Snow blowers are a great tool to have in your garage for those long snowy winters, especially in the northern part of the country. Snow blowers remove snow and ice much more quickly than a shovel. The only caveat is that they don’t operate like your simple shovel, so it may take a little practice getting used to using them. You should estimate your snow-removal needs, and whether you will be removing large or small amounts of snow. However, when deciding on the right snow blower, you should estimate on the high side as far as size and power because smaller snow blowers can labor in heavy snowfalls or wet snow. No matter which type of snow blower you are looking for, there is one to fit your exact budget and needs to make snow removal a much easier task of the winter season.
There are certain features you should look for when deciding which snow blower is right for you. Look for a snow blower with a deadman control for safety. Also, look for one that has an easy deflector and chute adjustment. These adjustments change the height and direction of where the snow is thrown. You don’t want to have to stop the machine and get out tools to move the chute. Instead, look for a simple crank, preferably on the control panel. You should also check for the length of throwing distance of the snow blower. Ideally, you want to get a snow blower that throws half the width of your driveway. Also, if you are limited on garage space, look for models that have folding handles for compact storage.
There are two main types of snow blowers: single-stage and two-stage. The type that’s best for you will depend on how much and what type of snow (wet vs. dry, for example) you’ll be dealing with, as well as what type of surface you’ll be clearing. In general, single-stage blowers are best for relatively light-duty snow removal and for use on paved surfaces, while two-stage blowers can handle heavier jobs and can be used on either paved or gravel surfaces.
Single-stage snow blowers can be powered by either gas or electricity. They use a rubber-tipped auger that scoops up snow and in one motion either propels it forward or ejects it through a chute. Since the auger blades actually scrape the driveway or sidewalk, do not use them on gravel drives, since they would throw stones along with the snow. The clearing path ranges from 11 to 24 inches, depending on the model.
Two-stage snow blowers are gasoline-powered only. They use slow-turning metal augers, which are different from the rapidly spinning augers of single-stage snow blowers. A fast-spinning impeller takes the snow from the auger and zaps it out the chute. Most two-stage blowers are self-propelled, with at multiple forward and reverse speeds. You provide the guidance, and make sure not to run over things you don’t want scooped up and tossed out the chute. These more powerful snow blowers have wider clearing paths as well, typically ranging from 21 to 31 inches.