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If you are living in a region that gets heavy snow during the winter or if you are a property owner who has problems clearing snow yourself you may want to think about buying a new or used snowblowers. For areas where there is only light snow or for smaller gardens a single stage machine ought to be adequate. If however your area experiences very heavy snow or you have a large area to clear a double stage snowblower is perhaps a better choice.

What Size of Snowblower Should you Buy?

When deciding on the type of snowblower to buy consider the size of the area carefully. Match up the width of the pathway you have to clear with the clearing width of the snowblower model, to minimise the passes you’ll have to make. Also take into account the yearly snowfall in your region and how ‘packable’ it is. If you get about fifty or more inches of snowfall each year a single stage snowblower could possibly be up to the job. For any more than this or for neighborhoods where the snow is typically wet through you will really be better with a double stage snowblower that has a motor of seven hp or above.

The Different Types of Snowblowers

In a single stage snowblower a drum rotates and cuts the snow then lifts it to be sent out by means of a chute. In a double stage snowblower the snow is cut but impellers then work to toss the snow into the chute. So the snow is thrown further away and with superior power and the area can be cleared much faster. For both types of snowblower the discharge can be adjusted by angle and direction. A double stage snowblower uses more power so a larger motor is needed which increases the manufacturing costs.

Single Stage Snowblowers

Carefully take into account the clearing path when you are thinking of buying a snowblower. Single stage models have clearing paths of only 20 and 22″ which is okay for small areas but would result in many passes for a larger area. They are fairly trouble-free to keep in good condition and being quite compact are much easier to store than a much larger double stage snowblower. Also look at the wheels. Larger wheels help the propulsion as the auger blades can sink into the ground more and this helps to propel the snowblower forwards. A single stage snowblower purchased new will probably be between $300 and $700 with the higher priced machines usually having a more powerful motor and a wider clearing path.

Double Stage Snowblowers

For double stage snowblowers clearing paths usually vary between twenty five to thirty inches with motors from around 7 horse power to thirteen horse power. Prices range from in the region of $55 to more than $2000 for a hefty, heavy duty machine for especially large area such as public areas, parks and golf courses. For the majority of house owners, with a larger area to clear, a more moderately priced medium range machine with a 7 or 9 hp engine and a 24″ to 26″ clearing path ought to be adequate.

Snowblower Motors

Craftsman snowblowers are equipped with Briggs & Stratton motors which do not need pre-mixing of the gas and oil and have much lower noise, toxic emissions and vibrations. Many of the models have electric starters which are much easier to manage in colder weather than a recoil start. Honda snowblowers have Honda Overhead Cam motors which are able to run for around an hour and a half on one fillup of gas.

Snowblower Weights and Sizes

Check the weight of the machine before you purchase it. A number of machines are much heavier than others and if you have to manipulate the machine up and down steps when you store it for the summer a heavier machine will make this harder. Also make certain you have room to store your machine. Double stage machines are bulky and will need more room than a smaller single stage machine.

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