If you live in an area that gets a significant amount of snowfall every winter and have a driveway that needs to be cleared regularly, you likely know how difficult it is to shovel snow all season. It’s physically taxing, takes a lot of time, and while you’re doing it, you’d probably rather be doing anything else. You’d also likely be wondering whether it’s time for you to buy a snow blower. If so, you’ve come to the right place. Here are five reasons why you should consider buying a snow blower.
Table of Content:
- Why should I buy a snow blower?
- When should I buy a snow blower?
- What should I think about when buying a snow blower?
- Where to buy a snow blower?
Why should I buy a snow blower?
If you live in an area that gets a significant amount of snowfall every winter and have a driveway that needs to be cleared regularly, you likely know how difficult it is to shovel snow all season. It’s physically taxing, takes a lot of time, and while you’re doing it, you’d probably rather be doing anything else. You’d also likely be wondering whether it’s time for you to buy a snow blower. If so, you’ve come to the right place. Here are five reasons why you should consider buying a snow blower:
TIRED OF SHOVELLING? DITCH THE SHOVEL AND THE BACK PAIN
Working in cold, snowy weather is tough to bear at the best of times, let alone when you’ve got to carry and push shovelfuls of snow around your driveway in the middle of a storm. That type of work can be exhausting and, in some instances, can lead to injury. Buying a snow blower will help eliminate that risk.
Not only does a snow blower considerably ease the workload it takes to remove snowfall from your driveway, but it also decreases the likelihood of injuries – like tweaking your back or straining your neck – that can be caused by shovelling. Snow blowers also help to stabilize you throughout the clearing process so you can avoid slips and falls in even the iciest conditions.
Depending on the type of snow blower you ultimately decide to buy, your new machine could make the job even easier with features like power steering, self-propelled drive and one-hand operation.
Regardless of the machine you purchase, one thing is certain: clearing your driveway with a snow blower is easier and safer than shovelling.
LESS TIME FOR SNOW, MORE TIME FOR YOU
Let’s face it: clearing snow from your driveway is never convenient.
Usually, you have to do it at a time when you need to be doing something else. Whether you’re clearing your driveway in the morning before work, in the evening after dinner, or on the weekend, it’s likely a task you want to get done as quickly as possible so you can check it off your list and move on to the next item.
Unfortunately, using a shovel to clear snow doesn’t really allow for that to happen. It takes time – often more time than you have. With a snow blower, you can save a significant amount of time clearing your driveway. The big blockage of ice and snow at the end of your driveway that takes forever to bust through? The power of a three-stage or two-stage snow blower can break it down in no time. In most cases, you can remove all the snow from around your property while barely breaking a sweat and cutting the time it’d take you to shovel by more than half.
Want to know which snow blower is right for you? We've got an easy product finder that'll tell you exactly what you need.
CLEARING SNOW CAN ACTUALLY BE FUN – SERIOUSLY
While the idea of having to shovel out your driveway after yet another heavy snowfall is daunting, and can lead to procrastination, the thought of firing up your trusty snowblower and making quick work of a large amount of snow can be gratifying.
When hard work becomes much less demanding, it’s easier to find pleasure in how satisfying it can be. Get a snow blower with heated grips and in-dash headlights, and suddenly throwing a driveway’s worth of snowfall aside in mere minutes to create the perfect snow-free path becomes a job you no longer want to put off… and maybe even look forward to doing.
BLOW SNOW, NOT YOUR BUDGET
Those of us who don’t have the time to shovel snow out of our driveway on a regular basis sometimes turn to professionals who, for an annual or per-visit fee, will remove snow from our property when necessary. Doing so saves time and provides peace of mind, but there are downsides to hiring a professional snow removal service, the biggest of which is the cost.
While the initial cost of a snow blower is more than hiring a snow removal service, buying a snow blower will likely be the more cost-effective option of the two over the life of the snow blower.
If you properly maintain your snow blower during the snow season and in the off-season, purchasing one will likely save you money in the long term.
A FAVOUR FOR A NEIGHBOUR
One of the most underrated benefits of buying a snow blower: the ability to be even more neighbourly. Thanks to your snow blower, you’ll spend less time clearing your own driveway, plus you’re not feeling the aches and pains of shovelling, so you’ll have more time and energy to lend a helping hand to your neighbours.
When is the best time to buy a snow blower?
Buying a snow blower at the right time can eliminate a lot of unnecessary stress from your life during the winter, while waiting too long or getting one at the wrong time can add a whole other layer of hassle. When is it best to buy a snow blower? We’ve identified the most popular times of the year to purchase a snow blower and ranked them from best to worst to help you buy at the perfect time.
1) LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL
This is the sweet spot for the buyer who wants to get a good deal on the ideal snow blower while still having the peace of mind that they’ll be ready for action when that first storm arrives.
With snow season still a few weeks away but creeping ever closer, buying in the late summer or early fall offers a couple of benefits in addition to being prepared. The first is that snow blower dealers and manufacturers are shifting from lawn and garden season to snow blower season at this time, meaning attractive pre-season deals will be available.
The second advantage an early buyer gets is a wider variety of choice: with plenty of machines in stock, purchasing a snow blower at this time of year gives you a better chance at getting the perfect snow blower to meet your specific needs.
Now, buying a snow blower this early can have its downfalls – the machine could go unused for months if it’s a mild winter, for example – but the benefits of buying in the pre-season outweigh the risks.
2) LATE WINTER/EARLY SPRING
For many buyers, the decision to make any purchase comes down to one factor: getting the best price possible. If that sounds like you, buying a snow blower in the late winter or early spring could be the way to go.
As winter winds down and the snow blower off-season begins, retailers and manufacturers will often mark down prices and offer deals to get rid of stock. There’s an element of long-term planning that goes into this buying strategy, as you’re purchasing a machine at least six months before you’ll use it, but the payoff can be worth it thanks to quality end-of-season clearance deals.
There are downsides to this approach, however. While off-season and post-season buyers save, they may not have the same variety of snow blowers to choose from than people who buy in the pre-season. Those end-of-season sales come with a price, so to speak, as there’s likely to be less selection.
That said, if finding the best price is most important to you, then consider putting late winter and early spring at the top of your personal rankings.
3) LATE FALL/EARLY-TO-MID WINTER
There’s no worse time to be without a snow blower than when you’re stuck in the middle of the winter’s first big storm, and that’s exactly why buying a snow blower after the season has already started is a strategy to avoid.
Not only do you risk getting snowed in without a way to dig yourself out, but you’re also purchasing at the time of the year when snow blowers are in highest demand. That means you’re competing with all the other snow blower buyers who waited until the first big snowfall to get a machine. You’re also less likely to find good deals because demand for snow blowers is so high.
Granted, the holidays bring sales on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas and Boxing Day, but those sales are often on the less popular snow blowers so getting the machine that fits your needs could be a tall task.
The bottom line: buying during late fall or the first half of winter probably means you’ll pay more, have fewer purchasing options and be left scrambling when the first snow hits.
What should you think about when buying a snow blower?
A few crucial factors come into play when you’re buying a snow blower, and they all need to be weighed together to determine what machine is best for your specific needs. To help you with that, we’ve broken down the four most important things you need to consider when buying a snow blower. You can also use snow blower product finders like this one from Troy-Bilt to assist in the process.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s quickly review the three most common types of snow blowers available:
- Single-stage snow blowers: Breaks, scoops and throws snow with one auger.
- Two-stage snow blowers: Breaks and scoops snow with an auger, then throws it with an impeller.
- Three-stage snow blowers: A pair of augers work together with one impeller to clear more snow faster.
Now, to help you decide which of these three types of snow blowers you should be looking for, here are four factors to keep in mind:
AMOUNT OF SNOWFALL YOU GET
First, think about the largest amount of snowfall you get during a single storm over the winter and the type of snowfall your area usually receives. Your answers will go a long way in determining the best snow blower for you.
For example, if you get no more than six inches of light, powdery snow during any given storm then buying a single-stage snow blower could be the way to go. But if you find yourself removing close to a foot of snow from your driveway on a regular basis, and you’re dealing with drifts and a mixture of snow, ice and slush, start by looking into a two-stage snow blower.
And if more than a foot of heavy, wet snow is common for you, consider the power of a three-stage machine. These snow blowers are effective for large drifts and tough mixtures of ice and snow, including that barrier of snow that accumulates at the end of the driveway after a few passes of the plow.
TYPE OF TERRAIN YOU’RE CLEARING FROM
Next, think about the type of surface you plan to be clearing with your snow blower and the angle of that surface.
If you’re clearing snow off a small driveway with a smooth, flat pavement or asphalt surface, a single-stage snow blower is again where you should start your search – factoring in the amount of snowfall you get, of course.
But if your driveway, regardless of size, has a surface that’s rough or sloped, avoid a single-stage – two- or three-stage snow blowers are better suited for the job.
Keep this in mind: an auger-assisted or push-propelled snow blower is better for solid and/or even surfaces, while an engine-driven machine is better suited for rough and/or sloped surfaces.
SIZE OF AREA YOU’RE CLEARING
The size of the area you’re clearing likely factored into your decision to buy a snow blower in the first place. Now, start thinking about what type of snow blower is best suited to clear that space.
If you’re buying a snow blower for a short driveway, a single-stage might make sense. But remember: if that short driveway gets a lot of snowfall or is rough and uneven, a two- or three-stage machine is likely your best bet.
For longer driveways or bigger areas, two- and three-stage snow blowers are also recommended. As a point of reference, we’d recommend a two-stage machine for an area with eight to 15 parking spaces, and a three-stage for 15 parking spaces or more.
FEATURES IMPORTANT TO YOU
Finally, think about the features you’d like to have on your snow blower and determine which are necessary for the jobs you’ll be using the machine for.
Take the time to consider the features that are essential to the jobs you’re doing and the features you’re flexible on. Then you can determine whether you want a snow blower with all your preferred features or only a select few.
Popular snow blower features include push-button start, power steering, four-way chute control, heated hand grips, airless tires, remote pitch control, and more.
Where can I buy a snow blower?
You’ve decided to finally toss your shovel aside, and save yourself from the aches and pains and time spent pushing snow off your driveway - congratulations! But now you’ve got more decisions to make, one of the most important of which is figuring out where you’re going to buy your brand-new snow blower. Well, you’ve got a few options and each has its own unique benefit. Here’s a look at what you need to know about where to buy a snow blower.
ONLINE
Shopping online has never been more popular, and with good reason. Online shopping services are accessible for everyone with an internet connection, offer a wide variety of products, are relatively easy to use and the number of online retailers available to choose from is constantly growing.
If you’re inclined toward the online shopping experience and looking to buy a snow blower from the comfort of your own home, you have plenty of retail options and product variety available at your fingertips. Snow blowers can be purchased online through manufacturers, big-box stores and local dealers, popular online retailers like Amazon, or online classifieds such as Kijiji and Craig’s List, which come with more risk but can offer good deals on used machines.
The convenience of shopping for a snow blower online is obvious: you can buy the perfect machine for you without getting out of your chair, there are no lineups to deal with when checking out, there’s generally a great deal of choice and if the snow blower you want isn’t available you can check a different website or shop again later without having wasted a significant amount of time.
As a prospective buyer, you can also rely on the reviews written by fellow customers of a snow blower you’re interested in to find out how it’s performed in real-world situations and if the machine operates the way you’ll need it to.
BIG-BOX STORES
Peace of mind is one of the most important factors when buying a snow blower. The opportunity to see the machine in person and know it has the features and specifications you need before making the final purchase can make all the difference, and that’s the experience you get at a big-box store.
These large retail stores can make shopping for a snow blower in-person relatively trouble-free. The machines are easy to find, the employees are generally well-informed about the products and helpful during the purchasing process and, most importantly, you know you’re getting the exact machine you’re looking for when you see the snow blower for yourself.
Additionally, big-box stores carry a wide variety of snow blower models and brands often with attractive deals, offer warranties on top of what’s provided by the manufacturer, and can deliver the machine right to your home, if necessary.
The satisfaction of knowing the snow blower you bought is the perfect one to fit your needs and that there will be no surprises is enough to make the trip to a big-box store worth the effort.
LOCAL DEALER
Local snow blower dealers offer many of the same benefits as shopping at a big-box store, but for some prospective snow blower owners the personal touch and specialized service of these locally owned or family-run stores is the determining factor when buying.
Often part of smaller communities, local snow blower dealers give buyers the chance to see (and maybe even test use) the machine before they make a purchase and have the proper know-how to answer the important questions many of us need addressed before making a substantial purchase like a snow blower. Additionally, local dealers can provide the kind of personal, trustworthy customer service that often continues long after the snow blower has been bought.
As official sellers of snow blower manufacturers, local dealers can also offer certain machines, deals and services that aren’t available elsewhere.
The familiarity and comfort that comes with buying a snow blower from a local dealer, coupled with return visits for regular maintenance and other needs, is the kind of service that’s hard to pass up.
