Snow Blower Buyer's Guide

Back when we were kids, we were the snow throwers - shoveling our parent's driveways for spare change.

Now, we're more likely to throw out our backs before throwing the snow.

Shoveling is a grueling chore for high school students and Olympic athletes.

If you don't know either, it's time to buy a snowthrower.

Snow blowers come in three distinct styles:

1. Electric
Electric snow blowers are capable of clearing light snow from sidewalks and small driveways. These extremely lightweight machines are commonly used on decks and steps where larger gas-powered models simply don’t fit.

Best of all, electric snow blowers are maintenance free, eliminating the need for oil changes and fill ups. All you need is a flexible outdoor extension cord and a nearby electrical outlet to get started.



2. Single-Stage
In very basic terms, single-stage snow blowers only throw the
snow once. A gas-powered engine spins an auger that scoops up the snow and throws it out the chute.

Since the auger actually contacts the ground, you should not use a single stage snow thrower on gravel surfaces, unless your goal is to hurl small rocks at your neighbors.

Single-stage snow blowers are typically 19 - 22 inches wide. The limiting factor, however, is their height – not the width. If you’re frequently battling 12-inch snow drifts, go with a two-stage snow blower instead.



3. Two-Stage
Two-stage snow blowers, on the other hand, throw the
snow twice. First, a metal auger scoops up the snow and ice. Then, a high-speed impeller throws it out through the discharge chute.

The auger on a two-stage snow blower doesn't touch the ground, so they can be used on gravel and concrete. Plus, they feature taller buckets capable of inhaling snow drifts.

If you need to clear large, deep expanses of snow, you’ll appreciate the wider and more powerful two-stage snow blower instead.