How to Choose the Right Snow Blower for Your Small Business

If your small business is in a cold climate, winter weather can present a slew of inconvenient challenges, especially if Mother Nature has snow on her mind. Inconvenient weather events, such as snow, can lead to injuries, lost productivity, lost profits, and bad moods. Do your best to keep your employees and customers lighthearted and surefooted by keeping pathways and driveways free from the white stuff. The best way to do that is by investing in a snow blower. This article will help you figure out which one is right for your small business.

First Things First: Determine Your Budget

Before you begin shopping for a snow blower, figure out how much you can spend and stick to it. Snow blowers come in a variety of price points to meet the needs of individuals and business owners. Snow blowers can range between $200 and $3,500, so there really is a solution for everyone.

Evaluate Your Clearing Width and Intake Height

A key factor in selecting the right snow blower for your business is figuring out how much space you need to clear and the volume of snow that is typical for your region. For example, taller, wider machines can clear more snow in a single pass, making the task faster and easier. If you live in an area that experiences large amounts of snow, consider a more powerful machine.

Maneuverability Needs and Storage Requirements

Snow blowers come in a variety of sizes featuring a wide range of design details. If ease of maneuverability is important to you, there are several features you’ll want to consider, including steering controls, adjustable chutes, and ergonomic handles. You’ll also want to think about how much space you have to store your snow blower. If space is limited, opt for a more compact model with collapsible features.

Read Customer Reviews

Reading unbiased customer reviews is an essential part of your pre-purchase research. Make note of the brands that consistently meet and exceed expectations and look for keywords that reflect your must-haves such as ‘durable,’ ‘reliable,’ or ‘lightweight.’

Types of Snow Blowers

Next, you need to decide which type of snow blower best fits your business’s needs—a gas-powered or electric snow blower. You’ll also need to decide between a single-stage blower or a two-stage blower—the most common subtypes for both gas and electric snow blowers. Before we get into the benefits and drawbacks of gas and electric snow blowers, let’s look at what single- and two-stage models are best used for and how they work. 

Single-Stage Snow Blowers

Single-stage snow blowers work well for light-to-moderate snow, especially dry powdery snow on sidewalks and small paved driveways. As the auger turns, it scrapes the pavement to scoop the snow and throw it out the chute in one motion.

Two-Stage Snow Blowers

For deep or heavy, wet snow, a two-stage snow blower clears large areas, such as driveways or wide walkways, faster and more efficiently than a single-stage snow blower. The auger in a two-stage snow blower collects the snow, but a powerful fan throws the snow through the chute, sending it farther and faster than a single-stage machine. Because the auger does not contact the ground, it works on uneven surfaces, such as gravel and dirt. Two-stage snow blowers typically have powered wheels and sometimes reverse gears which make maneuvering easier.

Gas-Powered Snow Blowers

If your business is in an area that experiences heavy snowfall, a gas-powered machine may be the right choice for you. Gas snow blowers excel at clearing large areas of deep, heavy, wet snow and everything in between. However, gas snow blowers require more maintenance and are noisy and smelly in comparison to electric snow blowers. 

Single-Stage Gas Snow Blower Specs Two-Stage Gas Snow Blower Specs

Maintenance

  • Regular oil changes
  • Fresh, stabilized gasoline
  • Spark plug replacement
  • Air filter cleaning and changes
  • Wipe down after use to prevent rust

Electric Snow Blowers

A greener alternative to gas snow blowers is an electric snow blower. They come in both corded and cordless battery-operated models, require no gasoline, and need less maintenance than gas snow blowers. They are also significantly lighter than gas-powered models and may be easier to maneuver for some users. The biggest drawback is that electric models typically have less snow-clearing power than their gas counterparts and may be best suited for smaller residential jobs.

Single-Stage Electric Snow Blower Specs Two-Stage Electric Snow Blower Specs

Maintenance

  • Battery charging (if cordless)
  • Wipe down after use to prevent rust

Find Your Perfect Snow Blower at Zoro

Once you’ve determined which snow blower is right for your small business, shop Zoro.com for the best brands in snow removal. We’re here for everything your business needs all year long. Shop Zoro today!

Product Compliance and Suitability

The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness, or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand, and follow all manufacturer instructions.

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