Gas powered Snow Blowers

Spring may be on the horizon, but I’d be willing to bet that the next snow storm is even closer. Although I love watching the snow fall, I hate cleaning up after it. In fact, I made a pact with my boyfriend so I wouldn’t have to shovel at all (don’t worry, I do my fair share of work in the summer).

I’ve been thinking about buying a snow blower to make the job easier, and there are more options then I imagined. However, consumers can pick from two main models – electric and gas powered. If you’re in the market too for a new snow blower or just tired of using the ol’ shovel, I’m going to break down some pros and cons of each one.

Electric Snow Blowers

Honestly, I didn’t even know electric snow blowers existed. I had heard of electric lawn mowers and kind of laughed a bit. The risk of running over the chord and electrocuting myself seemed all too real, so I’ve steered away from them.

Despite what I think, I did discover that electric snow blowers have some great benefits:

• They don’t require gasoline.
• They don’t require any engine oil.
• They’re much lighter than gas snow blowers.
• They’re quieter than traditional snow blowers.
• Most offer push button starts (no more ridiculous pull cords!).
• They may be more affordable than gas snow blowers.

While these are all great reasons, before you jump on buying the next electric snow blower you see, consider a few of these drawbacks as well:

• They’re limited by the length of the cord.
• May overheat quickly.
• The cord may get in the way, which could be dangerous.
• Water and electricity don’t mix, so you have to be cautious.
• They may not be able to handle more than a couple of inches of snow.
• Most run about 12 – 14 inches in length ­­­­­– limiting size options.

Gas Snow Blowers

Nothing says winter quiet like the sound of gas snow blowers breaking the silence after a blizzard. Although they have some drawbacks, which I’ll go over in a second, traditional gas snow blowers are also another option you have.

Gas-powered snow blowers have a few basic, yet powerful, benefits:

• They’re more durable than electric snow blowers.
• They can handle heavier snow more efficiently.
• No electrical chord to get in the way.
• They come in a variety of sizes – from 12 inches to over four feet in length.
• Most models are self-propelled.

Don’t forget to think about some of the things that might make owning a gas snow blower difficult:

• They’re bulky and heavy.
• They’re loud – deafeningly loud.
• Pull-start cords may make them difficult to start – at least if you’re a weakling like me.

Now that you have the facts, what type of snow blower should you buy? If it were up to me, I’d probably stick with the tried-and-true gas snow blower. I just don’t feel comfortable dragging around an electrical chord while I’m trying to clear snow.

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