the
washington
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.thursday,
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11,
2021DC
8
Homeclearing snow on gravel or grass.
These machines are almost al-
ways self-propelled, essentially
driving themselves through the
snow. The downside is they are
heavy (some weigh up to about
300 pounds) and take up storage
space.
Get what you need to do the
job. “The biggest mistake I see is
people overbuy, purchasing a
two-stage blower when a single-
stage will do,” Werner says.
“Think of it this way: ‘Do I need
to buy a pickup truck, because
once a year I buy a load of lumber,
when 90 percent of the time an
SUV works for my family and
dogs?’ Instead of preparing for
the worst, why move at half the
speed and deal with noise when
90 percent of the snowfall can be
removed with a smaller, lighter
model?”
Battery-powered models are
an option. U ntil a few years ago,
snowblowers either came with
an electric cord or were gas-
powered. Lithium batteries are
a game-changer, says Paul Sikke-
ma, whose independent website,
movingsnow.com, advises con-
sumers on how to find a snow-
blower. Sikkema prefers batterymodels. They are relatively quiet,
require little maintenance and
don’t emit smelly fumes. Still,
they may only run for 45 minutes
or so before needing to be re-
charged. Although battery-
powered options mostly remain
limited to single-stage snow-
blowers, manufacturers such as
Toro plan to roll out two-stage
models with up to three batteries.
But gasoline still provides
more oomph. Gas snowblowers
power through thicker snow,
throw the snow farther and, with
sufficient fuel, give you plenty of
run time. The biggest issue is...
gasoline. Some consumers aren’t
comfortable storing cans of gaso-
line at home. And gas has all sorts
of additives, Sikkema says. Al-
though blowers can operate on
87 octane (up to 10 percent etha-
nol), you can’t use fuel with any
higher percentage of ethanol. If
your gasoline does contain etha-
nol, you should add a fuel stabi-
lizer (Sikkema’s go-to is Sea
Foam) or after about 30 days, the
fuel will gum up your carburetor
and the machine won’t start.
Evaluate what you’re buying.
Thanks to the Internet, you can
find buyers’ guides, setup videosand other relevant information
on manufacturer websites, as
well as on unbiased sites, such as
Snow Blowers Direct. Sikkema’s
YouTube channel (youtube.com/
c/paulsikkema) features videos
showing him reviewing and as-
sembling snowblowers.
Note added features. Snow-
blowers come with some nifty
features. Some have a joystick on
the handle to adjust the chute, so
you don’t have to lean over the
blower to do so. Electric buttons
make for a one-touch start. New-
er models have lights in case
you’re blowing in the dark, and a
few even boast a heated handle
that warms your hands.
Be safe. Just because a ma-
chine is hefting the snow doesn’t
mean you can ignore personal
safety precautions. Dress appro-
priately. Avoid long scarves,
draped sleeves or baggy jackets
that can catch on the machine.
Wear good gloves, preferably
ones that are waterproof, and
slip-resistant shoes. Check the
wind direction before you start.
There’s nothing worse than get-
ting a face full of snow or realiz-
ing the snow has covered an area
you just cleared. If you noticebumps in the snow, first make
sure they aren’t bricks or news-
papers. “And if you get confused
or have any problems, simply
take your hand off the machine,
and it will stop,” Sikkema says.
Finally, if the blower clogs or
jams, never — and I do mean
never — stick your hand down
the chute. Use the clean-out tool
provided with the blower or a
broom handle.
Stick with brand-name prod-
ucts. To ensure you can get re-
placement parts and service, buy
from a trusted, known brand,
such as Ariens, Cub Cadet, Toro,
Husqvarna, Honda or Ego. “I
always recommend going to the
local dealer first if you want a
specific model or brand or if you
just want to grab a blower and
push it around,” Sikkema says.
“Not only can a dealer help you
find the right machine, but they
can assemble and show you how
to run it and help you with any
warranty issues.”
[email protected]Denver-based writer Laura Daily
specializes in consumer advocacy
and travel strategies. Find her at
dailywriter.net.BY LAURA DAILYUnless you enjoy a hefty work-
out with a shovel, a snowblower
is one piece of machinery to put
on your “consideration” list.
“Clearing snow by hand is a slow
process in cold, sometimes frigid
temperatures, so the goal is to
get inside by working quickly
and safely. That’s where a snow-
blower comes in,” says Tom Wer-
ner, senior product marketing
manager for Toro, one of the
country’s largest snowblower
manufacturers.
But don’t wait until there are
eight inches of snow blanketing
your driveway to start shopping.
The biggest challenge for con-
sumers this year is availability. As
with other motorized equipment,
inventory is tight, Werner says.
Snowblower manufacturers are
constrained by supply chain
component shortages, ocean
freight backups and a lack of
truckers to transport goods to
stores.
Here are other aspects you
need to consider before shelling
out the money (about $500 to
$4,500 on average, depending on
type) for a snowblower.
Assess your environment.
Jake Woltman, who works with
online retailer Snow Blowers Di-
rect, asks every customer: How
much snow do you average per
year, and what’s the consistency?
Is it powder-like or wet and
heavy? How wide, long and steep
is your driveway? What other
areas do you want to clear, such
as a path in your yard for a dog?
Are surfaces paved or gravelly?
How far do you want to get the
snow from your driveway? Your
answers can help guide your
decision between the two basic
types of snowblowers:
Single-stage: These have a ro-
tating rubber paddle on the front
that grabs the snow and throws it
out a chute. Depending on the
model, it can clear eight to 12
inches of snow down to the
pavement. Many models allow
you to fold the handle down for
storage. Single-stage blowers
make contact with the ground, so
they should not be used on un-
paved or gravel surfaces. They
are lighter than their two-stage
counterparts, but users must
push them through the snow.
Two-stage: These gather snow
with a heavy-duty serrated auger
that chews up the snow. A high-
speed impeller then throws the
snow out of the chute, as far as
50 feet away. Because they are
bigger and more powerful, they
are good for large driveways;
heavy, wet snow; snowfalls of 12
inches or more; and big drifts.
Two-stage models don’t touch the
ground, so they can be used forThinking of purchasing a snowblower? Here’s what to consider.
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