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For a few years after graduating from college, I worked at MTD Products, a manufacturer that assembles powered lawn equipment such as snow blowers, lawn mowers, and string trimmers.
After building, dismantling, and refurbishing countless snow blowers, I’ve become familiar with the way they work.
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To help you make the most informed purchasing decision, I’m going to explain all the major differences between snow blowers. This way, you won’t spend a huge amount of money on a machine that isn’t right for you.
1. Model Type
There are four main types of snowblowers: single-stage, two-stage, three-stage, and shovel powered. Stage refers to how many augers a model has – the more augers, the more powerful the model. A powered shovel is exactly what it sounds like: a snow shovel with a power source that looks like a mix of a shovel and a blower. Each model type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
single phase
Single-stage snow blowers are one of the smallest models available. It is called “single stage” because it uses only one auger to sort, remove, and throw the snow. They are the weakest type of blower, meant for smaller driveways or areas where there are a few inches of snow. Their compact design makes them easy to store.
two stage
The two-stage machine uses two types of augers to handle ice – a main auger to break up and collect, and a secondary auger that throws the ice to the side. These blowers are the most popular choice, as they can handle almost any road length and deep or heavy snow. They’re also relatively affordable, with 24-inch models often costing less than $1,000.
the three Stooges
Three-stage snow blowers are beasts. They use three augers to break up heavy snow and even ice accumulations and move them out of slopes. Some three-stage models, such as the Cub Cadet, can throw snow 50 feet to the side and 20 feet in the air.
powered shovelS
These are very small – about 12 inches wide – handheld snow blowers. These powered shovels are great for clearing slopes and community walkways. Plus, they’re compact, so they’re easy to store in the off-season. Greenworks 80V and this Ryobi 40V Shovels are a great option.
2. Tub size
Most brands offer 24-, 26-, 28- and 30-inch tub sizes. Although it is possible to find larger models, these tubs are for commercial use or – such as John Deere 100 Series And Husqvarna Electric Lift Series –Designed as attachments for riding lawn mowers.
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Mower-attachment models have advantages – they have no engines to maintain, and they can clear heavy snow quickly. However, these can be a pain to install, as you must manually remove the blade deck from your riding mower and attach a series of belts to the drive pulley.
Generally, it doesn’t matter how wide your tub is, as the power of the blower lies in its auger. A 24- or 26-inch model, such as Troy-Bilt Storm 2420That’s as detailed as most people need.
3. Gas vs Battery
Most snow blowers are gasoline-powered, which means you’ll have an engine to maintain, including regular oil changes, fuel treatment, spark plug cleaning, and more. Newer gas-powered snow blowers also feature push-button or electric starts, an improvement over rip cords. Gasoline is also a more reliable fuel source, as you don’t have to worry about the battery draining in cold weather.
The obvious advantages of battery powered snow blowers, such as DeWalt 60V MaxThey run clean and you don’t have to worry about storing gasoline. There is no significant difference in power, as battery-powered devices have progressed significantly. If there are emission restrictions in your city, a battery-powered model is a better choice. If not, a gas-powered model will work equally well.
4. Wheels vs. Tracks
Track-drive snow blowers are becoming more popular because they have better grip on hard or wet snow than traditional wheels. But track-driven models are more expensive because they have more complex construction and moving parts.
Single-stage blowers have small, plastic wheels with shallow treads, which means they’re not good in deep snow. Two- and three-stage models have inflated tires with deep treads, like you’d find on a lawn mower.
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Tank-like track models have wide treads and long, wedge-like treads for cutting hard-packed or snow-covered ice for better traction. Wheeled snow blowers use pivot-turn controls for better maneuverability than track-drive models.
Ultimately, your choice of wheels or tracks depends on preference and budget. If you have money to spend and want extra traction, choose a tank-drive model. If you want to spend less and don’t mind maintaining traditional tires, a regular wheel snow blower is better for you.
5. Brand, quality, and when to return an item
If you can name a few lawn mower brands, you basically know who makes snow blowers. And I’m going to let you in on a little secret: There’s no reason to maintain brand loyalty just because it could cause you to spend money you don’t need to spend.
Most blowers are made of the same steel, use the same engines and wiring harnesses, and they all work the same way. Sure, high-end brands like Cub Cadet have fancy features like heated handle grips, motorized thrower chute, and serrated tub edges to cut drifts. But the basic structure of almost every snow blower is almost the same.
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Now, this hardware similarity doesn’t mean that the branding is irrelevant. If you like a particular brand because they offer great warranties or good customer service, stay loyal by all means.
Customer reviews will be your greatest asset when shopping for a snow blower. I study the one- and two-star reviews first, because they give you an idea of common problems, like missing hardware for assembly, mechanical failures, or customer service issues. You can also remove bad reviews that have nothing to do with the product, like shipping issues, in-store pricing, and other factors beyond the brand’s control.
Once you’ve identified any common problems, you can move on to reviewing four- and five-star reviews. I check for reviews that have been edited after the customer has had the item for a while. These reviews give you a clear picture of how difficult assembly can be, the minor issues that may arise, and the major failures that can occur after heavy use.
If a snow blower was delivered to your home without expert assembly – and you notice missing hardware or damaged, non-critical parts – do No Return the unit to the store. Call the brand’s customer service or after-market parts line to get a replacement. Remember, things happen: Goods get forgotten on the assembly line, or parts fall out of the crate during transit. However, these issues are not worth the hassle of returning the entire unit.
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If you can wait a few days for a part to be shipped to your home or nearest home improvement store, do so. If not, stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s often have small parts like shear pins or wheels in stock; Just call ahead to check. If you notice major damage to the engine or augers, making it unsafe to operate the snow blower, return it to the store for a refund, repair, or replacement. But a slightly damaged tub won’t do any harm, and it won’t look right even after you’ve used it a few times.
6. Buying with confidence
If you have questions about the snow blower you’re considering, it’s best to contact the brand’s customer service if you’re shopping online, or ask a store associate to walk you through features and pricing. And once you get your new blower up and assembled, you can say goodbye to getting up at 4 a.m. to shovel snow.
Yes, you can use a snow blower on almost any type of path, including gravel. But to make sure you don’t accidentally pick up a bunch of stones that could break your auger or throw you off the chute, you’ll want to put the skid shoes – the little plastic pieces on the sides of the tub – up a bit to give you some ground clearance.
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If you live in a rural area with long driveways, a truck-mounted plow or lawn mower may be a better choice than a snow blower. For starters, you won’t have to deal with fine snow being blown back into your face and onto the driveway, and you won’t be completely freezing inside your truck.
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Plows are also a good choice for unusually shaped driveways, such as those with large turns or circular designs. While newer snow blowers have pivot controls that make them easier to operate, rotating drives can still be difficult to clean.
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