How to Clean a Snow Thrower Filter
- 1). Open your snow thrower owner's manual to the section dealing with regular maintenance and servicing, and use the information and diagrams to locate where the air filter assembly is on your particular snow thrower. The air filter cover on the majority of snow throwers on the market is secured with a wing nut capable of being removed manually with your fingers; your owner's manual should indicate if this isn't the case for your model.
- 2). Turn the wing nut in a counterclockwise direction, using your thumb and forefinger, to loosen and remove the wing nut from the assembly. The wing nut itself may come off of the threaded spindle bolt, or it may have the threaded bolt attached to it, in which case the entire bolt will be removed from the center of the filter assembly.
- 3). Carefully remove the filter cover and set it off to the side. Pull the dirty air filter out of the assembly and take it to a warm location with access to a heater vent. Snow thrower filters are exposed to moisture during cold, snowy weather, causing the soil to be caked on the filter. Place the filter near the heater vent and permit it to dry for at least one hour.
- 4). Grab a can of compressed air, or your air compressor nozzle, and blow the dirt out of the filter from the inside, away from the exterior of the air filter. Rotate the air can or air compressor nozzle around the entire interior of the filter while blowing to ensure all soiled areas are cleaned.
- 5). Hold the filter up to a lightbulb and look through the filter to see if light is visible through the filter fibers. If you are able to see some light from the bulb passing through, your filter is clean and may be mounted back onto your snow thrower. If you cannot see any light filtering through the fibers, take your air filter to the nearest parts dealer for your particular snow thrower and purchase a new air filter to install, as it has become excessively soiled.
- 6). Place the air filter into the filter holder assembly so the threaded spindle runs through its center. Replace the outer filter cover over the top of the filter and its assembly, and screw the wing nut and bolt assembly together, securing the filter assembly until finger tight.
