Snow Blower or a Snow Thrower?
Which Should I Get? The Difference Between a Snow Blower or a Snow Thrower? Here it is, wintertime, and if you live where snow is common, you are plotting ways to tackle all of that snow and at least make your walkways and driveways passable, so people can stay healthy and injury-free. If you don’t have a snow removal tool in your garage yet, don’t worry. It’s never too late to get one and start removing snow like a pro. You will be confronted with two choices for automatic snow removal; a snowblower or a snow thrower. With this article, you’ll know how they differ, and the choice will be easier. How Does Each One Work For the most part, a snow thrower is exactly like the name says; they are used to throw a relatively small amount of snow off the ground. They simply throw the snow off the sidewalk or driveway in a single motion. That means you don’t have to push the machine too far; you don’t have to clean sections over and over. That said, a snowblower removes snow in two stages. The first stage blows the surface snow off the lower layer, which is essentially scratched away by the repeller, which will scrape through the snow repeatedly until it’s all gone. In other words, snow blowers tend to be noisy because they do a lot of intense work and because they do two things. So, What are the Most Obvious Differences? The most obvious difference between a snow thrower and a snowblower comes with its size. Blowers are far larger than snow throwers, in part because they do more work. Throwers are more compact and lighter in weight, so they are easier to maneuver. So, Which is the Best Choice for Me? The right choice between a thrower and a blower. If you have a small property and you don’t want to carry much weight, a snow thrower may be your best choice. Of course, it also depends on the type of snow you tend to get. If the snow is usually powdery and relatively dry, you might be able to use a snow thrower. On the other hand, if your snow tends to be saturated with water and gets slushy relatively quickly, the snow is heavier, and the snow thrower may not work well. If you have a large property and/or a lot of sidewalks and driveways that need cleaning, it is unlikely that a snow thrower will do the work you need, so a snow blower will be your best bet. Good luck on your search.
How to store your snowblower
Guide to storing your snowblower Is it okay to leave it outside? Snowblowers have become an essential addition to every home that experiences heavy snowfall. After all, the last thing you’ll want to experience is to trudge through inches of thick snow to get outside. However, storing a snowblower once the winter blows away has become a headache for many smaller households. While the most recommended way for you to store a snowblower is to keep it in a dry and clean shed, not everyone would be able to afford the luxury of having the extra space in a small home. So, can you leave your snowblower outside as a temporary storage solution? The answer is, yes, you can. Snowblowers can typically be left outside and it wouldn’t cause too much harm to your machine or home, although you should take some precaution on how you’re storing them outdoors. Typically, you’ll have to prepare an elevated space to safely store your snowblower outside. This raised platform should be set several feet off the ground, so the snowblower doesn’t make contact with the gravel below. Be sure to also block off the snow thrower and finally cover the snowblower with a tarpaulin. This is the best way to store your snowblower if you must leave it outside but do be sure to check on the appliance every few months. Doing this ensures that you’ll be aware of any wear and tear on the machine resulting from sun and rain exposure. How to store your snowblower in 5 steps Now that you know your snowblower is safe to be store outside, perhaps it’s also a good idea to know how to store it properly. Here’s how you can safely keep your snowblower away in 5 steps come summer, so it’ll be ready to jump back in action come winter. Step 1: Clean out the fuel system, ensuring there are no gum deposits that may clog your snowblower’s tank, filter, hose, or carburetor. If you’re planning to store your snowblower with the remaining fuel in the tank, be sure to store your snowblower away from sparks that can cause a fire. Step 2: Wash and dry the snowblower accordingly. Take caution to clean off any salt deposits to minimize rust and corrosion damage during storage. Step 3: Cover any exposed parts with a rust preventative agent. Light oils or silicone works best for areas that have poor ventilation. Step 4: If you have a snowblower with a folding handle, you can detach the handle by loosening the bolts and knobs. Fold the handle for easy storage. Step 5: Keep your snowblower in a dry and clean shed. For outdoor storage, be sure to keep your snowblower off-ground and cover it with a tarpaulin until it’s ready for use during the next snow season.
5 HP Snow Blower
Is a 5 HP Motor Large Enough for a Snow Blower? The vast majority of homeowners who deal with a lot of snow seem to prefer to spend some extra money hiring a service to remove their snow after every storm, rather than buying the right equipment to do it themselves. It should be an easy decision to make between paying someone $20 to clear a driveway after every storm, or to spend a few dollars to buy a decent snowblower once and clear the driveway yourself every time there’s a storm. However, there are other questions to be asked. If I Buy a Snow Blower, How Much Power Do I Need? If you make the decision to buy a snow blower and handle storms yourself, you will still have to know which kind f snowblower to get. For example, how much power will you need to be effective at clearing the snow? It’s probably the most common question among new customers. It should be obvious that the more powerful the snowblower, the larger the motor and the larger and heavier the snowblower itself. On the plus side, the more power, the faster it will clear snow. However, you must keep in mind that you also have to carry it while you clear the snow. Therefore, if you have a large property and you need to clear a wide area of a large property, the power may become less important than the impact on your back. On the other hand, since a higher-power blower will have the torque to clear the snow more quickly, the strain on your back may be a lot less than if you were to use a smaller motor. So, How Much Horsepower Should a Snowblower Have? If you examine online reviews, the preferred minimum horsepower varies widely, but most seem to believe 5 HP is large enough for most jobs. Some people say 5 hp may be a little too much, in fact, but 5 horsepower seems to be sufficient for most snow clearing jobs, regardless of the amount of snow. In fact, a 10 hp snowblower has suggested that 10 hp is often cited as way too much, and just adds extra weight and noise, without a resultant advantage in snow clearing capacity. What all that adds up to is, having a 5 HP snowblower should be sufficient for most snow clearing jobs, unless you’re clearing 40 acres for a farm that gets 2-4 blizzards per month. And Few people get that much snow, outside of the Alaskan Tundra!
