5 Things to Consider When Buying a Snow Blower

The winter season is here, and with its arrival comes snow. Lots of it.

The amount of snowfall may vary between places, but everyone agrees that these frozen drops of water could pile up and be a troublesome obstacle for almost everyone.

Snow blowers are the best solution to solve this problem if you have the money, but with the various configurations being sold, it's hard to tell which is best for you.

here are some things you may want to consider to get the best value for the money you'll pay for a snow blower.

The Number of Stages

All snow blowers have an auger that sucks up snow and blows it away through a chute, but that is just one stage of the process it uses to clear snow from the ground.

According to Consumer Reports, a single-stage snow blower (auger only) is highly recommended for places where only an occasional few inches of snow can be found.

Meanwhile, two-stage models, which have an impeller that forces collected snow from the back of the auger out through the chute, are advisable for places with moderate amounts of snowfall.

Last but not least is the three-stage snow blower, which has an accelerator that helps force collected snow from the auger to the impeller, clearing more snow in places with heavy snowfall.

How far a snow blower throws snow out of the machine also depends on the type. A single stage throws snow up to 25 feet, while a two-stage one can go farther - up to 35 feet.

Finally, the three-stage models can throw snow the farthest, with them shooting snow up to 40 feet or more.

Power Source

Another thing to consider when choosing what kind of snow blower to buy is its power source, of which there are three: gas, corded electric, or battery.

Gas-powered ones do their job the fastest and shoot snow faster, but heavy, expensive, and high-maintenance.

Meanwhile, electric corded ones are inexpensive and take the worry of running out of power. Unfortunately, they are generally underperforming and require long extension cords to function further.

Finally, battery-powered ones seem to be the middle ground between gas-operated and corded electric models, but expensive and consume battery life fairly quickly, per Chainsaw Journal.

Of this type, two-stage battery-operated snow blowers perform better than the best single-stage types.

How It Goes Around

Tracked and wheeled snow blowers have their benefits and setbacks to give to their prospective owners.

Arns's Equipment stated in its report that tracked snow blowers have better traction and can operate on a fixed plane, allowing you to avoid gravel when blowing snow off a surface.

However, tracked blowers are difficult to maneuver and drag around when they lose power. Additionally, they are pricier than wheeled ones.

Meanwhile, wheeled snow blowers are the polar opposite of tracked ones. They are easier to maneuver and are easier to drag around when it runs out of power.

Additionally, they are faster and less expensive.

However, they operate on a fixed plane due to their weight and have less traction, making them difficult to operate on slopes, ice, and deeper snow.

Snow Type And Depth

People that travel frequently may notice that places get different kinds of snow. As such, future savvy owners of snow blowers should consider what type of snow they get when purchasing one for the winter season.

Lowes reports that two-stage and three-stage snow blowers are best for heavy, wet snow and hard-packed snow or ice.

Meanwhile, three-stage snow blowers are the only ones that can clear heavier, wetter snow quickly.

Headlights Or No Headlights?

Finally, prospective snowblower owners may want to consider if they want headlights on their snowblowers or not.

Headlights are great for people that may find themselves clearing snow from their driveways and walkways at night or in the wee hours of the day, but can be an unnecessary accessory for those that usually do it while there's light out.

However, with Winter being the season that makes days darker than they usually are, it may be best to get one if you deem it necessary.