Buying a Snow Blower - Here are a Few Tips to Remember
By Christopher W Smith

Some people love snow and welcome its arrival, while others wince at the back pain they have to look forward to. Its not surprising that these 2 people fall into 2 groups: those with snow blowers, and those who shovel. Here are some tips to help you enjoy the white stuff once again.

Know Your Snow Job
Just like a car, there are many makes and models of snowblowers (or snow throwers as they are also commonly known as). Each car is suited for a different purpose, and snow blowers are no different.

How long is your driveway? How much snow do you anticipate receiving each year? How heavy is the snow? How wide a space does your snow removal needs cover?

For most city dwellers, who have just a driveway and a sidewalk to clear off, a single stage gas blower will do the trick. These types of snow blowers will touch the ground, so be aware of the area you are clearing. Most single stage gas snow blowers retail for $300 to $900.

However, if you find that you get a lot of snow, or have a larger area to clear, a two stage gas blower will save you time and help avoid further back aches. These types of snow blowers come equiped with wide augers to clear off larger areas, while throwing the snow further. Depending on the type of two stage gas snow blower you are looking at, prices can range from $600 to over $2000 according to Consumer Reports.

If you have a gravel driveway, you'll want to ensure that the auger doesn't touch the ground (thus picking up rocks which can be hard on the snowblower, and cause harm if to items near the path of the blowing snow. Most two stage blowers are perfect for gravel driveways.

If you find that you only get a few inches per snowfall, or have a relatively small area to clear, you may find that a single stage electric blower will take care of your needs. Electric snow throwers range between $100 and $300 and will clear an area of about 11-18inches.

Take It For A Spin
While a retailer wont let you clear off any snow at your house to test it out, they will let you push the floor models around. Find one that suits your strength. The larger snow blowers are normally very heavy. While it may be fun to have the largest snow blower on the block, it doesnt make sense to buy it if you cant push it around without hurting your back.

Are the handlebars adjustable to your height? You have to remain in control of your snow blower at all times and the handlebars will help you to move around corners. You should also pay attention to the chute control. By adjusting the direction of the chute, you can angle the snow where you want it, not in front of you or on your neighbours driveway.

Play Safe
If you purchase a single or two stage gas snow blower, remember to start it up outside. Carbon monoxide poisoning is an invisible killer. Clearing snow is tough enough without having to worry about carbon monoxide.

Do you have a set of ear plugs? You'll need them, especially with the larger snow blowers.

Remember not to wear anything that is loose fitting. Its very easy for a scarf or sleeve to get caught in the snow blower and the results are not very nice.

Its obvious, but many people loose limbs because they dont watch what they are doing. If your machine gets clogged, turn it off. Only when the engine is off (or unplugged if you purchase an electric snow blower) should you attempt to clear the clog. Use a wooden broom handle or hockey stick to clear out a clog. Better you have to buy a new broom or a new hockey stick than to have to explain why you no longer have an arm.

Other than price, buying a snow thrower is no different than buying a car. In both cases, you buy the one that meets your exact needs and fits within your budget. Take it out for a test drive and remember safety first.

Start enjoying snow again. Think of how envious your neighbours will be when they see your new machine purring down the driveway, without a care, and without a worry of a sore back.

dont shovel: best snow blower ratings - compare and save on your next snow blower.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_W_Smith

Tips on Snowplowing
By Matt Ide

Now that you’ve got your new snowplow, what do you do?

It’s getting to be that time of the year. Soon the football game is going to be on during Turkey Day and you have just recently put the blade on the truck for the first time. In fact, you just might be new to driving a snowplow.

After last year, fighting the snow all winter with a measly plastic shovel or an antiquated snow blower that clogged up more snow than it threw, you decided that you weren’t going to go through that again. So, you went out and bought yourself a snowplow and are itching for the snow to fall.

Now that the blade is on the truck, do you know how to use it? For some, they decide that they will get the blade on and figure out how to use it afterwards. Well here are a few tips to help you so that you don’t take out part of the house or a side of the garage.

First, make sure that your truck is prepared to deal with the rigors of plowing. You want to ensure that the battery is fresh and that all the hydraulics and moving pieces are in order.

Second, if you plan to plow during dark hours, which are probably going to happen, then you need to make sure that you have adequate lighting. Either make sure you have enough on the front of the plow or there are exterior lights that will keep the driveway well lit. Don’t forget about tail lights and possibly putting a rear spot light on the truck.

Third, if you are new to plowing with your truck, you should go outside and visualize where you are going to dump the snow. This may not seem like a big deal now, but if you don’t have a good idea of where all the snow is going to go and how far back you need to push it, you could end up with piles of snow that you can’t throw back out of the way mid way through the winter.

These are just a few tips to help you with your snowplowing this year. With a little forethought, you should be able to have a breeze with your snowplowing this year.

If you are looking for more advice on snowplows or are looking for snowplow parts go to www.extremesnowplows.com

Matt Ide is an avid outdoorsman who lives in the wilds of Northern Michigan and understands that plows are a lifeline to making it through the winter. You can read more articles as well as find reviews and quality parts for snowplows at his site: http://www.extremesnowplows.com

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A Closer Look at Snow Blower Parts
By Ross Bainbridge

You can maximize efficiency, dependability and ease of use with a number of snow blower parts.

Covers
A heavy-duty cover will protect your snow blower when not in use.

Drift Cutters
If you want to create sharp, aesthetically pleasing edges to your snow banks, either buy a snow blower that has a built-in drift cutter or buy a conversion kit. These are also known as drift breakers.

Electric Starters
There are two kinds of starters: Electric and recoil. Electric uses a simple button, while recoil uses a cord that you yank. Some starters use a combination of the two. You can convert recoil starters to electric by getting an electric starter kit. They are available for both two-cycle and four-cycle engines.

Gas, Oil, and Stabilizer
Two-cycle engines are for smaller jobs and use a gas/oil mixture, along with a stabilizer: A liquid that keeps the gas/oil mixture from breaking down over time. Stabilizer also slows long-term build-up of deposits in the carburetor. Four-cycle engines are for bigger jobs, use separate gas and oil feeds and do not require stabilizer, but they do require periodic oil changes.

Headlights
You can buy sealed beam or halogen lights to mount on your snow blower, if it didn’t already come with one. This will make it safe to operate before dawn or after sunset.

Shear Pins
Most augers are connected to the auger shaft with shear pins. These pins break off if you hit an impasse while using your snow blower, thus saving the auger gear case from breakdown. If your unit uses shear pins, be sure to keep a few on hand at all times.

Snow Cabs
Protect yourself from sub-zero temperatures and snow flurries with a snow cab. Usually made of heavy-duty vinyl and freeze-resistant polyethylene, snow cabs attach to the handlebars of your dual stage snow blower. They can sometimes be too heavy, upsetting the delicate leveling of the auger blades, so be sure to buy a snow cab that is designed for your specific unit.

Snow Tire Chains
For added traction and maneuverability in icy conditions, you can wrap your tires in special snow chains. They come in various sizes and weave patterns to fit your particular tire.

Other Replacement Parts
Because of the frictional nature of snow blowers, you will need to replace certain parts from time to time. Auger rubbers, drive belts for augers, impellers, wheels and scraper bars are some of the items you might need to replace every two to ten years. Contact a snow blower parts retailer near you in your local yellow pages, or buy parts online. A good place to start is jackssmallengines.com. They stock most snow blower parts, from dual-stage augers and belts, to useful whistles and bells like snow cabs and headlights.

Remember: a good snow blower with a conscientious owner can last up to 30 years or more.

Snow Blowers Info provides detailed information about electric and truck-mounted snow blowers, snow blower parts, and reviews of best snow blowers. Snow Blowers Info is affiliated with Original Content Web.

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The Benefits of Electric Snow Blowers
By Ross Bainbridge

Electric snow blowers are just the thing to buy if you live in a region that never gets more than 6 to 10 inches per snowfall.

Electric snow blowers don¡¦t rely on gasoline for power. Rather, they utilize a 6- to 12-amp cord, which you can plug into a regular wall outlet up to 150 feet away. They¡¦re highly maneuverable in tight spaces, but you must always be aware of the cord because accidentally slicing through it can be a safety hazard. As with all snow blowers, it is recommended that only adults use them.

All electric snow blowers are single-stage units. This means there is only one auger for both scooping and throwing snow. The auger is a spindle with two or more curved blades or paddles spanning the width of the snow blower, rolling above and parallel to the ground. The high-speed auger of a single-stage machine eats snow and sends it flying up and out of the chute or vane.

Larger electric snow blowers have a chute that you can rotate in any direction up to a 190„a sweep. Smaller units tend to have a stationary vane that guides the snow out of one side of the machine.

Electric snow blowers usually throw snow 20 to 30 feet away. They can clear paths 12 to 20 inches wide, and move 200 to 900 pounds of snow per minute. All of these models feature an electric start rather than a recoil start, so there are never any cords to pull. All this power comes in a package that is easy to store, sometimes weighing as little as 10 pounds and rarely more than 25 pounds ¡V light enough so you can pick it up and chip away at some of the deeper snow banks. And because electric can be just as durable as gas power, many electric units come with 2-year warranties.

If you need to move more than 6 to 10 inches of snow, or you have more than an acre of surface to uncover, or your driveway is made of gravel, then an electric snow blower won¡¦t get you very far. If this is the case, it¡¦s better to invest in a gas-powered unit. A single-stage gas-powered unit is the next step up -- great for flat surfaces and mild to medium snowfalls at any distance from the building. For larger jobs and uneven terrain, go with the big guns: A dual-stage machine.

Snow Blowers Info provides detailed information about electric and truck-mounted snow blowers, snow blower parts, and reviews of best snow blowers. Snow Blowers Info is affiliated with Original Content Web.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ross_Bainbridge