When you get a lot of snow during the winter or you’re too busy to spend your mornings and evenings shovelling, buying a snow blower seems like a no-brainer.
However, the process of purchasing a new snow blower can be stressful. Snow blowers are a big investment and it’s important that you choose the machine that’s best for you. It can seem daunting when you see the big range of options from snow blower makers like Troy-Bilt.
We’re here to help make the snow blower buying process an easier one. Below we’ve laid out four simple questions that you should have answers to as you set out to find the right snow blower for you.
Together, your answers to each of these questions will help you narrow down which type of machine is the perfect fit.
How much snow do you get?
It may be obvious, but this is a crucial factor you need to think about when buying a snow blower. The amount of snow you get in your area will likely determine what type and model of snow blower that you purchase.
For the purposes of buying a snow blower, take some time to think back on last winter and try to remember the amount of snow you got on a regular basis. Also, consider the type of snow that falls where you live – is it usually light and fluffy, or is wet and heavy snow more regular?
How does this impact what kind of snow blower you need? It will go a long way in deciding what type of snow blower you need.
A single-stage snow blower is designed to clear up to six inches of light snow from flat, paved surfaces. If you need a level up from a single-stage, two-stage snow blowers are designed to remove up to 12 inches of snow on multiple surfaces. Finally, a three-stage snow blower can tackle more than a foot of heavy, wet snow from a variety of surfaces and is made to bust through the ice and snow that piles up at the end of the driveway.
What surfaces do you clear snow from?
The types of surfaces from which you’re clearing snow should be considered in tandem with the amount of snowfall you get on a regular basis.
A single-stage snow blower is great for small, flat surfaces that get six inches of light snow but if you have a small, flat driveway that gets a foot of snow regularly then a two-stage is likely your best bet. On the other hand, if you get six inches of light snow but have a gravel driveway, a single-stage snow blower likely won’t do the trick either.
Additionally, two-stage and three-stage snow blowers are better equipped to handle snow on surfaces that are sloped, despite the surface’s terrain or amount of regular snowfall.
So, when you decide to buy a snow blower, make sure you know which machines are best equipped for the terrain you need to clear.
How big of an area do you clear snow from?
Once you’ve considered how much snow you get and what type of surfaces you’re clearing it from, factor in the size of the area you’ll be clearing.
As we’ve already touched on, a single-stage snow blower is great for short driveways – but that may not always be the case if you get a lot of snow or your driveway isn’t flat and paved.
If you don’t think of your driveway as short or small, you’re likely going to want to start your search for the ideal snow blower with a two-stage or three-stage machine and make your final decision based on how you answered the questions above.
What snow blower features do you want?
From heated hand grips to electric push-button start to power steering, snow blowers come equipped with a variety of features that can make clearing your driveway easier and even a little enjoyable.
What features are important to you? Take the time to do your research on the benefits of each feature and which snow blowers have which features. When thinking about the features you want, go back through the questions above and take into consideration all your answers and what jobs your snow blower must be able to perform for you to get what you need out of it.
