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It may be a difficult job to pick the best snowblower. You’ll see a wide variety of two-stage versions of varying widths and a dizzying range of features. If you’ve never owned a snowblower or have not bought one in a long time, the blizzard of innovative features would blow you away.
High-end features such as push-button power steering that spin the machine around on a dime, heated handgrips that burn the palms, tires that never go soft, and rotating of the push button chute are supported by the newer models.
What is a Snow Blower?
We will start with the basics in order to help you find concrete answers to questions you might have about how to pick a two stage snow blower. It’s going to be as easy at first as what is snow blowing?
It requires the process of clearing snow by the use of a snowblower system from your sidewalk or driveway. The system involves the machine’s spinning spiral blades swallowing up the snow as a propeller aims to blast it out of its chute.
The next logical question worth addressing now that we have learned its working process is what decision to make when faced with an electric snow blower and gas snowblower.
Gas vs Electric
Firstly, consider what kind of power to run the snowblower you would like to use. Electric snowblowers are handy since they are easy to warm up and do not need refilling.
But corded snowblowers are limited in range to the length of the standard extension cord, just like corded lawnmowers. You will also need a cold-rated cord that won’t get easily brittle being pulled through the snow.
Even though cordless battery-powered electric snowblowers free you from the cord, they are much more constrained in strength and appear to demand new batteries after a few years because of the struggle to function in the cold.
The most efficient are gas snowblowers, but you can swap the power for a little more noise and exhaust. Cords such as corded electric blowers are also not limited to them.
Stick with a gas snowblower when you’re trying to handle more than 6 inches of snow at once or require long-distance throwing strength.
On these models, you’re going to have to do a bit more maintenance, but the trade-off for homeowners who need to clear a lot of snow at once is worth it.
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Why Choose a 2 Stage Snow Blower?
The two stage snowblower, whether gas-powered or electric, is the most popular type for homeowners. This equipment scoops up the snow like a snow thrower with an auger, except inside there is an impeller to serve as the second stage.
Snow is thrown out of the chute even faster and at a larger pace, enabling the snowblower to tackle more snow in one go. You’ll find that there are also household and professional two-stage snow blower available.
Both of these snowblowers work without harm on gravel and grass areas because the augers do not have to make contact with the soil. However, this ensures that collecting the last bit of snow is unlikely, and you may face refreezing over paved fields.
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What to Look for in a Snow Blower
Make sure you know just what to look for in a snow blower before you go shopping for it You can notice a few more important variables below, beyond the stages.
Tire Size and Type
It makes a big difference in the size and style of tires on a snowblower. Various considerations decide how quick or difficult the machine can be to drive along through the thick wet snow and slick ice, from distance to height to tread-type.
With 12-inch tires, households with narrower walkways and short driveways will do better, whereas commercial snow removal can at least be achieved with units with 15-inch wheels. On another note, rather than wheels, certain snow blowers come with tracks or skid shoes.
Intake Size
The size of the shovel or scoop that makes up the intake mechanism of the machine’s mouth and the scraper is important. It determines how much snow can be taken in and thrown at a time into the machine.
Usually, snow blowers range from 18 to 28 inches wide. That said, there are intakes available in nearly every size you can think of.
Snow Throwing Range
The distance from which a snowblower can throw snow is also significant. Only to see it blow straight back onto your newly cleared streets, you don’t want to cast it a few miles. But, you don’t want to chuck it over the fence of your neighbor in an accident either.
This factor could be more or less important to you, depending on how big your yard is, or how near your sidewalk or driveway are to your neighbors.
Chute Type
Another important factor to remember with snow blowers is the type of discharge chute. This defines how quick the chute is to turn, aim and adjust angle-wise and directionally.
Among the best machines are chutes that have over 180-degree rotation capacity and remote control features.
Fuel Type
Believe it or not, the only form of fuel that powers snow blowers these days is not only gasoline. Every year, electric snow blowers are getting more powerful and efficient. In electric models, diesel and other sources of fuel could also be available.
Power Steering
Two- and three-stage snow blowers are heavy and it can be exhausting to turn them around at the end of a road. However, power steering lets turn a dime on the machine and will save your back. The most recent versions have one-hand power steering controls that the unit will turn 180° in an instant.
Benefits of Two-Stage Snow Blowers
With the specifics you want to help you get the job done with ease, a wide range of options is always beneficial in helping you to find just the product you need.
These options will help you to monitor the price level for snowfalls that could be lighter in nature relative to places where winter weather is thick, snowy, and strong.
Many of these devices can also throw snow 30 to 50 feet away, making them very flexible for the size and specifications of land. They are also common as the auger is slightly inclined to rough terrain and gravel drives, enabling it to be lifted above the ground and give room between its movement and the surface of the ground.
The power assists to tires enable smooth gear shifting and further monitoring of changes in terrain and snowpack. In order to meet the needs of large landowners, X-track tires and even treads can also be used to help with stability.
Also to meet the budgets of a larger range of customers, both of these choices often result in varying prices.
Two-Stage Snow Blower Concerns
Two-stage blowers are all powered by 4-cycle motors and need regular maintenance, but this is normally reasonably easy to do at home since they are made mostly for household use.
Many have very powerful engines but are unable to achieve what they are designed to do, largely because their total constructive size and design are limited.
In other words, if the model was made wide enough and tough enough to withstand it, they could do heavy work.
The auger positioning, which helps you to work on rugged terrain and gravel drives without risking injury, often leaves behind a layer of snow. Therefore, if you are searching for a clean floor when clearing snow, you would need to follow this up with a shovel or other tool to help clear it up.
Their strength is another matter and power comes at a cost. Since these machines would have no difficulty clearing the sidewalks and driveway, your wallet may also be wiped empty.
Snow Blower Maintenance Tips
It may not look like it, but your snow blower will soon be safe to put away. But if you just stuff it in the shed and forget about it, maybe next winter, you’re sorry.
Spend a bit more time on the snowblower now and you’ll blast through the white stuff next winter season. Here are the maintenance steps to follow.
- Always check the tires.
Always check the tires. With the proper amount of air in their tires, snow blowers get the greatest traction; owner’s manuals usually prescribe 15 to 20 pounds per square inch (psi). The manual will have the exact details for your machine; it’s on the side of the tire, too. Also on a fairly new snow blower, make sure to check tire pressures, as many are delivered with over-inflated tires to minimize the risk of injury on the way to the shop.
- Replace the spark plug out.
This is what ignites the gasoline so that it can better start and operate the engine.
To make sure that you have the correct replacements on hand, review your owner’s manual. Remove the lead wire to adjust the spark plug, and use a socket wrench to help remove the plug. To be cautious not to over-tighten the new plug, replace it with a new spark plug and re-attach the lead cable.
- Check if all parts for the snowblower are still in working condition.
Different snowblower manufacturers and models come with different accessories, such as power steering, headlights, and electric starts. It is a smart idea to check all of these items and repair any missing or worn accessories.
- Change Oil
Like vehicles, today’s snow blowers have a different oil tank and bigger ones have a bolt that you loosen. Tip the machine over, and the old oil can quickly be emptied into the container. When you’re finished and the bolt is reattached, reload it to the amount you like. The correct type and grade of oil to use will be specified in your owner’s manual.
Final Thoughts
It is clear that two stage snow blower types differ based on their operational mechanism. The one thing we will all rely on, though, is that your preference will still be down to a two stage snow blower if you live in a snowfall-heavy place.
The thing is, you need a snow blower capable of treating snow to a depth of 18 inches. You will want one with the potential to clean snow quicker and more efficiently over a larger area.
