Snowblower - Guide to Selecting a Snowblower
BEFORE YOU BUY A SNOWBLOWER, ASK YOURSELF:
- How much snow does my area of the county receive?
- What type of snow do I need to clear; e.g. light, medium, heavy, or extra-heavy?
- How big an area will you need to clear; e.g. driveway, walking path, parking lot etc?
- What type of surface will you be clearing snow from?
These questions in part will inform what type of snowblower you will ultimately purchase. Now that you know your needs, let's go shopping!
LEARN THE SNOWBLOWER LINGO
Snowblowers can range in size from the very small, capable of removing light snow (that several inches in an 18 to 20 inch path), to very large, mounted snowblowers capable of removing 10 foot wide swaths of heavy snow up to 6 feet deep. Snowblowers are usually divided into three types, or classes:
- Electric snowblowers - Intended for very light use: 4" or less of snowfall. Electric snowblowers can clear snow from a relatively small clearing width (typically 12.5 inches), and are designed for short, flat surfaces with snowfall totals of 4 inches or less
- Single-stage snowblowers - Intended for 10" or less of snowfall. Single-stage snowblowers have a clearing width from about 12" - 22" and are best used on pavement or other smooth surfaces because the auger directly contacts the clearing surface
- Two-stage snowblowers - Intended for Medium to Heavy use and up to 16 - 22" of snowfall. Second-stage snowblowers allow the snowblower to handle a deeper snowfall and clear larger areas-from 20" to more than 36" depending on the model. In addition, the second stage functionality allows the thrower to move the snow a greater distance (up to 45' with some models) to either side of the thrower.
NARROW YOUR CHOICES
With only a light or moderate snow accumulation to clear, a single stage snowblower is probably all you will need to use. However, if your area of the country routinely sees heavy or extra-heavy snowfall totals, then a larger two-stage snowblower might be for you.
Also, if you plan to clear snow from an uneven surface or a gravel surface, a two stage snow blower with an adjustable clearing height is right for you. Why? Because two-stage snow blowers throw the snow twice.
BUDGET BASED ON THE SNOWBLOWER FEATURES THAT YOU REALLY NEED
What can you generally expect from your snowblowers? Electric snow blowers and single-stage snowblowers are manual, but their fast spinning auger can help propel them forward. Two-stage snowblowers on the other hand can have powered wheels, and some even have independently powered wheels for increased maneuverability. And some two-stage machines have forward and reverse transmission units that further enhance the maneuverability of the machines.
What snowblower features can you choose? The options you choose will largely depend on your needs and budget. But one thing is crucial: make sure you get an adequate sized and type snow blower to fit your needs. Do not underestimate, or over-estimate your snow blowing needs, thereby purchasing more snowthrower than you actually need. Some of the options like 4-cycle engines, powered wheels, stick controls, reverse, power steering, etc. may look good on paper but think about whether they are actually needed. Be sure to ask a lot of questions.
CONSIDER THE SNOWBLOWER MAINTENANCE BEFORE YOU BUY
With proper care and maintenance a snowblower should last 10 -15 years or more, but like anything mechanical, snow blowers/ snowthrowers do need periodic and preventative maintenance. Be certain to ask maintenance questions before you buy! Below is a summary of some of the general snowblower maintenance that you should expect:
General Snowblower Maintenance -
- Periodically check the oil level in the engine
- Change the oil after 5-8 hours of use, and every 50 hours thereafter
- Periodically check the shear bolts and shear-pins
- Change spark plugs after 100 hours of use
- Run unit a few minutes after removing snow, clean and dry the unit before storing
Seasonal Snowblower Maintenance -
- At the beginning of season change out engine gasoline, if not done at the end of the season
- Check the tire pressure, oil, etc.
- Check for generalized wear, tear, and rust
- Check the shear bolts and shear-pins
End-of-season Snowblower Maintenance - Run the engine until the gasoline runs out, then drain remaining gas from engine; this is an important step, since using old contaminated gasoline can damage the engine. Also, clean the snowblower and lubricate everything and store in a dry space.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on my personal experience as well as online snowblower reviews, I recommend that you consider the following snowblowers brands:
Electric snowblowers -
Single-stage snowblowers -
Two-stage snowblowers -
FINAL WORDS OF ADVICE
If I can stress one point it is do your research before you buy a snowblower to prevent making the wrong buying choice. Educate, educate, educate, yourself and you cannot go wrong. Purchasing a snowblower is a huge investment in time and money and it should not be taken lightly. I hope that after reading this buying guide you have a better understanding of not only what a snowblower is, but how it works and what it can do for you. Let this Guide act as your starting position, pointing you towards the right snowblower for the season.
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