A good snow blower is the one sized to your driveway, your snow and your storage space, not the one with the longest feature list. Measure the job first, then match it to a machine class, a power source and a short list of features that earn their cost.
In This Article
Measure the job before you shop
Spend ten minutes outside with a tape or a pair of steady paces and write down:
- The length and width of the driveway, plus any parking pad or apron.
- The walkways and steps you also plan to clear, and how wide they are.
- The slope, and which way meltwater runs.
- The surface: paved, gravel or interlock, since each one changes the settings you need.
- Where the snow can go without burying shrubs, windows, cars or the mailbox.
- The garage or shed space, and the width of the door it has to pass through.
Then sort the job. A short single driveway with a front walk is small. A double-wide drive with a path to a side door is medium. A deep setback, a corner lot or a long path along the house is large. Don't forget the ridge the street plow leaves at the end. It is the hardest part of the job, and it decides how much machine you need.
Three machine classes
| Class | How it works | Fits | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-stage | A rubber-edged auger scoops and throws the snow in one motion, and it touches the pavement | Small to medium paved driveways and light to moderate snow. Lighter and easier to store | Struggles with the plow ridge and with deep, heavy snow. The auger scrapes the surface, so it is a poor match for gravel |
| Two-stage | A metal auger feeds snow to an impeller that throws it further, and wheels or tracks drive the machine | Medium to large driveways, deeper and wetter snow, the ridge, and gravel with the skid shoes raised | Heavier, costlier, and it needs more storage room and upkeep |
| Three-stage | Adds an accelerator that feeds snow in faster | Very large lots and very heavy snow | More machine than most suburban driveways need, with more weight and cost |
Tracked models grip better on slopes and slick surfaces than wheeled ones. Wheels are simpler and turn more easily in a tight garage.
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Gas, corded or battery
- Gas: the most power and the longest runtime, and the usual pick for larger jobs. It needs fuel, oil and a tune-up. Never run it in an enclosed garage, because the exhaust contains carbon monoxide, and wear hearing protection.
- Corded electric: light, simple and dependable for small jobs, but the cord limits where you can go. The Electrical Safety Authority advises plugging power tools into a GFCI outlet and using the right extension cord, kept dry when stored. Keep the cord clear of the auger.
- Battery: no fuel, quiet and easy to start. Runtime drops in the cold, so keep spare batteries warm indoors. A good match for small to medium driveways and light to moderate falls.
Choose gas if your driveway is large, the snow is often deep or heavy, and you are comfortable with maintenance. Choose battery if you value quiet, easy starts and low upkeep, and the area is modest. Choose corded if the job is small and an outlet is close.
Features worth paying for, and ones to skip
- Worth it: electric start on gas models, a chute control you can reach from the handle, adjustable skid shoes, an LED headlight for dark mornings, and heated grips if you clear a long driveway in the deep cold.
- Worth checking: intake height, which decides how deep a fall the machine will take in one pass, and how easily the chute deflector adjusts with gloves on.
- Often not worth it: a wide machine that will not fit your garage door or your walkway, a large engine for a single-lane drive, and extras you will not use.
Try the controls in the shop with gloves on. A feature you cannot operate with thick mitts is not a feature.
Safe use, and when a blower is not enough
- Never put a hand in the chute or near the auger. Switch off, wait for everything to stop, and use the clearing tool.
- Clear the path of newspapers, stakes, toys, cords and stones before you start.
- Aim the chute away from people, windows, cars and any vent or meter.
- Refuel only with the engine off and cool, and store fuel outside living space.
- Take breaks. A blower reduces the effort, not the strain of a long job in the cold.
Blowers struggle with the packed ridge, with ice and with very long drives. When the job outgrows the machine, or your back, a contractor can take over. D&D Home Services offers snow removal from $80 per visit for typical Kitchener-Waterloo homes, with seasonal contracts available. The snow removal equipment guide covers the other tools worth having.
Key Takeaways
- Measure the driveway, the walkways and the plow ridge before you look at any machine.
- Single-stage machines suit small to medium paved drives and lighter snow, while two-stage machines handle deeper, heavier snow and the ridge.
- Gas gives the most power, battery is quiet but loses runtime in the cold, and corded electric suits small jobs.
- Never clear a jam by hand, and never run a gas machine in an enclosed garage.
Sources & References
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