Snow removal with a smile

If you live where it snows, moving that white stuff off the driveway or the front walk is not exactly the most enviable of tasks. But it has to be done, both for safety and accessibility.

In many areas of the country, snow removal is even necessary in order to comply with local laws and ordinances. So your choices are a back-breaking shovel, an expensive snow-removal service, or some mechanized help in the way of a snow blower.

If you're like most do-it-yourselfers, you probably hate hiring things out. But if the alternative is a snow shovel, what you're asking for is a sore back -- or perhaps a lot worse. So maybe it's time to consider a snow blower.

Snow blowers may seem like an expensive investment, but there are a lot of nice ones on the market at very reasonable prices. Snow blowers also save money in the long run over the ongoing cost of a snow removal service. They also offer the convenience of being able to clear your driveway as soon you need it cleared, without waiting.

Gas-powered snow blowers

Gas-powered snow blowers vary widely in price, depending on the size of the engine, the amount of snow it can handle, and whether it's a single-stage or a two-stage model. Single-stage models have fast-moving augers that contact the ground and scoop up the snow. They usually have two-stroke engines, less power, and are less expensive. Prices for singe-stage blowers are typically in the $350 to $650 range or higher.

Two-stage models have a slower moving auger and an impeller, which lift the snow and discharge it through a chute. Guide plates hold the auger slightly above the ground, and as long as the guide plates are correctly set, a two-stage snow blower can be used on gravel driveways as well as over concrete or asphalt. Two-stage snow blowers utilize a more powerful four-stroke engine, and can clear a path up to about 30 inches in width. Prices for these types of machines are usually around $700 to $1,300 or more.

A good example of a heavy-duty, two-stage snow blower for home use is the Snow Joe Pro, ($899). This happens to be the one I use at home, and it's actually turned what used to be a very tough task into something approaching enjoyable.

The Snow Joe Pro has a four-stroke, overhead-valve gas engine, and will cut a path 26 inches wide through snow up to 20 inches deep. It has both an electric and a recoil (pull-cord) start. The electric start utilizes a power cord, which connects between the engine and an electrical outlet, so there's no on-board battery to worry about; once the engine is started, the power cord is removed and the choke and throttle are set back to the run positions. ...CONTINUED

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