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Electric or gas snow blowers use powerful zero-emission motors to neatly and rapidly blow snow off of walkways and driveways, improving safety and stability during winter months. Although they are often called snow “blowers”, most of today’s modern electric units operate by taking in snow via the front intake and then using an auger system to drive snow up and out of an adjustable chute.
It is for this reason that many manufacturers refer to their models as snow “throwers” rather than the more antiquated term of snow “blower”. Nonetheless, the industry standard term for electric machines designed to clear snow remains “snow blower”, and will be used throughout this smart guide.
What is a Snow Blower?
Contents
Most electric home snow blowers are powered by a properly-rated electrical extension cord plugged into a normal home outlet. The snow blower usually has two large rear wheels that allow the user to push the machine forward, scooping up snow in its front intake and then using a motor to blow or throw the snow out of a direction-adjustable chute.
Electric snow blowers efficiently convert home power to efficiently and rapidly clear snow from walkways, driveways and other exterior areas of the house by using a zero-emission energy to simultaneously reduce the impact on the environment. Once snow is blown from walkways and other exterior areas of the house, it can be left to melt naturally or disposed of in another manner.
Homeowners living in four-season climates know that clearing snow from winter storms can be a lot of work, especially when relying on old-fashioned techniques and equipment like shovels. A good snow blower can quickly clear driveways, sidewalks, walkways, patios and other exterior areas of the property. Powerful engines throw or disperse snow in a controllable arc, allowing you to remove snow from driveways, sidewalks, and high-traffic areas and pile it conveniently where it can be disposed of later or allowed to melt.
What are the different types of Snow Blowers?
Some larger and louder models of snow blowers rely on traditional gasoline-powered engines to blow snow, but many of today’s more advanced models rely on advanced electrical motors to quietly and efficiently clear snow from walkways, driveways and sidewalks.
Some smaller electrical snow blowers are designed to handle shorter walkways and driveways, while bigger units with more powerful motors can quickly remove deeper snow from exterior areas of the home. Many snow blower models come with safety features such as a “dead man’s switch” that cuts off the motor in case the user lets go of the machine.
What are the advantages of owning a Snow Blower?
Shoveling snow manually is difficult work, and thousands of people every year have to travel to a hospital to seek medical attention after injuring themselves through overexertion outdoors in cold weather when removing snow from their property. A snow blower allows users to efficiently and quickly remove snow from any outdoor area, giving elderly and less able-bodied homeowners independence and safe passage during cold winter months.
Professional snow removal services are expensive and neighborhood youths offering to clear driveways and sidewalks can be unreliable and expensive. Owning your own snow blower gives you the benefit of making short work of snow fall from the exterior areas of your property.
Which models are the contenders for the Best Snow Blower?
GreenWorks 26032 12 Amp 20″ Corded Snow Thrower – This cheerful corded electric model from GreenWorks features a powerful 12 amp motor and a generous 20-inch front intake. Although it is relatively compact, it can easily handle snowdrifts up to a depth of 10 inches while throwing snow up to 20 feet.
Snow Joe SJ620 18-Inch 13.5-Amp Electric Snow Thrower – This electric-powered snow blower comes equipped with a powerful 13.5 amp motor that can blast through up to 650 pounds of snow a minute. The highly-engineered four-blade steel auger system rapidly cuts through vast swathes of snow, allowing homeowners to quickly clear driveways, walkways and other exterior areas of the property.
Toro 38381 18-Inch 15 Amp Electric 1800 Power Curve Snow Blower – This rugged and stylish snow thrower from Toro comes kitted out with a powerful 15-amp electric motor to blast up to 700 pounds of snow per minute. With a perfectly designed ergonomic operation and large 18-inch clearance width, the Toro 38381 can easily blow deep snow from driveways, patios, decks, walkways, sidewalks and other exterior property areas.
Considerations for Choosing the Right Snow Blower
- Motor – Electric snow blowers rely on a powerful engine to drive the auger and blow snow efficiently and rapidly.
- Front Intake – The wider the dimensions of the front intake, the more snow can be quickly blown up and out through the snow chute.
- Discharge Capabilities and Options – Snow blowers are rated on their ability to discharge large volumes of snow safely and efficiently, with many models coming with advanced adjustable features to maximize snow clearing capabilities.
- Snow Removal – The ultimate test for any snow blower is how well it can safely and rapidly remove snow from driveways, walkways and other exterior parts of the home.
Motor
The GreenWorks 26032 12 Amp 20″ – The GreenWorks 26032 is equipped with a powerful 12-amp motor that drives an auger system capable of discharging snow up to 20 feet from the user. The blower system is designed to easily dispatch of hundreds of pounds of snow per minute.
The Snow Joe SJ620 18-Inch 13.5-Amp – The Snow Joe SJ620 comes with a high-powered 13.5 amp motor that is custom engineered to move as much as 650 pounds of snow per minute. The motor uses an extension cord connected to a standard home outlet, offering homeowners an emissions-free option to rapidly clear snow from their property.
The Toro 38381 18-Inch 15 Amp Electric 1800 Power Curve – The Toro 38381 comes equipped with a very powerful 15-amp electric motor capable of rapidly throwing vast quantities of snow a long distance from the user. The electric motor is powered by an extension cord connected to a standard home outlet.
Front Intake
The GreenWorks 26032 12 Amp 20″ – The GreenWorks 26032 comes equipped with a generous 20-inch front single-stage intake, allowing many homeowners and property managers to clear snow from sidewalks and walkways with a single pass. Users should have no problems making quick work of cleaning their property with the GreenWorks 26032.
The Snow Joe SJ620 18-Inch 13.5-Amp – The Snow Joe SJ620 comes with an ample 18-inch front intake system that is 10 inches deep, allowing the highly-engineered four-blade steel auger system to throw hundreds of snow per minute at a distance of up to 20 feet from the user. The adjustable snow chute can efficiently direct thrown snow in the desired direction.
The Toro 38381 18-Inch 15 Amp Electric 1800 – Homeowners and property managers will benefit from the Toro 38381’s big 12-inch front intake that can tackle snow up to a foot deep.
Discharge Capabilities and Options
The GreenWorks 26032 12 Amp 20″ – Using a rugged high-volume front snow chute, the GreenWorks 26032 can propel snow up to 20 feet from the user. The GreenWorks 26032 is rugged enough to handle even wet or slushy snow.
The Snow Joe SJ620 18-Inch 13.5-Amp – The rugged polycarbonate snow chute is designed to easily be adjusted across 180 degrees even when wearing mittens or gloves. The Snow Joe SJ620 is rated at throwing up to 650 pounds of snow per minute in optimum conditions.
The Toro 38381 18-Inch 15 Amp Electric 1800 Power Curve – The Toro 38381 is rated to throw an astonishing 700 pounds of snow per minute away from the user using the easily-adjustable 160-degree snow chute. The Toro 38381 also comes equipped with a simple “full-bail” handle that safely stops the motor in case the user lets go of the machine.
Snow Removal
The GreenWorks 26032 12 Amp 20″ – With its unparalleled front 20-inch front intake, large 6-inch rear wheels, and powerful 12 amp motor, the GreenWorks 26032 is designed to make short work of snow up to 10 inches deep.
The Snow Joe SJ620 18-Inch 13.5-Amp – With a big 18 by 10-inch front intake system and powerful 13.5 amp motor, the Snow Joe SJ620 is designed to make quick work of even deep snowfalls from sidewalks, walkways and driveways. Large rear wheels and excellent overall design make the Snow Joe SJ620 simple and intuitive to operate.
The Toro 38381 18-Inch 15 Amp Electric 1800 Power Curve – The Toro 38381 uses the company’s patented Power Curve technology to prevent clogging and allow users to blast snow all the way down to the surface underneath. Rated to handle 700 pounds of snow per minute, the Toro 38381 can quickly remove deep snow from even bigger driveways, walkways and sidewalks.
Conclusion: Our Snow Blower Reviews
The GreenWorks 26032 12 Amp 20″ Corded Snow Thrower – Best Cheap Snow Blower
This cheerful green and black model from GreenWorks uses safe emissions-free electricity to quickly and efficiently remove snow up to 10 inches deep from driveways, walkways and external areas of the home. With a handy cord lock feature and big 20-inch front intake, the GreenWorks 26032 allows homeowners and property managers to quickly clear snow from their property.
Although it looks compact and futuristic, the GreenWorks 26032 is more than powerful enough to quickly clear snow from walkways and other exterior areas of the property.
Pros:
Uses an extension cord that plugs into any home outlet. Motor is more than powerful enough to handle snow clean-up jobs around the property. Big 6-inch rear wheels can tackle snow up to 10 inches deep without breaking a sweat. Rugged polycarbonate body is designed to withstand many years of harsh winter weather. Comes with an outstanding 4-year warranty. Electric motor means emissions-free operation and no hassle of dealing with gasoline and oil.
Cons:
Some users have experienced clogging or blocking of the machine because they failed to properly prime the unit before using it for the first time.
The Snow Joe SJ620 18-Inch 13.5-Amp Electric Snow Thrower – Best Snow Blower for the Money
This sleek looking all-black snow blower from Snow Joe features the company’s razor sharp 4-blade steel auger system, capable of blasting 650 pounds of snow up to 20 feet from the user.
With a strong 13.5 amp motor and rugged design, the Snow Joe SJ620 is built to provide years of service in even the harshest winter conditions. The chute’s angle of direction is easy to adjust even when wearing mittens or gloves.
Pros:
Looks stylish and sleek when in use. The chute is easy to adjust even when wearing mittens, and the machine blows snow a surprisingly far distance. Sluices through deep snowdrifts so easily you sometimes with you had more snow to throw. Makes lightning quick work out of clearing driveways, patios, walkways and other outdoor areas of the property during winter. Can chew through even icy or hard-packed snow with ease. Easy to operate and maneuver and no messy fooling around with gasoline and oil.
Cons:
Because the Snow Joe SJ620 is such a powerful electric snow blower, it requires a properly-rated extension cord to use, which is not included with the unit.
The Toro 38381 18-Inch 15 Amp Electric 1800 Power Curve Snow Blower – Best Snow Blower Overall
This rugged snow blower from Toro features a big 12-inch front intake and a powerful 15-amp motor to rapidly and safely throw up to 700 pounds per minute. Using the company’s patented Power Curve technology, users can quickly remove snow all the way down to the pavement or concrete underneath. With large real wheels and a well-engineered design, the Toro 38381 can quickly and efficiently remove snow up to a foot deep.
Although powerful and durable, the Toro 38381 is relatively lightweight and designed to be simple to maneuver and operate.
Pros:
The bold red and black design looks great both in use and when stored in the garage. Power Curve technology means you get down to the concrete every time and don’t have to make second or third passes to remove all the snow. Powerful 15-amp snow can blast through even huge drifts and the unit itself is designed to handle up to a foot of snow. Rugged and well-designed to provide reliable service for years. Assembly is easy and usually takes 10 minutes or less.
Cons:
The Toro 38381 is a powerful machine that must be connected to the home power supply using a properly-rated extension cord, which is not provided with the machine.
In Conclusion
Anyone living in a cold weather climate can benefit from a good snow blower to quickly remove snow from exterior areas of the property like walkway and driveways. Quality snow blowers are designed to throw hundreds of pounds of snow per minute, allowing for ultra fast clean-up after a storm. Instead of having to spend hours outdoors in cold weather performing difficult manual labor, owners of snow blowers can quickly and comfortably blast snow from their property. Driveways and walkways that are cleared from snow provide safer and more secure footing in treacherous winter conditions. In some cases, insurance premiums may be lowered if homeowners and property managers keep transit areas clear from snow during the winter.
While many electric snow blowers can perform a competent job of removing snow, the Toro 38381 provides unparalleled quality and efficiency when clearing snow from driveways, sidewalks and other exterior areas of the property. Able to tackle even icy or compacted snow with ease, the Toro 38381 comes with a powerful motor that can effortlessly throw hundreds of pounds of snow per minute. Encased in a rugged and stylish exterior, this is the perfect machine for improving safety and comfort outside the home during the harsh winter months.