Electric Snowblowers - Electric snowblowers are snowblowers that operate with a plug and cord. These snowblowers are best suited to lighter snow accumulations. Additionally, they are best used in smaller areas, when you don't have to stray vary far. Electric snowblowers are cheap and easy to maneuver, but typically aren't great for tougher tasks. Many electric snowblowers are handheld.

Gas Snowblowers - The majority of snowblowers on the market are gas snowblowers. Gas snowblowers come in many different varieties, which we'll get to down below. As opposed to electric snowblowers, they offer much more flexibility and ability overall. They can be used in harsher conditions and they can cover more ground.  The majority of gas snowblowers are stand behind snowblowers, meaning they function with you standing behind them and pushing.

Read a complete comparison between electric and gas snowblowers

Single Stage Snowblowers - Single stage snowblowers operate using an auger that is responsible for collecting and dispersing all of the snow in your path. Single stage snowblowers are generally cheaper than two stage snowblowers, which are more heavy duty. Single stage snowblowers are a great idea for a person that wants to invest in a machine that will make his life easier, while not needing it to deal with intense snow accumulations. Single stage snowblowers work best with lighter snow, and less snow fall. They should not be used on gravel or rocky areas, because they can launch these objects while clearing.

Two Stage Snowblowers - Two stage snowblowers are like single stage snowblowers that are all grown up. Two stage snowblowers use an impeller to gather snow, and the auger to clear it away. This makes the process quicker and more efficient, and allows for handling greater loads. Two stage snowblowers can handle almost any situation you will throw at them. From wet, thick snow to a foot of powdery dust, two stage snowblowers are up to the task. These machines are typically well built and made to last for a long time, and will need less maintenance than single stage snowblowers.

Read a complete comparison between single stage and two stage snowblowers

Riding Snowblowers & Tractor Attachments - There are riding snowblowers, as well as lawn tractor attachments that you can purchase for snowblowing. These are best when you know you a) have a ton of ground to cover and b) you get a ton of snowfall each and every year. They are worth the investment because they can clear snow away extraordinarily quickly, while not tiring you out at all. These are often called commercial grade snowblowers, professional snowblowers or industrial snowblowers.

Snowblower Safety Tips

• First and foremost, one of the best snowblower safety tips is to never reach in with your hands to try to fix a jam. Even if your snowblower is turned off, there could be something lodged in there creating built up tension that can release when the jam is removed. Read more about fixing snowblower jams. And of course, in any situation, keep your hands and feet away from any moving parts.
• Never leave a running snowblower unattended. If you're snowblower is turned on, you should always be right behind it.
• A snowblower safety tip for single stage snowblowers is to never operate them on a gravel or rocky surface. A single stage snowblower can pick up and launch small rocks making it dangerous for people and property nearby.
• Don't try to cover too much ground too quickly when using your snow thrower. Take your time, relax and get the job done. Your snow thrower will function more efficiently in this manner and you'll avoid any problems.
• If you use an electric snowblower, an important snowblower safety tip is to make sure your cord is completely intact without any rips or tears. Also make sure you keep an eye on where the cord is, so you avoid tripping over it or getting it stuck in an awkward position.
• As temping as it may be, don't try to make any personal modifications to your snowblower that remove the essential safety features your model may have installed!
• Try to check your snowblower frequently for any damages, worn parts and so on. Replacement snowblower parts are usually cheap, but working with a damaged snowblower can ruin more expensive pieces, can cause frustration and can be potentially hazardous.
• Always refuel your snowblower while it's off. Don't leave the engine running and then try to fill it up. This holds true for any repairs or inspections as well, and it's one of the most crucial snowblower safety tips I can tell you, always have the engine off before doing any kind of work on your snowblower. You should even disconnect the spark plug before making repairs.
• Supervise a child or teenager using a snowblower for the first time, and if possible, always supervise them. Even if they are responsible and have used a snow thrower many times over, it's easier or a teen to lose focus or lose control of a heavy machine.
• Consider using ear plugs when using a large or heavy duty snowblower. The decibel level from snowblower engines can get quite loud and can be damaging.
• Stay moving in a forward motion, pushing your snowblower along. Of course, many snowblowers today have reverse functions and different speeds. But an important snowblower safety tip is to only push your snowblower forward at a comfortable pace while the machine is in a forward gear.
• It might seem pointless, but make sure to read your owner's manual! There will be important usage instructions and guides, and it's always good to know and understand your machine.

There are other snowblower safety tips to consider and many of them involve using common sense. Of course you never want to operate a snowblower if you're drunk or if you're very tired. You want to be able to be mentally alert, have quick reaction time and strong physical control. If you have any other snowblower safety tips that you've picked up along the way, please share with the rest of us!

What makes an Electric Snowblower Different?

To begin with, electric snowblowers and snowthrowers are only single stage snowblowers and not two-stage snowblowers. If you're unsure as to what that means, read up on the differences between single stage and 2-stage snow blowers. So if you get a lot of snow every year or you have a huge expanse of land to deal with, an electric snow blower won't be appropriate for your needs.

Some electric snow blowers are what we call power shovels, which means that you can hold them in your arms or strap them over your back. These electric snowblowers are very light and portable. Therefore they are very easy to use and maneuver, however won't be very helpful with feet of wet, thick snow. However, there are walk-behind electric snowblower models that provide more power and clearing ability.

One downside to using an electric snowblower is that of course you actually have to plug it in and so have to deal with a long power cord while you are out there clearing snow. This could get tricky in tough conditions or with a very long or hilly driveway.

On the other hand, the majority of electric snow throwers, particularly the electric power shovels, are very cheap snowblower models! That makes them very efficient and a smart bet if you don't need to clear snow very often, but won't some help when you do need to clear a bit.

When Using an Electric Snowblower Makes Sense

Electric snowblowers aren't a great fit for every situation or every person. But they do make a lot of sense under the right circumstances. Some factors to consider that would make using an electric snowblower worthwhile:

• You do not receive much snowfall and so don't need a powerful snow thrower.
• You're working with a limited budget and want a cheap snowblower.
• You can't lift or control heavy machinery, making portable electric snowblowers a good match.
• The property you need to clear is relatively small and flat.

Of course, if you don't want the hassle of dealing with a more stubborn gas snowblower that will require maintenance, an electric snowblower has the added benefit of not needing much, if any, work. Additionally, electric snowblowers do not give off the exhaust that gas snowblowers do, so they are actually more environmentally friendly.

Where to Find the Best Electric Snowblowers

Many different manufacturers make electric snowblowers. One of the best electric snowblowers that come to mind is the Toro Power Shovel.

Find a full listing of Toro Power Shovels and other Toro Snowblowers.

Another one of the popular electric snowblower brands is Snow Joe, which makes cheap and portable electric snow throwers.

Find a full listing of Snow Joe Electric Snowblowers.

Of course there are other popular and cheap electric snowblowers available, but those two brands make some of the best electric snowblowers and power shovels that you're going to be able to find. Feel free to browse the rest of our store listings for a more complete selection of the best electric snowblowers available for cheap prices.

What is a Single Stage Snowblower?

Whoever decided to name the different styles of snowblowers made it really easy on all of us. A single stage snowblower is so named because it functions with one main stage to both gather snow and move it away to a new location. A piece of equipment known as an auger is used. The auger is the machinery that both collects, separates and moves the snow towards the discharge chute located inside of the snow blower.

The discharge chute of course then blasts or blows the gathered snow to a new location, leaving your driveway, walkway or any other area nice and clear. Some single stage snowblowers are hand held, and can be worn as a backpack snow blower. With this specific type of single stage snowblowers you'll usually have to remove the snow layer by layer, a few inches at a time, depending on the size and horsepower of the particular model.

Additionally, single stage snowblowers can sometimes be electric snowblowers, which are more environmentally friendly and require less maintenance, although you will have to use them while they are plugged in, of course.

Still, there are also larger single stage snow blowers that come in the form of walk behind snowblowers.  These are very common and fairly cheap, and still can provide powerful snow clearing capabilties. Even some industrial, heavy duty snow blowers are single stage snowblowers, although as mentioned, that is uncommon.

An important note is that single stage snowblowers should not be used on gravel or rock surfaces, as the single stage snowblower will pick up these materials and start causing dangerous havoc!

It's also worth noting that with single stage snowblowers, you'll need to be manually fueling it with a gas and oil mix due to the 2 stroke engine. With the 4 stroke engines of two-stage snowblowers, this is unnecessary. Not all single stage snow blowers have 2 stroke engines (although many do), for example, Honda single stage snowblowers utilize 4 stroke engines.

Finally, single stage snowblowers work best with dry now. Depending on how powerful your single stage snowblower is, wet snow can get jammed in the machinery and the snowblower can have a hard time blasting it away.

You'll be able to find many single stage snowblowers for under $200.

What's the second stage in a Two-Stage Snowblower?

More appropriately, the question should read what's the first stage in a two-stage snowblower? That's because the second stage is the one that remains consistent with single stage snowblowers. The auger collects and seperates the snow through the chute and the snow goes happily flying away. It's actually the first stage that's different in a 2-stage snowblower.

In a 2-stage snowblower, a piece of equipment known as an impeller sweeps or pumps the snow towards the auger. Two-stage snow blowers therefore can typically handle larger loads at once, and are usually more heavy duty than their single stage counterparts. This is because the impeller is more efficient and effective at gathering large and deep piles of snow and the auger can stay busy all the while with its chore of separating the snow and getting it moved far, far away.

So which is better, the single stage snow blower or the two-stage snow blower?

The answer really lies in where you live, what kind of snow loads you'll be dealing with and your specific preferences. If you live in an area that hardly ever gets serious snow, or you have a small amount of property that needs to be cleared, a hand held or walk behind single stage snowblower will definitely be able to meet your needs.

On the other hand, if you get tons of snow every season and/or you have a big area of land that needs to be cleared each time it snows, the speed and power of a two-stage snowblower will be worth the price and the time saved. You may even be surprised at how many affordable two-stage snowblowers there are.