Choosing a Snow Blower
Snow blowers can help make short work of clearing snow from driveways, sidewalks and parking lots. Today, gas powered, electric and battery powered modeled are available. Gas powered snow blowers work well for deeper snow and larger areas. Electric powered snow blowers are more suited for homeowners for clearing driveways and sidewalks. Let’s taking a deeper look at choosing a snow blower.
Power Options
Gas powered snow blowers offer a lot of power to clear deep and heavy snow. They usually come equipped with larger wheels and tires and are usually self propelled. But, you’ll have to keep a fuel supply on hand. Some models have to be pull started while others offer electric start options. Gasoline powered snow blowers are bigger and heavier than electric models. Gas powered snow blowers are the obvious choice for commercial use and clearing deep heavy snow from large areas.
Electric and battery powered snow blowers are often a much cheaper investment. They’re smaller and lighter than their gasoline powered counterparts. To clear snow with an electric snow blower you won’t have to keep gas on hand. Keep in mind corded snow blowers come with the inconvenience of being tethered to an extension cord. Good extension cords can also be an additional cost. Battery powered snow blowers require having charged batteries on hand. This could slow you down if you plan on clearing a large areas or several driveways at once.
Specifications
When comparing snow blowers there are a few things to look for. The clearing width, clearing depth, snow throw and stages are key considerations.
Clearing width is how wide of a path the snowblower can clear. The wider the clearing path, the faster your job of clearing snow will go. Electric snowblowers usually clear paths between 18″ and 21″ depending on the model. Gas powered models can clear paths up to 24″ or more.
Clearing depth is how deep of snow the snowblower can clear. Most electric models can clear snow in the 6″ to 12″ deep range. Gas powered models can clear snow upwards of 20″ deep.
Snow throw is how far the snow blower can shoot the snow. Make sure you take this into consideration so you don’t create extra work for yourself.
Snowblowers usually come equipped with 1, 2 or 3 augers that pick up and chop the snow so it can be shot out and away. If a snowblower has 1 auger is it referred to as a single stage, if it has 2 augers it’s referred to as a 2 stage and so on. The more stages the better the snowblower breaks up the snow for easier and quicker removal.
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