Tips for Choosing a Snow Blower

Winter is quickly approaching and that means that soon it will be time to start shoveling snow off your sidewalk and driveway. Shoveling snow is hard work which can result in back pain and muscle aches so it is no wonder you may be dreading having to shovel this coming winter. If you want to lessen your workload this winter and help save your back, a snow blower can be a great alternative for removing snow from your sidewalk or driveway.

Snow blowers are machines that you push like a lawnmower which pick up the snow from your sidewalk and blow it out a chute in the top of the machine, spraying it into a tidy pile next to your sidewalk or driveway. The two main types of snow blowers are single-stage snow blowers and two-stage snow blowers. Each has advantages and disadvantages and the type that you choose will depend on your own snow removal needs.

The advantages of single-stage snow blowers are that they are cheaper, lighter weight, smaller and easier to store than two-stage snow blowers. single-stage snow blowers are best for smooth surfaces like sidewalks and driveways but do not do well on rough surfaces and cannot be used on gravel.

Single-stage snow blowers are usually powered by gasoline, although they do also come in electric models. The advantages of electric snow blowers over gas are that they are smaller, lighter weight, easier to handle and also very quiet. The electric models tend to not be as powerful as the gas powered snow blowers so they are best used for lighter jobs and smaller areas.

A single-stage snow blower has blades which pick up the snow as they spin and then pass it out of a chute in the top of the snow blower. Although single-stage snow blowers are not self propelled they do have a small amount of forward momentum. However they still require the user to push them.

A single-stage snow blower will be a good choice for you if you live in town and just have a section of sidewalk and perhaps a paved driveway that require snow removal.

two-stage snow blowers are larger, more expensive and require more storage room than single-stage snow blowers. However these gas powered snow blowers provide much more power than a single-stage snow blower making them ideal for tougher jobs.

Just as their name implies, two-stage snow blowers remove the snow in two-stages. The first stage involves the action of the blades which work to break through the ice and throw the snow. two-stage snow blowers have a serrated blade that can break through the ice and through thick heavy snow along with a second smooth blade that throws the snow. The second stage of a two-stage snow blower uses a fan to propel the snow out of the chute in the top of the blower. Oftentimes the direction that the snow is blown can be controlled by the user by using a joystick to change the direction the chute is pointing.

two-stage snow blowers can also usually be used both forward and in reverse. These snow blowers are usually self propelled which makes them much easier to use and maneuver.

If you use a two-stage snow blower you will notice that a small amount of snow is left behind on the surface that you are removing the snow from. This is because the blades do not come in contact with the surface that they are clearing, and the amount of snow that is left behind will depend upon how high the blade is set. Because the blades do not contact the surface that means that these types of snow blowers can be used on rough surfaces or gravel, unlike a single-stage snow blower which is only good for smooth surfaces.

A two-stage snow blower will be a good choice for you if you have large areas of snow to remove or if your snow is on rough or uneven surfaces. Because two-stage snow blowers are more powerful they are better suited for larger tougher jobs.

No matter which type of snow blower you choose it is sure to make the job of removing snow from your property much easier. Not only that but you will be helping to prevent back pain and injury while still keeping your driveway and sidewalk free from snow and ice.