There’s nothing worse than pulling out your mower in spring and discovering it won’t start, or firing up your snow blower during Bozeman’s first big storm and realizing it isn’t ready, either.
Before the snow settles in, take an afternoon to winterize your outdoor power equipment and tackle the annual garage shuffle: warm-weather tools move to the back, while snow blowers and shovels come forward. A little work now can protect your equipment and save you from some frustrating surprises later.
Finish Up Fall Yard Work Before Putting Equipment Away
Don’t put away equipment you may still need. If you’ve spent an October in Bozeman, you know an early dusting of snow doesn’t always mean the leaves are finished falling.
Keep your rake, leaf blower, work gloves, and lawn and leaf bags handy until the trees are mostly bare and the lawn has had its final cut. Tackling leaves a little at a time is usually easier than waiting until they’re wet, heavy, or buried under the next snowfall.
Still working through the yard? Our Bozeman Fall Yard Cleanup Checklist covers five jobs worth handling before winter settles in.
How to Winterize Outdoor Power Equipment Before Storage
Whether you’re storing a mower, leaf blower, trimmer, or chainsaw, start with a good cleanup and inspection. Put it away clean and dry now – you’ll have a much better chance of pulling out equipment that’s ready to work next season, trust us!
Before making room for the winter gear:
- Brush away grass, leaves, dirt, and other debris.
- Clear buildup around vents and other areas where debris collects.
- Check for loose hardware, cracked housings, and worn parts.
- Inspect blades, trimmer line, cords, and controls.
- Let equipment dry completely before storing it.
- Take care of obvious maintenance now instead of rediscovering it in spring.
Before you get started, check your owner’s manual for maintenance and long-term storage instructions specific to your equipment.
1. Winterize Your Lawn Mower
For many Bozeman homeowners, the lawn mower is the largest piece of warm-weather equipment heading into storage. It’s worth giving it a little more attention than simply rolling it to the back of the garage.
For a gas-powered mower, fuel is one of the main things to address. Fuel storage requirements vary by machine, so check your owner’s manual before draining the tank, adding fuel stabilizer, or preparing the fuel system another way.
While you have the mower out, it’s a good time to:
- Check the oil and follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule.
- Inspect the air filter and spark plug.
- Remove grass and debris from the mower deck.
- Check the blade for damage or excessive wear.
- Sharpen the blade if it has gotten dull over the season.
- Look over wheels, cables, and other moving parts for wear.
Handle those basics now, and you’ll have a shorter spring to-do list when mowing season rolls back around.
Does your mower need more than routine maintenance? Owenhouse Ace Parts & Repair Shop can help with small-engine service and repairs!
2. Give Leaf Blowers, Trimmers, and Chainsaws a Once-Over
Leaf blowers get plenty of use around Bozeman in the fall, especially when you’re trying to stay ahead of leaves before the next round of wet weather or snow. Once the trees finally finish dropping, give the blower the same basic treatment as the mower.
Clean away dust and leaf debris, inspect the housing and controls, and properly prepare the fuel or battery for storage.
If you’re putting away a chainsaw, make sure you inspect the bar and chain before storage as well. If the chain needs sharpening or another part needs attention, taking care of it now saves you from finding the same problem the next time you need the saw.
3. Store Batteries Properly for Winter
Battery-powered lawn and garden equipment makes seasonal maintenance a little different, but the batteries themselves still need attention before winter.
Before storing them:
- Charge or discharge batteries to the recommended storage level.
- Store them in a clean, dry place that stays within the recommended temperature range.
- Inspect batteries and chargers for visible damage.
- Keep batteries and chargers together in a clean, dry location.
Don’t assume every battery should stay plugged into its charger all winter. Some chargers are designed for long-term maintenance, while others aren’t, so check the instructions for your specific battery system.
If you’re looking at new battery-powered equipment for next season or adding to a system you already use, the Owenhouse Ace Power Equipment team can help you compare options.
Make Room for Snow Equipment at the Same Time
Once the mower and leaf blower head into storage, the snow equipment should move in the opposite direction.
Pull your snow blower out before you actually need it. Check the controls, look for visible wear or damage, and do any maintenance recommended for your machine. It’s much easier to discover a problem on a dry October afternoon than when several inches of snow are sitting in the driveway.
Owenhouse Ace carries Toro snow blowers along with battery-powered options for homeowners who prefer less engine maintenance. The right machine depends on your driveway, how much snow you regularly clear, your storage space, and how you prefer to maintain your equipment.
If your current snow blower needs service, the Parts & Repair Shop at Owenhouse Ace West can help. You can also call us or stop by before the snow season to talk through maintenance, repair, or replacement options.
A Few More Bozeman Winter Prep Jobs Worth Doing Now
Before Halloween, take a look at:
- Driveway markers: Put fluorescent markers in while you can still clearly see the edges of the driveway. They’re especially helpful once plowed snow starts changing the landscape.
- Gutters: Clear leaves and debris so melting snow and fall precipitation have somewhere to go.
- Roof heat cable: If you use heat cable, inspect and position it before snow or ice makes roof access more difficult.
- Outdoor faucets: Add faucet covers and take care of other freeze protection appropriate for your plumbing.
- Drafty windows: Window film kits can be useful for windows that tend to let cold air in during a Bozeman winter.
- Snow shovels: Move them somewhere easy to grab before the first storm.
- Outdoor Christmas lights: If you usually hang lights, doing the outdoor work before snow and ice arrive can make the job a lot easier.
It’s also a good time to bring the cold-weather gear back into regular rotation. Rumpl blankets are useful to keep handy for winter drives and outdoor activities, while Milwaukee heated jackets can be a practical option for people who spend a lot of the winter working outside.
For more seasonal home maintenance ideas, take a look at our guide to prepare your Montana home for winter.
Don’t Forget RVs and Other Seasonal Equipment
Outdoor power equipment may be taking up most of your attention, but October is also an important month for RVs, campers, and other seasonal equipment.
If your RV manufacturer calls for winterizing the plumbing system with RV antifreeze, early to mid-October is a practical time to have supplies on hand. Follow the winterization procedure for your particular RV and plumbing system rather than waiting for a hard freeze to remind you.
Head Into Winter With the Garage (or Shed) Ready
There’s a nice moment every fall when the last bags of leaves are gone, the mower is cleaned up, and you can finally put the snow shovel somewhere you won’t have to dig for it.
That’s really the goal of fall equipment prep. Clean and store what you’re finished using, take care of maintenance while you remember what needs attention, and make the tools you’ll need this winter easy to reach.
If you need lawn and leaf bags for the last cleanup, maintenance supplies for your:
- outdoor power equipment,
- RV antifreeze,
- driveway markers,
- window film,
- snow shovels,
- or help getting a snow blower ready for the season;
stop by Owenhouse Ace Downtown or Owenhouse Ace West. Our team can help you find what fits your equipment and your winter setup.
You can also browse online before you head in.
