Snow blowers

[DizneyLizzy]

My parents are about to start their first winter as empty-nesters (= no more kids around to take care of manual labor!), and even though they are in relatively good shape, I don't love the idea of them shoveling snow (they live in a moderately snowy suburb of Philadelphia). My husband and I talked about going in with a couple of my siblings on a medium grade snow blower (the kind that Home Depot claims can tackle up to 10 inches) for them for Christmas. Here are my questions:

1. Has anyone ever seen snow blowers ever show up as a Black Friday deal?
2. Has anyone had experience with the less expensive ($400 or less) machines? Are they worth it? Will they tackle 4-8 inches of snow without breaking down?
3. Any other snow blower advice? We actually looked into buying one at the end of winter/spring last year, thinking that would be a good time to get one at a decent price, but no stores had them in stock anymore.

Thanks

 

[kymom99]

We bought one last January from Sears. It was $700. We have a really long driveway and my husband was killing himself shoveling it.

As far as spending $400 on one, my husband wouldn't even consider one at that price point. He wanted a 2 cycle (though I admit I have no idea what that means!). I'm afraid that if you buy a less expensive one, it won't last very long or it won't be very easy to use. Ours has this thing that you can maneuver so that you blow the snow in the direction you want it to go. It also cuts through a lot of ice, which was very useful last winter.

I would look at reviews online.

 

[MillauFr]

When I lived in Minnesota I used a snowblower. The Honda we owned was the only one that was excellent. The others we owned were junk and I spent more time starting them then blowing snow.

 

[lauradis]

We bought one last January from Sears. It was $700. We have a really long driveway and my husband was killing himself shoveling it.

As far as spending $400 on one, my husband wouldn't even consider one at that price point. He wanted a 2 cycle (though I admit I have no idea what that means!). I'm afraid that if you buy a less expensive one, it won't last very long or it won't be very easy to use. Ours has this thing that you can maneuver so that you blow the snow in the direction you want it to go. It also cuts through a lot of ice, which was very useful last winter.

I would look at reviews online.

I wasn't listening either.

Decent snow blower seems to run around 700 here too in Ne Ohio.

Ours died about 2 winters ago and we just never seem to buy a new one.
I'm not shoveling snow anymore and didn't renew the plow contract so I hope he gets the hint to buy a 2 cycle blah blah snow blower.

 

[3boymthr]

I don't recall snow blowers specifically in the past but this year Sears is offering 20% off all home and garden and snow blowers are included.

For the amount of snow you ate talking about unless the driveway is tiny you will want a two stage snow blower and an electric start option is recommended if you are worried about stress and strain. Plus make sure thed one you get is wide enough but not too wide. You dont want one thats going to require more passes than they'd make with a shovel but you also want it to fit in the garage/shed and that will fit to snowblow around the cars if parked in the driveway when it snows. We got our snow blower with those features in a 24" width for $700 not on sale so you might find one blck friday that gets in your price range. Reaearch all the models before BF to make sure you know what you want and don't buy impulsively.

 

[marius97]

The price difference between the $400 and $700 ones comes down to one stage vs. two stages. Single stage is when there is the one "screw" in the front that takes the snow and pushes it up and out of the chute. Two stages has a second screw at the bottom of the chute that throws the snow even further and can handle deeper, heavier snow. Yes, the two stages are much better, but they are also much more expensive. 4-8 inches really isn't that much snow (we got 162 inches last winter.) An issue for parents, depending on their age is being able to start it. The pull chord (like on a lawnmower) may be too much for them to do in the cold. That is why an electric start is a big plus. I don't think I've ever seen one on a single stage, only two stages. I have a single stage that I don't even get out for less than eight inches. I can do less than that faster by hand. The two main problems with single stage blowers can be solved:
1. They don't handle well the hard packed snow/ice at the end of the driveway. They key is to not let the snow sit there for days hardening. If you get to it after it has been recently been plowed, you're usually okay.
2. Heavy, wet snow is tougher to blow. Instead of pushing it so the entire width is going through the snow, push it so some of it doesn't have snow. This allows the motor to blow everything out the chute. Making smaller passes will work fine.

Unless they have issues with starting it, or want some other cool features (heated handles, etc.) the cheaper single stage one would be fine.

 

[danygirl]

We started looking this weekend. My youngest left for college and I injured my shoulder so no shoveling for me. DH leaves hours earlier than I do and never shovels before he leaves in his truck. For the past ten years dd and I shoveled out two elderly widows. Without a blower that is three of us who will be stranded.

DH pointed out that I need an electric start. Pull start will hurt the shoulder. I also tried a few in the store and turning hurts my shoulder with the bigger ones. Some have levers to lock a wheel to make turning easier.

None of those features in low end models

 

[DizneyLizzy]

This is all great info. Re: Sears...do you think that 20% off deal is good in store only?? I never usually venture out on BF...too much for me!

My parents have a small driveway and usually clear snow in stages as it comes. What I imagine them doing is using the blower for a common 4-6 inch storm. If they were going to get something out if the ordinary like 12-18 inches, they'd clear it as it came or do some combination of blowing/light shoveling. It sounds like a stage 1 could take care of this. They live in an area that averages 20-30 inches per year, so nothing too crazy.

Would one of those stage ones have a garage footprint like a standard push lawn mower? Bigger? They have a pretty standard two car garage.

Thanks again for all the info

 

[3boymthr]

This is all great info. Re: Sears...do you think that 20% off deal is good in store only?? I never usually venture out on BF...too much for me!

My parents have a small driveway and usually clear snow in stages as it comes. What I imagine them doing is using the blower for a common 4-6 inch storm. If they were going to get something out if the ordinary like 12-18 inches, they'd clear it as it came or do some combination of blowing/light shoveling. It sounds like a stage 1 could take care of this. They live in an area that averages 20-30 inches per year, so nothing too crazy.

Would one of those stage ones have a garage footprint like a standard push lawn mower? Bigger? They have a pretty standard two car garage.

Thanks again for all the info

I'm not sure if the sears deal is in store only. BUT, given the delivery fees on a snowblower you're going to want to pick up in store even if you buy online. For ours they wanted $400 to deliver.

The 20% off was buried in the ad and it wasn't a door buster special so if it is in store only you should be able to go and get it when the store is quiet (usually a couple of hours after the doorbuster hours start).

 

[malibuconlee]

We moved to Minnesota almost 2 years ago in January. A snowblower was a MUST have for me to agree to the move. We have a nice Craftsman. The one thing we kind of laughed about at the time was the heated handles. GET THEM. Pay the extra. I wish we had. Only regret I have.

 

[rock_doctor]

We get nailed with snow every year (also live outside Philly). I would get the best you can afford. I got mine a couple years ago. Got it from Lowes and it was something like $1200. Not cheap but we get very wet snow and you really need the horsepower. Many times last year those of us with big blowers were having to dig out those with smaller units. Mine is 13 hp and it does a nice job and honestly i would not consider anything less then 8hp. There are many suburbs of Philly, if in the city areas (i.e. row housing) then you can get away with a nice two cycle (single stage) unit but if they have a lawn, driveway and sidewalks get a large two stage (4 cycle) unit. Just yesterday bought a new shovel and 150lbs of salt. Hope it will be enough... This year is supposed to be like last year... Yea global warming... I would ask some of their neighbors what they have, size wise... Good luck.

 

[Gigi22]

I bought an electric start (and pull start) Yamaha about 20 years ago. Got it as a special deal from my BIL, who worked for a Yamaha dealership. It had tractor wheels. We purchased the light as an option. We took it to a small engine company every year for a tune up. Not cheap, but it always worked. Replaced it with a service a couple of years ago, and gave the Yahmaha to my niece. It still works. Only thing was, it was a really heavy piece of equipment.

 

[marius97]

This is all great info. Re: Sears...do you think that 20% off deal is good in store only?? I never usually venture out on BF...too much for me!

My parents have a small driveway and usually clear snow in stages as it comes. What I imagine them doing is using the blower for a common 4-6 inch storm. If they were going to get something out if the ordinary like 12-18 inches, they'd clear it as it came or do some combination of blowing/light shoveling. It sounds like a stage 1 could take care of this. They live in an area that averages 20-30 inches per year, so nothing too crazy.

Would one of those stage ones have a garage footprint like a standard push lawn mower? Bigger? They have a pretty standard two car garage.

Thanks again for all the info

The one stage should be about the size of a standard lawnmower. Some of the smaller two stages would only be slightly bigger than a lawnmower and wouldn't cause too much of a problem in the garage. There are GIANT two stagers out there that would be way more than you would need.

 

[Anthony1971]

I have to go the opposite direction.
A one stage is fine and will do better than most 2 stages in the 700 range so long as you get the one with the larger 2 cycle motor.... these in general are a little more than 400 usually in the 500+ range.
The single stages with the 2 cycle (you are looking for the 5.5-7 HP ones 212 cc motor or about) will go through just about anything and are very light and easy for them to handle. the two stage ones which would come in handy for heavy snow falls... but unless you go into the 1,000+ range ones they fair little better and sometimes worse than the single stages... The plain and simple reason is they have the same motor driving 2 augers one if which is very large.
I looked at HD they have single stage for 499 that is what I describe they have others for more... they also have a 2 stage that is 799 that has a smaller motor...
if you want a deal wait until spring and if we have light snow you may get a decent deal.
sears has similar as far as price but sears no longer uses name brand engines unless you buy the upper end.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

This is this one we bought last winter from Home Depot. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Sno-Tek-20-in-Two-Stage-Gas-Snow-Blower-939401/202222488
Tackles 8 -10 inches easily. Starts with a simple push of a button or you can start it manually with the recoil starter. DH just started it over the weekend to make sure we were ready for todays snow and it started right up.

Look on Blackfriday.com most of black Friday ads are all ready available to view.

 

[dsneprincess]

Mine was purchased Christmas Eve 2013 for me by DH on sale from WalMart for just under $500. It is a 2 stage Yard Machine with electric start. The old one, same brand, but almost 20 years older (which still runs like a top!) didn't have the electric start and my arm with tennis elbow really couldn't pull the start cord anymore.

 

[mrodgers]

Something I don't see mentioned....

Self propelled!

I don't know if any single stage machines are self propelled. I think all 2 stage machines are.

I wouldn't waste any money on a single stage, but I'm in north western PA. 8 inch snowfalls I don't even bother with clearing the driveway, that's just a dusting.

I don't see where you mention location. Any single stage snow blower I've used are useless for anything over 1.5 inches of dry fluffy snow. Wet snow, they are useless with any depth of snow. With wet snow or deep snow, they just plug up the chute.

 

[manning]

Something I don't see mentioned....

Self propelled!

I don't know if any single stage machines are self propelled. I think all 2 stage machines are.

I wouldn't waste any money on a single stage, but I'm in north western PA. 8 inch snowfalls I don't even bother with clearing the driveway, that's just a dusting.

I don't see where you mention location. Any single stage snow blower I've used are useless for anything over 1.5 inches of dry fluffy snow. Wet snow, they are useless with any depth of snow. With wet snow or deep snow, they just plug up the chute.

Single stage are self propelled sort of. The rubber paddle both expells the snow and propells it. The rubber blade spins in a way that it moves the blower forward. When you are ready to move you slightly tip the snow blower (raise the handle up). When the blade makes contact with the surface it moves and throws the snow.

We don't get much snow and find that all the snow is removed. The two stage has a slight gap leaving a thin layer on the surface.

 

[marius97]

Single stage are self propelled sort of. The rubber paddle both expells the snow and propells it. The rubber blade spins in a way that it moves the blower forward. When you are ready to move you slightly tip the snow blower (raise the handle up). When the blade makes contact with the surface it moves and throws the snow.

We don't get much snow and find that all the snow is removed. The two stage has a slight gap leaving a thin layer on the surface.

You also described why you are supposed to use a two stage on a gravel driveway. We have a single for our gravel driveway. I have to make sure I hold it up just a little bit otherwise it will be shooting out gravel onto the yard...or cars.