Tips for Buying Your Next Snow Blower

Did you know that summer is often the best time to buy a snow blower? Since they are a tool that really only sees use one season out of the year, buying them in the off season means you’re competing with less buyers ready to pull the trigger and you’re also dealing with shop owners that are eager and happy to make a sale.

So if the thought of buying a snow blower has recently crossed your mind you’re on the right track. If you’re unsure at all about which snow blower you should choose then just sit back, relax, and read what we have in store here in this article. Let’s get right to it.

How Much Snow Do You Get?

If you take a step back and look at this buying decision objectively, the first and most obvious question you’re going to ask yourself is how much snow do you get? Are you up north in Minnesota, New England, or similar? If so, you know that you’re potentially in for some seriously heavy piles of snow and you should be planning accordingly.

If you’re more towards the center of the country where snowfall happens but is more manageable, then you can probably get away with a machine that’s a bit lighter duty, and you’ll save not only on the purchase price but also on how much effort you’ll have to put in to move the snow blower around.

What Does Your Yard’s Terrain Look Like?

The other major factor to consider is what the layout of your yard presents for challenges. If you have a large area to clear or you have lots of hills and uneven terrain then you’re going to need a machine that can handle some of those challenges, rather than relying entirely on your strength and resilience.

Once you’ve evaluated these two factors it’s fairly simple guide yourself to the right type of snow blower by knowing the basics of the terminology.

Snow Blower Types

When it comes to snow blowers you’re usually buying from one of a few trusted brands. The main difference is going to be in the type of snow blower you buy.

At its most basic is a single-stage snow blower. These are going to be the more affordable options, and that’s because they’re fairly simple machines stripped down of any bells and whistles. These are for light to moderate snowfall, not heavy and slushy snow and certainly not a lot of it. Single-stage snow blowers are not self-propelled, so you’ll have to do the bulk of the work yourself.

Then, of course, there are two-stage snow blowers, and probably the bulk of the products you’ll see out there fall into this range. These are a bit more expensive than single-stage snow blowers, but they are usually somewhat more robust machines. The deal with the second stage is that it has the ability to engage the wheels, so the machine can actually push throw the snow for you. Not only is this helpful with snow removal, but it’s also nice for just getting the snow blower around as they can be quite heavy as the size becomes larger.

Last but certainly not least there are three-stage snow blowers. These are for the fiercest of the fierce winter storms. They have everything you’d expect from a two-stage snow blower, but in addition, they have a second set of augers that rotate at a faster speed than the main auger to help in breaking up the snow so that it can be thrown far away. These are a must-have if you live in regions with frequent and heavy snowfall.

So that’s all there really is to it in a nutshell. Hopefully you have what you need to find the perfect snow blower for home. Any questions, we’re always here for you!