Buying a Snowblower
We’ve recently seen some milder weather but from past years we know better - this weather could change on a dime! Before we know it we could once again be out in the early morning cold trying to dig ourselves out of the driveway to get to work. One tool that could make those mornings significantly easier is a snow blower. The experts at Koenig Equipment have some tips on what to consider before you make such a purchase. Let’s take a look!
Snowblower Types
One of the main items to consider is the best type of snow blower for your situation. Depending on the amount/weight of snow you receive certain styles of snow blowers will better equip you for the task at hand.
First up we have electric models. These excel in areas that rarely see snow accumulation. Their maneuverability and easy storage make them a great quality of life improvement over the typical manual snow shoveling experience.
After electric models the next group of snow blowers are broken into three classes - single-stage, two-stage, and three-stage. These types of snow blowers are likely more along the lines of what you mentally picture as a snow blower. Single-stage snowblowers are meant to handle accumulated snow up to 6”, two-stage are meant for up to 12”, and the heavy duty three-stage blowers are meant for up to 18” accumulation. As you increase through the stages, the complexity of the machinery and the ability to move more snow faster increases. For full details on the capability differences the experts at Koenig Equipment are available to answer all of your questions.
Driveway Type
If your driveway is steep, you may be better off with a two-stage or three-stage blower for their self-propelled features. If your driveway is composed of a coarse material such as dirt or gravel you again may want to avoid single-stage blowers. Snowblowers function by scraping snow off the ground and into the machine to then be propelled through the chute. The single-stage snowblowers have a rubber-tipped auger inside so scraping those coarse materials against the rubber would very quickly damage it.
Additional Features
Once you understand what type of snowblower is best for your situation, there are a variety of other factors to consider that can have a significant impact on your quality of life while using the machine. Does the snowblower in question have headlights to help with visibility while working? Does it have an electric start or power steering to make startup and operation easier? What kind of tires/chute does the blower have? All of these and more are choices you can make to customize your snowblower to your needs.
The weather is mild for now, but who can say when you’ll suddenly need a snowblower? The experts at Koenig Equipment are happy to discuss your specific snowblower needs. Contact us today!