How to choose a snow blower: ‌ tips and best models ‌2019‌ ‌year‌ ‌

Removing snow is a hard and monotonous job, but in the Russian winter you can't get away from it. Unless, of course, you buy a snow blower - a convenient and useful device that will do almost everything for you. And now I will tell you how to choose a snow blower and which 4 of them can be safely called the best.

What is a snow blower and what they are

A snow blower is a device designed, as you might guess, for removing snow. Its design resembles a lawnmower, only instead of a blade that cuts the grass, it has an auger that collects snow and sends it away.

Snow blowers can be gasoline, mains powered or battery powered.

Gasoline snow blowers are powered by internal combustion engines. To handle them, you need a certain skill, they are quite expensive, and in general they are very heavy and noisy units. But gasoline models are able to work for a long time in the most difficult conditions and cope with dense snow and ice.

Networked electric snow blowers require constant contact with an electrical outlet. Accordingly, for snow removal in a more or less decent area, you cannot do without a good water-protected extension cord. The lack of autonomy, in fact, is the only weak point of network models. They are quite powerful, quiet and compact at the same time.

Cordless snow blowers are the perfect choice for household needs. They do not cope very well with wet and dense snow, but the battery models are compact, light and inexpensive, and surpass any analogues in terms of maneuverability.

What to look for when choosing a snow blower

When choosing a snow blower, in addition to the type of engine, you need to pay attention to several more important parameters:

1. Drive unit. The snow blower can be self-propelled (this is the privilege of gasoline models) or non-self-propelled. Manual models are lighter and cheaper, but you have to push them in the snow yourself.
2. Passability. Tracked snow blowers have the highest cross-country ability. But only heavy and powerful gasoline models are equipped with caterpillars. Most snow blowers ride on wheels of various diameters: the larger it is, the higher the cross-country ability of the device.
3. Cleaning degrees. A snow blower does not just collect snow with an auger: inside it has one or more impellers that grind this snow and ultimately send it flying. Most snow blowers are single-stage: in such models, one impeller rakes, and crushes, and throws snow. Devices more powerful and more expensive are two-stage: in these, the first impeller rakes in the snow, and the second crushes it and discards it. Three-stage devices, with three impellers for separate collection, crushing and discarding, are also found, but so far it is extremely rare.
4. Knockback range. Depends on the degree of cleaning and engine power. Usually, for electric models, this figure starts from 5-6 meters. Gasoline engines are capable of throwing snow two to three times further. Typically, the throwing range, angle and height can be adjusted.
5. Auger material. The auger is the main working tool of the snow blower. It can be metal (the most brutal option for powerful gasoline devices, the task of which is to grind crust and ice), rubber (a good option for use on the site near the house), plastic (the most budgetary option), as well as combined (made of rubber with metal inserts or plastic with rubber edges).
6. Engine power. The more powerful the engine, the more efficient the snow blower and the deeper the snow it can handle. The engine power of network models is usually 2-3 kilowatts, gasoline - 5-10 kilowatts (6-12 horsepower).
7. Battery voltage and capacity. These indicators are basic for battery models. A 40 volt battery usually means a less efficient device than one rated to operate with an 80 volt battery. Battery capacity is measured in ampere hours: 4 Ah is usually enough for about half an hour of operation.
8. Snow coverage. The larger this parameter, the more snow the snow blower is able to capture. Typically, the capture width ranges from 40-70 cm.
9. Additional functions. The electric starter allows you to start the snow blower without a cord - at the push of a button, heated handles prevent the palms from freezing, the headlight illuminates the path. The snow blower is not required to have these and other options, but it is always better to check their availability in advance.

Top 4 snow blowers

Best Inexpensive Gasoline Snow Blower

1. Interskol SMB-650E

Very interesting models are produced under the Russian brand "Interskol", which are not too expensive for their characteristics. For example, this self-propelled gasoline unit costs less than 33,000 rubles, but it offers functionality that brings it very close to professional models.

There is a powerful engine with a capacity of 6.5 horsepower (4.78 kilowatts) with a rotational speed of up to 3600 rpm. The metal toothed auger readily bites not only into ordinary snow, but also into dense crust and even ice, which is beyond the power of most electric snow blowers. The snow capture width of this model is 56 cm and the height is 54 cm. A two-stage snow cleaning system with a metal chute is capable of launching a snow stream up to 12 meters. The electric starter provides an easy and convenient start of the snow blower in any weather.

A good model that can do more than it is worth.

Price:₽ 43 690

Interskol SMB-650E

The best electric snow blower for home and garden

2. AL-KO SnowLine 46E

An inexpensive, compact and easy-to-use snow blower that is perfect for use in the courtyard of a private house or in the country.

The device is powered by an electrical network and is equipped with a 2 kilowatt motor, which does an excellent job with not too dense and heavy snow - if you work at positive temperatures, then the device may start Problems. The one-stage cleaning system throws snow up to 10 meters. The rubber auger is gentle on the tracks. The snow grasp is 46 cm wide and 30 cm high.

This snow blower is not capable of some super-difficult tasks, but he works to the fullest with his 10,000 rubles.

Price:₽ 9 990

AL-KO SnowLine 46E

Best Cordless Snow Blower

3. Greenworks GD40SB 2600607

The American company greenworks manufactures a number of decent cordless tools and garden equipment, including some of the most popular snow blowers in the world. This cordless snow blower demonstrates that Swedish research center greenworks has a reason to eat its bread.

The model, which costs 22,000 rubles, runs on a 40-volt battery. A single charge lasts approximately 30 minutes, which is enough to clean 100-200 square meters of floor space. The snow grasp width here is 51 cm, height - 15 cm. The one-stage cleaning system provides snow ejection up to a distance of 6 m. The rubber-plastic auger does not damages tracks and removes loose snow well - with wet and dense snow, the device begins Problems. Large 7-inch wheels provide high flotation, even in deep snow.

An excellent model for a private house or summer cottage.

Price:₽ 22 990

Greenworks GD40SB 2600607

Best professional snow blower

4. Hyundai S 7713-T

As you can see, Hyundai is capable of making not only cars, but also quite decent snow blowers. As a matter of fact, this device itself costs like a used car - in the region of 116,000 rubles - but it fulfills its price tag in full.

It is a heavy and powerful self-propelled snow blower that weighs a record 135 kilograms. It is powered by a 13 horsepower (almost 10 kilowatts) engine capable of maintaining rotation at 3600 rpm. The professional orientation of the device is hinted at by a metal chute for ejection of snow and auger that can grind even the most dense and heavy snow, and a snow grab with a width of 76.4 cm. The snow pickup height is an impressive 54 cm. A two-stage cleaning system with metal impellers ejects snow up to 15 m. A 6 liter fuel tank provides up to 5 hours of continuous operation.

Additional features include an electric starter, heated handles and a built-in snow drift knife. The perfect model for professional use.

Price:₽ 139 990

Hyundai S 7713-T

FAQ

Why won't the snow blower start?
Why does your leg hurt? It is impossible to answer this question without access to your snow blower. You need to contact the service.