The Spruce / Michela Buttignol
Snow blowersare a smart choice forremoving snowfrompathways, front walks, anddriveways.
Find out about your single-stage snow blower vs. two-stage options.
Single-Stage Snow Blower vs Two-Stage
Snow blowersare either single-stage snow blowers or two-stage.
The Spruce / Michela Buttignol
Single-stage snow blowers pick up and throw the snow using one part: the auger.
Two-stage snow blowers pick up snow with the auger, but they add an impeller to throw the snow.
Gas vs. Electric Snow Blowers
Gas snow blowers are available in both single-stage and two-stage models.
Electric snow blowers are only available in the single-stage option.
Single-stage snowblowers never come in self-propelled form.
Single-stage snow blowers are not recommended for regions prone to heavy snowfall or wet snow.
They simply do not have enough power tomove deep or wet snow.
With a single-stage model, an 8-inch snowfall is around the maximum depth that the blower can handle.
This allows two-stage snow blowers to clear paved surfaces, pluscrushed stone or gravel driveways.
This can be scraped orshoveled by handor treated with ice melt.
Engine-driven wheels or tracks propel two-stage gas snow blowers.
The user only steers the machine and does not have to push it.
Low-End vs. All upper-end two-stage models have electric starts.
A reasonable middle price point for snow blowers ranges from $800 to $1,200.
The lower end of this price span brings you 24-inch to 30-inch dual-stage snow blowers with electric starters.
