Snow Blowers

Everyone wants to be independent and not look for help. However there comes a time when your health matters more than being independent. Clearing snow from driveways, steps and sidewalks in front of your home is one of those areas. We decided to put together this short post about, Help for Seniors clearing Snow. If you are going to do it yourself, at least take precautions and look after yourself. Lots of heart attacks occur because seniors work too hard clearing snow and avoid other physical activity. If you are a couch potato the rest of the year, shovelling snow and not paying attention to your heart can be risky. We put together a quick list of tips for seniors and really anyone who is not used to physical activity.

Help for Seniors clearing Snow

• Dress appropriately for the weather outside
• Wear layers so you can adjust as needed
• Use water proof boots especially in slushy conditions
• Use a small shovel. It may take longer, but it will be easier overall
• Stay hydrated, especially if you are out their a long time
• Take breaks and set a time limit
• Always lift with the legs, not with the back
• Keep the back straight
• Push the snow instead of lifting
• If you are feeling chest pressure, out of breath or pain get help

Should seniors buy a snow blower or should they hire a neighbor to clear the driveway of snow? They can also hire a commercial snow clearing company to remove the snow. Unless they are exceptionally fit, shoveling snow should be out of the question. There is just too much risk of a heart attack from over exertion. Many seniors may also not be comfortable operating as snow blower. Hiring someone to clear the snow will cost money. However it may be the safest approach in the long run. Better to be healthy than sorry.

Should Seniors Buy a Snow Blower

Our personal opinion is no. Do not purchase a snow blower unless you are comfortable with their operation. Hire someone to do the work instead.

There are lots of benefits, aside from the obvious:

• Convenience
• Avoid health issues
• Avoid strained muscles
• Stay inside in nasty cold weather
• No maintenance required
• Not storing gasoline at home
• Avoid spending a large capital cost
• No storage requirements

In addition to clearing snow from the driveway, have the steps also cleared as well. Make sure you understand when the snow will be cleared and how often. Some snow clearing companies will wait until the snow plows have plowed the road in front of your home. They will clear the snow dumped in your driveway by the plow as well as clear your driveway at the same time. They really do not want to come to your place more than they need to.

Many people ask the question, how to prepare my snowblower ready for winter season and what will it cost? Bottom line is that if you do nothing, one cold winter morning you may find that your snow blower will not start for you. With piles of snow in your driveway your left with clearing snow manually or asking a friend for help. It turns out that it is pretty easy to prepare your snow blower for the winter without incurring a large expense. Snow blowers are heavy and it is difficult to transport them to the repair shop unless you have a truck or a trailer of some kind. So doing basic maintenance can save you a great deal of money. Transportation, the mechanics charge and parts can add up to several hundred dollars pretty quickly. Basic maintenance can defer or eliminate this expense.

How to Prepare My Snowblower Ready for Winter Season

The basic list includes the following:

• Change the engine oil
• Check and clean the spark plug
• Check the belts and belt tighteners to make sure there is no significant wear
• Verify the tire pressure and add air if needed
• Use fresh gasoline and use gas preservatives to prevent gumming
• Grease the augers
• Check the shear pins and replace if needed
• Listen to the engine, is it running smoothly

If you are really uncomfortable doing the above, then you will need to arrange for someone to perform this basic maintenance. Perhaps a neighbor is comfortable doing this work and would be willing to help you. Pay attention and learn how to do this maintenance yourself. It can save you a lot of frustration and cost. There is nothing worse than a failing snow blower on the heaviest snowfall day of the year!

As Fall and winter approach, it is time to check your snow blower. Doing maintenance in warm weather is far easier than after the snow falls and it has gotten really cold. The worst case is that you have lots of snow to clear and your snow blower will not start. Check snowblower spark plug when it is warm and easy to do the work. What is the difference between a spark plug in good condition and one that is not? The picture shows a new spark plug and one that is covered in soot. It also has some corrosion as well. A badly corroded spark plug that is covered in soot indicates and engine that will be hard to start and running roughly. Replaced it now with a new spark plug and eliminate that potential problem.

Check SnowBlower Spark Plug

Begin by removing the spark plug wire from the end of the spark plug. Remove any dirt that may have accumulated around the spark plug. Use a spark plug removal socket to remove the spark plug. Examine the spark plug for corrosion and / or soot build up. If it does not look too bad, you can clean it up, re gap the electrode and reinstall the plug. Use fine sand paper to remove the soot and to also remove any corrosion from the tip of the plug. If in doubt just replace it.

In both cases, set the proper gap for the plug before reinstalling the plug. Use a gap setting tool to adjust the gap between the two electrodes. Check in the manual for the proper setting. Remember even a new spark plug must have the electrode gap set properly before installation.

Reinstall the spark plug, reconnect the spark plug wire and start the engine. If you have done the job properly, your engine should start easily and run smoothly. If not you may also need to check the carburetor  as well.

The Ariens Deluxe 28 254cc Two-Stage Snow Blower is a large 28 inch wide machine with almost all of the bells and whistles that many consumers look for. About the only features that this snowblower does not have are the padded handles and the heated handle option. Other features that consumers will find useful is the remote chute control that allows you to adjust the direction of the chute on the go. It also comes with auto turn so there is no need to try to manhandle the machine.

With a 28 inch width, it will make short work of clearing snow from wide longer driveways, side walks or small parking lots.  The serrated edge auger will cut through heavy snow and ice with ease according to the manufacturer. If anyone has used this machine feel free to comment and let us know how well it worked for you, what you liked and did not like.

Ariens Deluxe 28 254cc Two-Stage -Description:

The Ariens Deluxe 28 254cc Two-Stage Snow Blower comes with 6 forward and 2 reverse speeds, powered chute control, steering control with auto adjustment, LED light, and electric starter.

Features:

• 6 forward / 2 reverse speeds
• 28″ clearing width
• Powered chute control
• Large 16 inch wheels provide traction
• Steering Control with auto adjustment
• Powered light
• Electric Starter
• Carb Compliant

 Specifications:

• Drive type: Gas Disc o-matic drive
• Engine: Gas
• Stage: Two Stage
• Max power: 254 cc
• Rated speed: 6 forward, 2 reverse
• Auger: 14 inch steel
• Impeller: 14 inch steel
• Folding Handles: No
• Padded Handles: No
• Heated Handles: No
• Electric Start: Yes, 120 Volt
• Single Hand Direction Control: Auto Turn
• Clearing width: 28 inches
• Intake Height: 21 inches
• Weight: 235 pounds
• Fuel: Gas
• Light: yes

Customer Review Summary

There were no customer reviews available for the Ariens Deluxe 28 254cc Two-Stage Snow Blower at the time of preparing this review.

The Yardmax 2-Stage Snow Blower 22 in is a basic snow blower that will meet the needs of most consumers with a smaller driveway and limited amounts of snow. It is only 22 inches wide making it easy to store in cramped garages or small sheds. It does not come with features that some of the larger  machines come with such as a light for night time work,  steering controls and electric starter. The handles are not insulated and they are also not heated. this is a basic snow blower that comes with a relatively low price as well. Buyers should be aware that because of federal laws this machine cannot be returned for any reason.

Description:

The Yardmax 2-Stage Snow Blower 22 in comes with a manual chute control crank which is easy to operate, clears a 22 inch wide path and has five forward gears to adjust to a variety of snow conditions from light snow clearing to heavy conditions. Since it is a smaller machine, allow more time for clearing driveways and walkways.

Features:

• 5 forward / 1 reverse speeds
• 22″ clearing width
• Manual chute control
• Large wheels provide traction
• Electric Starter / Manual Start
• Carb Compliant

Specifications:

• Drive type: 2 stage belt disc driven
• Engine: Gas
• Stage: Two Stage
• Max power: 6 HP
• Rated speed: Multiple speed
• Auger: Steel serrated auger
• Impeller: High speed with extended chute
• Folding Handles: NA
• Padded Handles:NA
• Heated Handles:NA
• Electric Start: NA
• Single Hand Direction Control: NA
• Clearing width: 22 inches
• Intake Height: NA
• Weight: 125 pounds
• Fuel: Gas
• Light: NA

Customer Review Summary

The Yardmax 2-Stage Snow Blower 22 in has a total of 62 reviews at the time of preparing this overview, with an average rating of 4.2 out of five. 53 reviews were 4 or better with 9 rated three and 9 rated below three.

Negative reviews tended to indicate that the product was cheaply made and customers had problems from the time it arrived. From not starting to damage in transit to poor customer service. Assembly was difficult for people who had do it yourself skills.

Positive reviews indicated that it was a great product for the price, assembly was easy and straight forward and the machine worked as advertised. Although it did not have a great deal of features, the price was right and it did the job for these customers. It should be noted that this is a small machine. Consumers with large driveways or lots of snow to clear may want a larger more powerful machine to make the job of clearing snow easier and quicker.

The Husqvarna Snow Blower ST224 24-Inch 208cc Two Stage Electric Start Snow Blower is a 24 inch wide snowblower, excellent for standard consumer driveway clearing requirements. A 24 inch wide snow blower takes less space for storage which may be important for some consumers. There is the trade off between easy storage that does not take much space and clearing a large driveway quickly. Consumer reviews are generally very positive with a 73% positive rating. Some customers reported receiving the snow blower with some damages. Some units are sold and purchased as used units on Amazon. Buyers need to be careful when purchasing any used snow blowers. Service and warranty can be challenging.   This item does not ship to Canada. This snow blower comes with an electric starter, remote direction control, heated handles and many more features. See more below.

Husqvarna Snow Blower Description:

Features:

• 24″ clearing width
• Remote chute control
• Large 15 inch wheels provide traction
• Steering Control
• LED Powered light
• Electric Starter / Manual Start
• Carb Compliant

Specifications:

• Drive type: Friction disc
• Engine: 208cc
• Stage: Two Stage
• Max power: na
• Rated speed: na
• Auger: Steel
• Impeller: steel
• Folding Handles: yes
• Padded Handles: na
• Heated Handles: yes
• Electric Start: yes
• Single Hand Direction Control: yes
• Clearing width: 24 inch
• Intake Height:
• Weight: 198 pounds
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Light: LED

Customer Review Summary

At the time of writing this review, there were 135 customer reviews with a 75% positive customer review rating of 4 or higher. Negative reviews included comments suggesting that it was cheaply made, noisy pulley and belt. there seemed to be some problems with used units that are being sold on Amazon. consumers should be careful buying used snow blowers. The remaining comments are very positive for this snow blower.

The Briggs & Stratton Dual-Stage Snow Thrower with 208cc Engine and Electric Start, 24″  is an excellent consumer snow blower. Although fairly narrow compared to many snow blowers, its narrow shape allows for easy storage. This can be important for people with small garages and not a lot of storage. It has the basic features needed by most consumers with a reasonable price. Electric start and hand controls for blower direction and steering. This product does not ship to Canada. Even if you have larger spaces to clear, this snow blower will do the job for you, it just may take a little longer. It uses regular gasoline. Reviews indicate a 76% positive rating with a 4 rating or higher. Some customers reported service and customer service issues with the supplier. This is a great little machine for most consumers.

Briggs & Stratton Description:

Features:

• 24″ clearing width
• Powered chute control
• Steering Control
• Powered light
• Electric Starter / Manual Start
• Carb Compliant

Specifications:

• Drive type: friction disc
• Engine: 208cc
• Stage: Two Stage
• Max power: 9.5 foot pounds of torque
• Rated speed: na
• Auger: 12 inch steel
• Impeller: Steel
• Folding Handles: no
• Padded Handles: no
• Heated Handles: no
• Electric Start: yes
• Single Hand Direction Control: yes
• Clearing width: 24 inch
• Intake Height: 20 inch
• Weight: 175 pounds
• Fuel: gasoline
• Light: yes

Customer Review Summary

As of writing this review, there are 204 reviews on Amazon, with 76% of the ratings at 4 or better. The customers reporting 3 or lower reported problems with service, damages when delivered and gear disc slippage. the majority of customers found this product met their needs and were very happy with the product.

For more information about 24 inch wide snow blowers, click here.

The following recommendation is the bottom line for How Big Should a Snowblower Be? Make sure you have a place to properly store it when not in use, and purchase the largest, most powerful machine that you can afford and properly store. More powerful machines will clear the snow faster, leading to much less frustration when dealing with heavy or hard-packed snow. The writer has had two snow blowers: a small 5 HP machine with a 24-inch clearing width and a 10 HP machine with a 28-inch clearing width. The added power and clearing width are excellent for dealing with heavy, wet snow, and hard-packed snow left by the snow plow at the end of my driveway.

There are lots of practical issues to consider:

• A proper storage location for starters?
• How much can you afford to spend?
• What type of snow do you need to deal with?
• Flat or hilly terrain?
• How much area do you need to clear?

Once you have the size nailed down, focus on the features next. They can make clearing snow much more pleasant and comfortable.

How Big Should a Snowblower Be?

The following is a list of potential features many homeowners might consider.

These are must-haves in the opinion of the writer:

• An electric starter allows you to plug into a suitable GFCI three-prong power receptacle to start the engine rather than using a manual recoil starter.
• A more powerful gasoline engine (higher cc or cubic centimeter rating) or electric motor (higher amps rating) translates to more clearing ability.
• Clearing width and intake height determine how much snow the machine can take in. Greater width and height can reduce chore time, particularly with tall drifts.
• Single-hand operation allows for easy adjustments while operating the blower.
• Speed controls let you select the pace of the machine in forward or reverse.
• A remote chute control lets you adjust the direction of the blower, which will discharge the snow.

Nice to Have for the Writer

• Power steering gives you superior maneuverability.
• Large tires offer traction and easier steering. Some models have dual tires on each side for even better grip.
• Tracks or treads replace wheels on some models for traction on various terrain types.
• A joystick chute control provides more convenience for directing the snow.
• An extended chute or deflection extension reduces the blowback of the discharged snow.
• Drift cutters cut through deep snow and can help move snow into the auger.
• A headlight improves visibility where you’re working.
• Heated handgrips make the work more comfortable.

The actual features that come with your machine depend on how much you are willing to pay and how large a snowblower you purchase. Power steering might be a must for heavier snowblowers, for example.

For more information and help deciding on what size of snow blower to purchase, click here.