Snow Blowers

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.

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