Do You Need a Snow Blower?
Snow blowers are the go-to tool to deal with clearing snow fast and easy. Those who live in areas with heavy snowfall know the hassle snow brings with it, and that’s not even considering getting it out of your way! Fortunately there are plenty of snow blowing solutions out there, from electric models to serious gas and diesel blowers that annihilate snow. Some snow blowers are great for the average homeowner with a driveway and some sidewalk to clear, while others are designed to clear big plots.
At FMI Equipment, we aim to keep our customers equipped with the best power equipment out there so they can deal with whatever nature throws their way. In that spirit, we’ve put together this short article with some information about snow blowers, and what you should look for when picking out one for yourself. Keep reading for more information or head into our location in Spokane Valley, Washington.
Electric vs. Gas Snow Blowers
Snow blowers are usually powered by gasoline, diesel, or electric engines. Gas and diesel offer higher levels of performance, but they’re more difficult to upkeep, are louder, and create pollution. Although harder to maintain, they are more durable and resilient to accidental damage or wear and tear. Gas and diesel snow blowers can cover much larger amounts of land in a short time. They also have a larger range in size and can be much bigger than electric models. This type of snow blower is reliable and effective but can take up more room.
Electric models tend to be compact compared to their fossil fuel cousins, which also means they’re less powerful and best suited for smaller patches of snow clearing. Battery-powered blowers are even more limited, and those powered through a cord that connects to a standard wall outlet can only travel as far as a cord will reach.
Snow Blower Stages
There are different ways snow blowers can operate, and the methods involved break down into three stages. Single stage snow blowers use an auger design to pick up snow and push it out of a chute at the top of the machine. Single stage blowers are only effective for handling snow that’s piled to less than eight inches in height.
Two-stage snow blowers are effective at handling snow that collects above eight inches, and they accomplish this through a secondary impeller device to move the snow more quickly through the chute.
A three-stage snow blower usually has an extra impeller device for even faster action, allowing them to deal with the deepest banks of snow.
Do You Need a Snow Blower?
Perhaps the greatest determining factor to whether or not you need a snow blower is how how much snow you get where you are and how able the local municipalities are to clear it. If your region gets snow several times per winter and that snow builds up more than a few inches at a time, you can probably use a snow blower. It will make your property safer and easier to navigate.
Snow makes it difficult to walk and drive, and many local governments ask residents to clear the sidewalks in front of their own homes. Snow shovels are an effective tool for getting rid of snow, but anyone who has tried to do the neighborly thing and help others is sure to discover that it’s extremely hard work.
If you have a long driveway or a large space to clear, a snow shovel is simply impractical. Some snow blowers are self-powered, which makes them even easier to operate. This is especially helpful for anyone who might have a hard time pushing around a snow blower otherwise.
With a variety of power options as well as stages of snow blowing potential, a snow blower might be a more suitable option for you than you might have thought. Clear snow easier than ever and spend that saved time on something more enjoyable than shoveling snow! For more information about snow blowers, or if you’re just excited to check out some models for yourself, head into FMI Equipment in Spokane Valley, Washington, where we proudly serve our neighbors in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Come by today and speak with our team of experts who’ll answer your questions and show you the true meaning of customer satisfaction.