For a number of years after I graduated school, I labored at MTD Merchandise, which is a producing firm that assembles powered garden tools, comparable to snow blowers, garden mowers, and string trimmers.
Having constructed, torn aside, and refurbished numerous snow blowers, I’ve turn out to be conversant in how they work.
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That can assist you take advantage of knowledgeable shopping for resolution, I will break down all the key variations between snow blowers. That approach, you will not lay our a fortune on a machine that is not best for you.
Mannequin sorts
There are 4 primary forms of snow blower: single stage, two stage, three stage, and powered shovel. The stage refers to what number of augers a mannequin has — the extra augers, the extra highly effective a mannequin. A powered shovel is strictly what it seems like: a snow shovel with an influence supply that appears like a hybrid of shovel and blower. Every mannequin sort has its professionals and cons.
Single stage
A single-stage snow blower is without doubt one of the smallest fashions obtainable. It is known as “single stage” as a result of it solely makes use of one auger to kind scoop and throw snow. They’re the weakest sort of blower, meant for brief driveways or areas that get a number of inches of snow. Their compact design makes them straightforward to retailer.
Two stage
A two-stage machine makes use of two forms of augers to cope with snow — a primary auger to interrupt up and collect, and a secondary screw because the machine throws snow to the facet. These blowers are the most well-liked alternative, as they’ll deal with nearly any size of driveway in addition to deep or heavy snow. They’re additionally comparatively inexpensive, with 24-inch fashions typically costing underneath $1,000.
Three stage
Three-stage snow blowers are beasts. They use three augers to interrupt up heavy snow, and even ice accumulation, and blast it out of the chute. Some three-stage fashions, like these from Cub Cadet, are able to throwing snow 50 toes to the facet and 20 toes within the air.
Powered shovels
These are very small — about 12-inches huge — handheld snow blowers. These powered shovels are nice to have round for clearing stoops and communal walkways. Plus, they’re compact, so that they’re straightforward to retailer within the low season. The Greenworks 80V and the Ryobi 40V shovels are nice choices.
Tub measurement
Most manufacturers make 24, 26, 28, and 30-inch tub sizes. Though it’s potential to search out bigger fashions, these tubs are meant for industrial use or — just like the John Deer 100 Series and Husqvarna electric lift series — are designed as attachments for using lawnmowers.
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Mower-attachment fashions have benefits — they do not have an engine to take care of, they usually can clear heavy snow shortly. Nonetheless, they could be a ache to arrange, since it’s a must to manually take away the blade deck out of your using mower and fix a sequence of belts to the drive pulleys.
Typically, it would not matter how huge your tub is as the ability of a blower lies in its augers. A 24- or 26-inch mannequin, just like the Troy-Bilt Storm 2420, is as huge as most individuals want.
Fuel vs battery
Most snow blowers are gasoline-powered, which implies you will have an engine to take care of, together with common oil modifications, gas therapies, spark plug cleanings, and extra. Newer gas-powered snow blowers additionally characteristic push-button or electrical begins, which is an enchancment on rip cords. Gasoline can also be a extra dependable gas supply, since you do not have to fret about chilly climate draining batteries.
The plain benefit of battery-powered snow blowers, just like the DeWalt 60V Max, is that they run cleaner and you do not have to fret about storing gasoline. There is not a lot distinction in energy, since battery-operated tools has made enormous strides ahead. In case your metropolis has restrictions on emissions, a battery-powered mannequin is the higher alternative. If not, a gas-powered mannequin will work simply as effectively.
Wheels vs tracks
Monitor-drive snow blowers are gaining popularity as a result of they’ve higher traction over hard-packed or moist snow than conventional wheels. However track-driven fashions are usually dearer as they’ve extra intricate builds and shifting components.
Single stage blowers have small, plastic wheels with shallow treads, which implies they are not nice in deep snow. Two and three-stage fashions have inflated tires with deep treads, that are just like what you’d discover on a lawnmower.
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The tank-like monitor fashions have huge treads and tall, wedge-like protrusions to chunk into hard-packed or ice-covered snow for superior traction. Wheeled snow blowers use pivot-turn controls for higher maneuverability over track-drive fashions.
Ultimately, your alternative of wheels or tracks comes all the way down to choice and price range. You probably have the cash to spend and wish further traction, go for the tank-drive mannequin. If you wish to spend much less and do not thoughts sustaining conventional tires, a daily wheeled snow blower is healthier for you.
Manufacturers, high quality, and when to return an merchandise
In case you can identify some garden mower manufacturers, you mainly know who makes snow blowers. And I will allow you to in on a little bit secret: there is not any purpose to take care of model loyalty, as a result of it may value you cash that you just need not spend.
Most blowers are stamped from the identical metal, use the identical engines and wiring harnesses, they usually all work the identical approach. Certain, high-end manufacturers, comparable to Cub Cadet, have fancy options like heated deal with grips, motorized thrower chutes, or serrated tub edges for slicing by means of drifts. However the fundamental construction of nearly each snow blower is almost similar.
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Now, this {hardware} similarity does not imply branding is irrelevant. In case you like a specific model as a result of they provide nice warranties or their customer support is sweet, by all means, keep loyal.
Buyer critiques are going to be your largest asset when looking for a snow blower. I comb by means of one- and two-star critiques first, as they offer you an thought of widespread issues, comparable to lacking {hardware} for meeting, mechanical failures, or customer support points. You can even weed out poor critiques that don’t have anything to do with the product itself, comparable to transport points, in-store pricing, and different issues that manufacturers themselves haven’t any management over.
As soon as you’ve got recognized any widespread issues, you possibly can transfer to wanting by means of four- and five-star critiques. I verify critiques which have been edited after a buyer has had the merchandise for some time. These critiques offer you an amazing image of how tough meeting may be, minor points which will crop up, or main failures that may occur after heavy use.
You probably have a snow blower delivered to your private home with out professional meeting — and also you discover lacking {hardware} or broken, non-critical components — do not return the unit to the shop. Name the model’s customer support or after-market components line to get a alternative. Bear in mind, issues occur: stuff will get forgotten on the meeting line or components fall out of the crate in transit. Nonetheless, these points aren’t well worth the trouble of returning the whole unit.
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In case you can stand to attend a number of days for an element to ship to your private home or nearest dwelling enchancment retailer, accomplish that. If not, shops like Residence Depot and Lowe’s typically have small components like shear pins or wheels in inventory; simply name forward to verify. In case you discover main harm to the engine or augers that may make the snow blower unsafe to function, then it’s best to return it to the shop for a refund, restore, or alternative. However a barely dented tub is not going to harm something, and it isn’t going to look good after you utilize it a number of occasions anyway.
Shopping for with confidence
You probably have questions on a snow blower that you’ve your eye on, it is best to contact the model’s customer support in case you’re purchasing on-line, or ask a retailer affiliate to elucidate options and pricing. And after you have your new blower delivered and assembled, you possibly can say goodbye to getting up at 4AM to shovel the snow.
Sure, you should use a snow blower on nearly any sort of driveway, together with gravel. However to make sure that you do not by chance scoop up a bunch of stones that may break your augers or throw chute, you will wish to set the skid sneakers — the little plastic items on the perimeters of the bathtub — up a bit greater to present you some floor clearance.
In case you reside in a rural space and have a prolonged driveway, a truck or garden mower-mounted plow could also be a greater possibility than a snow blower. For starters, you will not should cope with wind blowing fantastic snow again into your face and driveway, and you will not get chilled to the bone inside your truck. Plows are additionally a sensible choice for unusually formed driveways, comparable to these with massive curves or round designs. Whereas newer snow blowers have pivot controls that make them simpler to maneuver, it nonetheless may be tough to clear curved drives.