Snow blowers, also known as snow throwers, are the go-to tools for quick and effective clearing of snow. If you live in a county or city that often experiences several feet of snowfall, then these devices can save you precious moments performing otherwise laborious tasks of clearing pathways and relocating snow. This guide will give you a clear rundown of the various types of snow blowers and which would best serve you.
Snow Blower | Recommended
Last update on 2024-04-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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Power Sources
Basically, there are three different power sources that snow blowers use – corded electric, cordless electric, and gasoline. The following will give you an idea of what each power source has to offer.
Corded Electric Snow Blowers
Corded electric snow blowers are perhaps the most popular type of snow blowers on the market. As you can guess, a power cord delivers the electricity to start the motor and move the plastic or steel auger to expel snow through the chute. Corded electric model designs are best suited for areas with light snowfall – around 8 inches in height – since their motors don’t generate enough power to handle more challenging tasks.
Cordless Electric Snow Blowers
This type of snow blower is one of the most portable types, but it also delivers the least amount of power for snow-throwing. Their motors are powered by rechargeable Li-Ion batteries that can give you around 50 minutes of work before needing to recharge. These devices are best-suited for cities that experience at most 6 inches of snow regularly.
Gas Snow Blowers
Gas snow blowers are the most powerful types on the market. The gas-powered motor delivers enough power to crush compacted snow and ice with a single spin of the auger. However, there are also gas-powered models that are built for light- and medium-duty tasks. If gasoline is inexpensive and you don’t want to risk playing around with electrical cords in the snow, then a gas-powered snow blower is definitely the way to go.
Types of Snow Blowers
There are three types of snow blowers on the market for you to choose from – single-stage, two-stage, and three-stage. Each has their own sets of pros and cons that we’ll cover briefly.
Single-Stage Snow Blowers
The number of stages refers to how the machine sends snow shooting through the chute. Single-stage snow blowers simply throw large quantities of snow into the chute, blasting it at least 20 feet away from you. Their wheels aren’t engine-driven, and their augers make direct contact with the surface.
This makes them best-suited for clearing paved surfaces since they can’t handle rocks, gravel, and grass effectively. Most single-stage snow blowers are designed to handle up to 8 inches of snow.
Two-Stage Snow Blowers
Two-stage machines are designed to work on surfaces with an excess of 8 inches of snow. They feature engine-driven wheels with skid shoes that elevate the auger and intake slightly, helping the unit glide over all sorts of surfaces and terrain. The two-stage process involves a rotating auger which pushes snow into the unit’s impeller fan which then discharges the snow via the chute.
Furthermore, this type of snow blower comes with a wider set of added features, such as piercing LED lights, heated handlebars, and a serrated auger for crushing compacted snow and ice down to a more manageable size.
Three-Stage Snow Blowers
Finally, three-stage machines are the Rolls Royce of all snow blowers. They work similarly to their two-stage counterparts, albeit much more effectively and efficiently. The three-stage process involves a serrated auger and an accelerator which push large quantities of snow – beyond 14 inches tall – into an impeller fan which blasts snow through the chute.
Generally speaking, most three-stage models out there perform up to 10 times quicker than their two-stage counterparts in terms of work speed. Three-stage machines also come with beefier engines for shooting snow up to 50 feet away.
Conclusion
And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. This is a quick guide to the types of snow blowers for you to choose from. Basically, before making a purchase decision, determine beforehand how powerful a unit you need. If your city experiences only six inches of snow, then consider purchasing a single-stage corded electric or even a cordless model. On the other hand, if your city measures snowfall in feet and not inches, then a two- or even a three-stage snow blower might be your best option.
Corded Snow Blower | Recommended
Last update on 2024-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This website is supported by readers. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
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