December/January 2003
By the Mother Earth News editors
Up to your ears in fluff?
Dig your way out with these handy tools.
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By Lindsey Hodel Illustrations by Brian Orr
For many of us, the season for snow shoveling has arrived. Although shoveling the white stuff by hand is always the greener choice, it may not be practical for people with large spaces to clear. Similarly, folks who are older or who have physical limitations also may need some help clearing their sidewalks and driveways safely. If you're a homeowner for whom a snowblower makes sense, keep the following points in mind when you buy.
SNOWBLOWERS 101
Most snowblowers are powered with a gasoline-fueled internal combustion engine. As you begin shopping, you'll find two engine options: single stage and two stage.
Single-stage models are ideal for homeowners with limited spaces to clear. They are smaller, lighter and less expensive than two-stage blowers. Single-stage models have an auger that makes contact with the ground as it rotates, pitching snow up and out through a rear chute. Single-stage blowers can be partly self-propelled, but you may have to lift the handle to tilt the machine (so the auger touches the ground) to help draw the blower forward and scrape snow off the ground. Single-stage blowers work well at clearing snowfalls up to about a foot deep.
Two-stage snowblowers also have augers that move snow to a discharge chute, but they are more heavy-duty and generally have full transmissions with multiple speeds and reverse. Two-stage units are better for breaking up hardened ice and snow than single-stage machines. In addition, two-stage models include a highspeed rotary fan that increases the machine's snow-throwing power. The auger in a two-stage blower doesn't come in contact with the ground, so a scraper bar on the bottom pushes the snow up into the auger. For this reason, single-stage units generally clean a smooth surface such as pavement better, but two-stage blowers are more effective on uneven surfaces such as gravel.
Path width for most snowblowers is about 21 inches for single-stage units and up to 32 inches for full-sized, two-stage machines. If you have a 26-inch path and get 6 inches of snow, single passes with a snowblower will reveal the ground. Heavier or deeper snow requires more passes, so take your region's typical snowfall into consideration when you buy.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Single-stage models can range from $110 to $600, while two-stage models can cost $350 to $2,600. Snowblowers are seasonal items, so you often can save money by buying one in the off-season. Before you buy, have the dealer start the model up for you so you can hear how loud it runs, and check out the manufacturer's warranties.
One way to cut the cost of a snowblower is to organize a community or neighborhood sharing program. One snowblower potentially could serve several neighbors, and using this group approach could save you and your neighbors big bucks.
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