Tips on Choosing the Right Snow Blower

Introduction:

Winter has arrived again and of course the snow. Dealing with the snow is much like dealing with a lawn in the summer. The snow must be removed from driveways and walkways during the winter just as the grass must be cut during the summer. However, it is a lot more comfortable cutting the lawn than removing snow.      

If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow you have three choices: have someone else clear the snow, shovel it yourself or purchase a snow blower that sucks up the snow and blows it out of the way.  

Clearing snow from the driveway and walkways is an easier task with a snow blower. With the right snow blower the task is somewhat fun. If you don’t own a snow blower and you’re in the market to buy one, you need to purchase the right one for your snow clearing needs. Take into consideration the size of your driveway, the average snowfall amounts in your area, and your budget. Generally speaking snow blowers go up in price as they increase in size and power.

Tips on choosing the right snow blower:

The best way to decide what size snow blower you need is to know the amount of snow your area gets. To find the annual snowfall totals in your area go the website of your local news and weather source. They publish daily, weekly and annual snow fall amounts for your area.

 The size of the snow blower is important. If you have a long driveway or more than 150 feet of sidewalk to clear it is best to purchase a large unit as it will do the job without overtaxing the unit.

If your annual snow fall is less than six inches you really don’t need a snow blower. A snow shovel or snow scoop will do the job. The exercise will be good for you. There are electric snow shovels for the faint at heart. They feature plastic rotating blades that throw snow out of the front of the machine. They are inexpensive costing about a $100.

If you receive more than six inches of snow a year and have a large area to clear, it is better to simply purchase a serious large snow blower.

A serious snow blower is a two-stage gas-powered snow blower that can clear a path from 24 to 36 inches wide. Typically they have a 12 to 18 horsepower engine that can fling the snow up to fifty feet. An 18 inch snow storm will not slow them down. They are self propelled machines for both forward and reverse directions with multiple speeds.  Snow blowers with extras such as electric start, headlights and heated hand grips are just about standard equipment. These units cost approximately $1,400 to $1,800 dollars depending upon where you purchase it. A good quality snow blower will last fifteen to twenty years.

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