 2-cycle oil mix.
Over the winter months, it’s easy to forget exactly what blend you used, especially if you manage multiple machines or fuel types. By labeling your cans now, you’ll avoid springtime guesswork, prevent misfueling your equipment, and ensure every machine gets the right fuel from the very first start. A simple label today can save an engine tomorrow.
Part 2: Getting Your Snowblower Ready for the Season
With summer equipment stored, it’s time for the winter workhorse: the snowblower.
For many pros, a reliable snowblower is essential. For homeowners, it’s the difference between being stuck inside—or stuck shoveling manually.
Proper preseason prep ensures your machine is ready on the very first storm.
Inspect Wear Points and Replace As Needed
Snowblowers have several components that wear heavily each winter. Before the first snowfall:
Inspect belts for cracking
Check the auger and impeller for damage
Look at skid shoes and scraper blades
Verify chute rotation is smooth
A quick inspection now saves you a breakdown in freezing conditions.
Drain Old Fuel and Add Fresh Fuel Treated With STA-BIL® Protection 360
If you didn’t drain the tank at the end of last winter, assume the fuel has degraded. Old fuel is a major source of “won’t start” snowblowers.
The solution:
Drain any remaining fuel
Add fresh gas
Treat it with STA-BIL Protection 360
Start the engine for a few minutes to circulate the treated fuel
STA-BIL Protection 360 is ideal for winter equipment because it not only stabilizes fuel, but also offers powerful corrosion protection against condensation, extreme cold, and metal surface oxidation.
Change the Oil and Check the Spark Plug
Cold starts require clean oil—thick, old oil causes hard starting and increases engine wear. Replace the spark plug if it's fouled, worn, or wet.
Lubricate Moving Parts
Some areas to lubricate include:
Auger shaft
Chute rotation components
Drive system linkages
Wheel or track axles
Smooth lubrication ensures your machine handles heavy snow with less strain.
Check the Tires or Tracks
Make sure pneumatic tires have proper air pressure or that track systems are tensioned correctly. Snowblower traction determines performance on slick driveways.
Perform a Preseason Test Run
Start the machine and let it warm up. Test:
Drive system
Auger
Chute rotation
Engine responsiveness
Any problem found now is far easier to fix than during a storm.
Part 3: A Smooth Transition Checklist For Mowing To Snowblowing Season
End-of-Season (Summer → Winter) Tasks
Clean equipment thoroughly
Change the oil
Add STA-BIL Storage and run the engine
Remove or maintain the battery
Lubricate cables, spindles, and linkages
Apply STA-BIL Protection 360 for corrosion defense
Store equipment in a dry place
Winter Equipment Startup Tasks
Inspect belts, augers, and wear parts
Drain old fuel; add fresh treated fuel
Change oil and check spark plug
Lubricate essential components
Test the machine before first snow
A consistent yearly routine keeps your equipment reliable, safe, and long-lasting.
Conclusion
Transitioning from mowing to snowblowing isn’t just a seasonal task—it’s a vital maintenance cycle that protects your investment, ensures reliability, and extends equipment life. Whether you run a landscaping business with a full fleet of machines or you’re a hands-on homeowner handling your own yard, these steps will save you time, money, and frustration.
By using quality fuel treatments such as STA-BIL Storage for long-term storage and STA-BIL Protection 360 for winter corrosion protection, you dramatically reduce the risk of engine damage, hard starts, and costly repairs.
Prepare your summer equipment correctly. Prep your winter equipment thoroughly. And enjoy a trouble-free transition into the snowy season.
FAQs
1. Should I run my lawn mower dry before storing it for winter?
No. Modern engines store better with a full tank treated with STA-BIL Storage. Running the tank dry exposes the carburetor to air and causes faster corrosion.
2. How long can treated fuel last in lawn equipment?
Fuel treated with STA-BIL Storage can stay fresh for up to 24 months, which is ideal for winter storage and long off-season periods.
3. What maintenance does my snowblower need before the first snowfall?
Change the oil, inspect belts and wear parts, add fresh treated fuel, lubricate pivot points, and perform a full test run.
4. Why does my equipment struggle to start in spring?
The most common reason is old or untreated fuel. Ethanol breakdown leads to carburetor gumming, varnish, and corrosion.
5. What’s the difference between STA-BIL Storage and STA-BIL Protection 360?
STA-BIL Storage is designed for long-term fuel stabilization. Protection 360 adds corrosion protection and is ideal for equipment exposed to harsh winter environments.
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