Get Your Snow Blower Ready for Winter: Rochester Tune-Up Costs and What to Do If It Won’t Start (2026 Guide)
7 min read
Start it, take a 5-minute look, and let us handle the messy jobs. A simple guide to getting your gas or battery snow blower ready for a Rochester winter, plus what a tune-up costs.
The time to get your snow blower ready is now. You don't need to be handy to do it. Start it, take a quick look, and let us handle the rest.
The Short Version
- Start it this week. That one test tells you whether you need a tune-up or a repair.
- Take a 5-minute look. Gas, shear pins, auger, chute. No tools needed.
- Let us do the messy jobs. A Weider's snow blower tune-up covers the oil change, spark plug and fuel system. It starts at $199.99 with pickup and delivery included.
- Won't start? Try the 5 quick fixes below. If it still won't run, bring it in for a $35 diagnosis.
- Get a tune-up once a year, before the first snow. Gas or battery, test it now.
Step 1: Start It Now (the 10-Minute Test)
Most snow blowers sat all summer, many with gas still in the tank. Find out now whether yours runs, not at 6 a.m. during the first lake-effect storm.
- Roll it outside. Never run a gas engine in a closed garage. Exhaust contains carbon monoxide.
- Check for fresh gas. If the tank still has last season's fuel, that's the most likely problem (more below).
- Key in, fuel on, choke closed. Push the safety key all the way in, turn the fuel valve on if you have one, and close the choke.
- Prime and start. Push the primer bulb the number of times your manual lists (Toro says three), then pull the cord or use the electric start.
- Let it run a few minutes. Open the choke once it's running. Engage the auger and, on two-stage machines, the drive.
Battery snow blower? Charge the battery fully, then run the auger and drive for a few minutes. A battery that dies much faster than it used to is worth having tested.
How did it go?
- Ran smoothly: Do the 5-minute look in Step 2. If it's been a year since its last service, book a tune-up.
- Surged, smoked, stalled or only ran on choke: Book a tune-up.
- Wouldn't start: Go to Step 4.
Step 2: The 5-Minute Look
Shut the engine off first. These are the things anyone can check without tools.
- Gas: Use fresh gas with no more than 10% ethanol, and add fuel stabilizer. Toro and Honda both say to skip E15 and E85.
- Shear pins: These small bolts break on purpose when the auger hits something hard, which protects the gearbox. Make sure none are missing, and keep a few spares in the garage.
- Auger and scraper bar: Look for damage, worn rubber paddles, or anything wrapped around the auger.
- Chute and controls: The chute should turn freely, and the auger should stop when you let go of the handle.
- Your driveway: Pick up rocks, hoses and newspapers before the snow covers them.
Fuel stabilizer, spare shear pins and other snow blower supplies are in our outdoor equipment department. Bring your model number and we'll find the right parts.
Safety note: Never put your hands near the auger or chute while the engine is running. If the chute clogs, shut the engine off, wait for everything to stop, and use the clean-out tool.
Step 3: Let Us Handle the Hard Part
The jobs that keep a snow blower running are the ones most people would rather skip: draining hot oil from a heavy machine, wrestling a spark plug out of a tight spot, taking apart a carburetor gummed up by last year's gas, and pulling belt covers to check for wear.
A Weider's tune-up takes all of that off your plate:
- Oil change. Toro and Ariens both call for fresh oil every year.
- New spark plug. A worn plug makes cold starts harder.
- Cleaned fuel system. Old gas leaves varnish in the carburetor, the most common reason a snow blower won't start in the fall.
- Belt, shear pin, auger and scraper bar inspection. We look for worn parts before they fail mid-storm.
- Full safety check of the controls and shutoffs.
- Pickup and delivery. We come get the machine and bring it back, so you never have to load it into the car.
On battery snow blowers, we test pack health and charge cycles instead of doing the engine work. Our small engine repair team services gas and electric machines, and we're an EGO Authorized Dealer and Service Center.
Do it yourself or bring it in?
| What you're seeing | What to do |
|---|---|
| Runs well, serviced in the last year | You're probably set. Do the 5-minute look. |
| Runs, but no service in a year or more | Book a tune-up. |
| Hard to start, surges, smokes or only runs on choke | Book a tune-up. |
| Auger slows down or throws snow a shorter distance | Bring it in. Belts may be worn. |
| Battery won't hold a charge | Bring it in. We test the pack, charger and machine. |
| Grinding, squealing or knocking | Stop using it and bring it in. |
| Won't start | See Step 4. |
How Often Should You Tune Up a Snow Blower?
Once a year, before the first snow. Toro calls for a yearly oil change and drive belt inspection, and Ariens recommends a new spark plug every couple of seasons or 100 hours. Bring it in sooner if it gets hard to start, surges, smokes or starts throwing snow a shorter distance.
Step 4: Snow Blower Won't Start? Try These 5 Things
- Is the safety key all the way in? Some machines won't start with it partly inserted.
- Is the fuel valve on? It's easy to leave it off after storage.
- Is the gas fresh? Gas from last season may be too stale to fire.
- Did you choke and prime it? A cold engine needs both. Too much priming can flood it, so if you think it's flooded, wait a few minutes and try again.
- Battery machine? Make sure the battery is fully charged and seated all the way.
If it still won't start, the carburetor may be gummed up, the spark plug may be fouled, or something else needs a technician. Bring it in for diagnosis. It's $35 at check-in, and a technician quotes parts and labor before any work starts. Nothing gets done until you approve it. If you can't load it into the car, call the store nearest you and we'll quote a pickup to your address.
What Does a Snow Blower Tune-Up Cost?
The price depends on whether your machine starts.
| Your snow blower... | What you pay at Weider's |
|---|---|
| Starts and runs | Tune-up from $199.99, pickup and delivery included, no diagnostic charge |
| Won't start | $35 diagnosis, then parts and labor, quoted before any work starts |
| Needs parts beyond the tune-up | Quoted first. Nothing extra without your OK. |
If the repair is covered by a manufacturer's warranty, you get the $35 back, so bring your registration or proof of purchase. Do the 10-minute start test now so there's time to fix any problem before the snow.
Why Not Wait Until It Snows?
The National Weather Service office in Buffalo has tracked Rochester's first snowfall since 1884. The first measurable snow arrives around November 8 on average, and the first full inch by November 20. A normal season brings about 102 inches.
Our standard turnaround is about two weeks for gas snow blowers and three weeks for battery machines. Drop off a gas machine at the end of October or the first days of November, and it's back around mid-November, ahead of the first inch on average. Wait for the first storm, and you're in line behind everyone whose machine wouldn't start that morning.
Thinking About a New Snow Blower? Consider Electric
If your machine is 10 or more years old with major problems, or the repair costs more than about half the price of a new one, it may be time to replace it.
Take a serious look at a battery model. With no gas, oil, spark plugs or carburetor, there's far less to maintain, and nothing to go stale over the summer. Charge it and it's ready. Battery snow blowers now come in single-stage and two-stage designs.
Weider's stocks a variety of snow blowers in our outdoor equipment department, including EGO battery single-stage and two-stage models and Toro machines. If you already own EGO yard tools, the same 56V batteries work across the lineup. Shop now, while you still have your pick. A snow blower on the floor today may not be there after the first heavy storm.
Book Your Snow Blower Tune-Up
Call the store nearest you to book a tune-up or schedule a pickup. All three stores take gas and electric snow blowers from Toro, EGO, Ariens, Troy-Bilt, Cub Cadet, Honda, Husqvarna and any other brand we can get parts for, whether or not you bought it from us.
- Brighton, closest for Rochester's east side, Pittsford, Henrietta and Irondequoit: Call Brighton · Get directions
- Fairport/Perinton, closest for Fairport, Penfield, Webster and Victor: Call Fairport/Perinton · Get directions
- Honeoye Falls, closest for Mendon, Rush, Lima and Avon: Call Honeoye Falls · Get directions
Store hours are on each location page. Have a question first? Contact us.
The first snow is coming any day now. Start your snow blower this week, and let us handle the rest.
Your mower needs a tune-up too, and March is the best time to book it. See lawn mower repair. Still raking leaves? Read our guide to mulching leaves and fall cleanup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my snow blower ready for winter?
Start it outside to see if it runs. Then check for fresh gas, make sure the shear pins are intact, and look over the auger, scraper bar and chute. If it hasn't had a tune-up in a year, or it runs rough, book one and let a shop handle the oil change, spark plug and fuel system.
How much does a snowblower tune-up cost?
At Weider's, a snow blower tune-up starts at $199.99 for machines that start and run, with pickup and delivery included and no diagnostic charge. If your snow blower won't start, diagnosis is $35, and parts and labor are quoted before any work starts. Nothing extra gets done until you approve it.
What if my snow blower won't start? Does the tune-up price still apply?
No. The tune-up price is for machines that start and run. If yours won't start, it needs a diagnosis first, which is $35 at check-in. A technician finds the problem and quotes parts and labor before any work starts. If the repair is covered by warranty, you get the $35 back.
What's included in a snowblower tune-up?
A Weider's tune-up covers an oil change, a new spark plug, a cleaned fuel system, an inspection of the belts, shear pins, auger and scraper bar, and a full safety check of the controls and shutoffs. Pickup and delivery of your machine is included. On battery machines, we test pack health and charge cycles instead.
Why won't my snow blower start after sitting all summer?
Stale fuel is the most common cause. Gas left in the tank over the summer turns to varnish and gums up the carburetor. Check that the safety key is fully in, the fuel valve is on, and you've choked and primed it. If it still won't start, the carburetor or spark plug likely needs a technician.
How often should you get a snowblower tune-up?
Once a year, before the first snow. Toro calls for a yearly oil change and drive belt inspection, and Ariens recommends a new spark plug every couple of seasons or 100 hours. Bring it in sooner if it's hard to start, surges, smokes or throws snow a shorter distance.
Can I do a snowblower tune-up myself?
You can, but most people would rather not. A tune-up means draining oil from a heavy machine, swapping the spark plug, and cleaning a carburetor gummed up by old gas. A Weider's tune-up handles all of it, with pickup and delivery included. What anyone can do at home: use fresh gas and check the shear pins.
Do battery (electric) snow blowers need a tune-up?
They need much less maintenance than gas machines, with no oil, gas, spark plug or carburetor, but you should still test them before the season. Charge every battery, run the machine, and check the auger and chute. If a battery won't hold a charge, bring it in and we'll test the pack, charger and machine separately.
Should I buy a gas or electric snow blower?
If you want less upkeep, consider electric. Battery snow blowers have no gas, oil, spark plugs or carburetor to maintain, and they start at the push of a button. They now come in single-stage and two-stage designs. Match run time to your driveway's size. Weider's stocks EGO battery and Toro snow blowers.
Is it too late to get my snowblower tuned up before winter?
Not if you call now. Rochester's first measurable snow falls around November 8 on average, and the first full inch around November 20. Our usual turnaround is about two weeks for gas machines, so a snow blower dropped off at the end of October or early November is typically back before the first real accumulation.
Need a Hand With Your Project?
Stop by any of our three Rochester-area stores, or reach out and we'll help you sort out the details.