How to Make Real Snow at Home Using the East Coast Skiing Home Snowmaking Gun

Creating your own snow at home is much easier than you think with the East Coast Skiing Home Snowmaking Gun! Whether you’re setting up a winter wonderland in your yard or creating a practice slope, our snowmaking gun delivers high-quality snow that’s perfect for all your needs. Follow our guide to get started.

What You’ll Need:

To make snow at home, you’ll need three essential components:

  1. East Coast Skiing Snowmaking Gun
  2. A Pressure Washer
  3. An Air Compressor

Step 1: Choosing a Pressure Washer

A pressure washer provides the high water pressure necessary to atomize water into snow. When selecting a pressure washer, consider the following:

  1. Pressure (PSI): Look for a washer that delivers at least 1800–4000 PSI.
    • higher PSI creates more consistent results, even a small compressor can be used
  2. Flow Rate (GPM): Choose a washer with a flow rate of at least 1.2–4 GPM.
    • The combination of high PSI and GPM ensures enough water flow for efficient snowmaking.
  3. Recommended Models:

Step 2: Choosing an Air Compressor

An air compressor works with the snowmaking gun to ensure water droplets freeze quickly as they leave the nozzle. Consider these factors:

  1. Pressure (PSI): Choose a compressor capable of producing 90PSI.
  2. Air Volume (CFM): Look for a model that delivers at least 2–6 CFM at 90 PSI.
    • This ensures enough air volume to atomize water into fine droplets.
  3. Recommended Models:

Step 3: Setting Up the Snowmaking Gun

  1. Connect the Snowmaking Gun:
    • Attach the pressure washer and air compressor to the gun using the provided fittings.
  2. Position the Gun:
    • Place it at an upward angle to maximize snow coverage and consider the wind direction, try aiming into the wind to maximize volume, try aiming downwind to maximize coverage, avoid allowing the wind to push the snow out of the area you wish to cover
  3. Check Temperature:
    • Ensure the outdoor temperature is at or below 28°F (-2°C) for optimal snowmaking conditions. Snowmaking will improve as the temperature drops and consider the wet bulb temperature which gives a more accurate picture of snowmaking potential because it accounts for humidity. When the wet bulb temperature is lower than the actual air temperature, it means the air can hold less moisture. As a result, water sprayed into the air can freeze more effectively.

Step 4: Start Making Snow!

Turn on the pressure washer and air compressor, adjust the ratio of air and water to the nucleator, the nucleator nozzle should create a very fine mist of compressed air and water, this will freeze instantly and will seed the larger flakes from the water nozzle. Not to worry this is an easy step any skier or rider can figure out. Then just sit back and watch the snow cover your yard. Check on your compressor and pressure washer to make sure they’re operating well.

Pro Tip – when it’s super cold water in your hoses can freeze when the unit is off, it won’t freeze while in operation, if you do get frozen water in any hoses or the snow gun itself, bring the frozen parts inside and place in your shower or tub, the warm air will melt it fairly quickly, then drain the water out before bringing back out to make snow. If your hose faucet freezes – use a hair dryer or a heat gun applied to the faucet while the faucet is open / on, it will unfreeze fairly quickly – when you’re done making snow consider turning off your faucet from inside your house to protect your pipes especially when it’s really really cold