The key to identifying what type of snow blower you should buy is the conditions you’ll be using your new snow blower in. How much snow normally falls in your area, what kind of snow you get and the type of surfaces you’ll be clearing from are all significant factors in finding the perfect snow blower to fit your needs.
There are three types of snow blowers to choose from single-stage, two-stage and three-stage snow blowers. Below we’ve broken down the conditions each of those types of snow blower is best suited for so you can make an informed decision when you buy. You can also use snow blower product finders like this quick and helpful one from Troy-Bilt to help you in the process.
What’s the most important thing to know about the different stages of snow blowers? Essentially, the power and efficiency of a snow blower is increased with added stages. The more stages a snow blower has, the less time it will take to clear snow.
Here’s a detailed look at each type of snow blower:
Table of Contents
Single-Stage Snow Blower
This is where you should start your snow blower search if you regularly get up to six inches of light, powdery snowfall and are clearing a flat, smooth surface like a short driveway, deck, or walkway.
Single-stage snow blowers use one auger to break, scoop and throw snow. They typically have a clearing width (the width of the auger housing) of between 18 and 21 inches, making them perfect for removing snow from short driveways quickly. The intake height (the height of the auger housing) of single-stage snow blowers is usually around 12 inches, which is why they’re best-suited for clearing snowfall of up to six inches.
In the right conditions, a single-stage snow blower is the definition of convenience. Its size makes it easy to use and even easier to store, and certain models come with added features like auger-assisted drive and push-button start.
Need to know:
· Clears up to 6 inches of light snow
· Best for flat, smooth surfaces
· Lightweight and easy to handle/store
Two-Stage Snow Blower
If a single-stage doesn’t feel like it will do the trick, look at two-stage snow blowers. These machines use an auger and impeller to clear snowfall – the auger breaks up and scoops the snow, then the impeller throws it away from the area you’re clearing.
Two-stage snow blowers are ideal for removing up to a foot of heavy, wet snowfall from longer driveways and, unlike a single-stage, they can operate on unpaved surfaces and surfaces that have a moderate-to-steep incline. If you were leaning towards a single-stage snow blower but have a gravel driveway or get more than six inches of snow regularly, a two-stage is your best bet.
Clearing widths on a two-stage snow blower range anywhere from 20 to 38 inches with intake heights between 20 and 23 inches. These machines can clear snow quickly and come with a variety of feature options, including power steering and heated handgrips.
Need to know:
· Ideal for clearing up to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow
· Can operate on rough, sloped surfaces
· Variety of feature options
Three-Stage Snow Blower
For the most intense winter conditions, get yourself a three-stage snow blower.
What’s the difference between a two-stage and three-stage snow blower? In addition to the auger and impeller that power the two-stage, a three-stage machine has an added accelerator that allows the snow blower to bust up heavy, wet snowfall faster and with more power. A three-stage snow blower can do everything a two-stage can do, plus it can clear up to six more inches of snow and do it 50 percent faster.
With clearing widths between 24 and 30 inches and intake heights large enough to remove up to 18 inches of winter’s worst snow and ice, a three-stage snow blower is a perfect machine to help you tackle long driveways and large parking lots with unrivalled efficiency. If you’re always dealing with big snow drifts and heavy chunks of snow and ice at the end of the driveway, a three-stage snow blower is likely for you.
Additionally, a three-stage snow blower can be customized to fit your comfort needs with a long list of feature options.
Need to know:
· Equipped with a third-stage accelerator
· Clears up to 18 inches of heavy, wet snow
· Removes snow up to 50% faster than a two-stage
· Variety of feature options
