Snow Blower Buying Guide

In order to decide on what type of snow blower that to purchase, you should first answer a few simple questions: What type of snow will you be removing (dry snow or thick, wet snow)? How often will you be using the snow blower per season? How much snow will you be removing? What type of surface will you be removing snow from (gravel driveway, paved, flat surface, sidewalk, or from a sloped surface? The answers to these questions will help determine the best snow blower for the job at hand.

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Snow Blower Buying Tips

An electric snow blower is generally lighter than a gas powered snow blower. They range in weight from 10 lbs up to 25 lbs. They will run much more quietly than a gas powered snow blower. Electric blowers are not as powerful as gas blowers, so they should be used for areas with light snow. They work well on short, paved driveways, sidewalks, and any other flat surface with 4 inches or less of snow. Keep in mind that you will need to deal with a cord and thus have access to an outlet and you will be limited by the length of the cord.

An electric snow shovel is usually smaller and not self propelled. Its small motor will push the snow ahead of you and you will need to walk behind and push it as you go. It makes snow shoveling much easier and will save the stress on your back. Note that you will again have to deal with the cord when using an electric snow shovel. Some models will come with additional attachments such as brushes that can be used for sweeping away dirt or other light debris. This makes the electric shovel more versatile and able to be used year round for other cleaning activities. In the winter, they work best on light snow such as on sidewalks, decks, and patios.

A single stage gas powered snow blower can weigh anywhere from 50 to 100 lbs. These more powerful blowers can clear snow up to 8 to 10 inches. The engine is 2 cycle, just as on a lawn mower, but they are usually started with a push button rather than a pull cord. A metal auger runs along the ground, so they don't do too well on gravel driveways. They are not self propelled and can be heavy, but the metal auger will help pull the blower along as you push it.

A two stage gas powered snow blower it the most powerful type of snow blower. They can weigh several hundred pounds, but they are self propelled, so they work well on hills and other non flat surfaces, such as gravel driveways. A two stage gas blower can clear up to 16 inches of the heaviest snow (usually really wet snow). The larger design also means that they can clear a larger area more quickly.

Additional Tips and Ideas

• Some models of snow blowers come with headlights. Headlights come in handy when clearing snow early in the morning or late in the evening after work.
• Some blowers come with extra features on the auger that will allow it to break up ice as it plows.
• Be sure that your blower has an automatic safety switch to kill the motor when you release the switch.

If you are still having a tough time deciding on what snow blower to purchase, please read through some of our snow blower reviews or leave feedback on your latest snow blower purchase.