How to choose a snow blower for your home?

Winter with frosts, snowfalls and snowstorms brings a lot of worries. Asphalt paths in the courtyard of a house iced up after a thaw, a thick layer of snow around a residential cottage or the entrance of an apartment building, huge slippery ice puddles under a layer of snow, snowdrifts in the courtyard of the house and on distant approaches to it are very annoying, spoil the mood, in some cases they can represent real a threat to health and life.

The problems associated with clearing large amounts of snow in a short period of time and cleaning the paved footpaths around the house are especially acute in areas with a harsh climate - in Siberia, the Urals, Yakutia and the Far East.

A build-up of large amounts of snow on the porch or around the house can serve as:

• the cause of the onset of disability due to fractures and bruises after falling on an icy surface covered with a layer of snow;
• cause of severe traumatic brain injury;
• the reason for the disruption of the normal operation of communications and power supply.

By engine type, snow blowers are:

• with a gasoline engine;
• with an electric motor.

By type of control, snow blowers are:

• self-propelled - the movement of the unit within the cleaned area and between the areas occurs exclusively with the help of the engine without the use of human muscle power;
• non-self-propelled - the movement of the unit occurs due to the muscular strength of a person or the energy of an external source (winch, towing on a cable).

By type of chassis:

• Crawler-mounted - used in powerful snow blowers.

The general, independent of the model and manufacturer, disadvantages of crawler snow blowers include:

1. low speed of movement along the cleaned area;
2. damage to the soil and plants hibernating under the snow during work;
3. slippage of tracks on ice is possible;
4. a complicated repair procedure in the event that individual tracks fall out of the tracks during operation;
5. low maneuverability.

• Wheeled. Common disadvantages of wheeled snow blower models are:

1. the ability to lock the wheels when working on slippery surfaces;
2. they cannot be used to haul machines and mechanisms out of the swamp.

With a standard internal combustion engine or sequential excitation motor and a standard gearbox (without reinforcement of individual structural elements), snowblowers have a capacity of 4 to 15 horsepower. The power of the reinforced snow blowers reaches 45 horsepower. An increase in power entails a strengthening of the load-bearing and load-bearing elements of the body and greatly increases the dead weight of the snow blower.

A snowblower for a home with a gasoline engine is used quite often due to the low price, the simplicity of the engine design, the possibility of self-maintenance and repair with experience and skills. The unit is a non-self-propelled trolley with a rotating auger. After the snow is captured by the teeth of the auger mechanism, the powerful air flow created by the fan impeller throws snow up to a distance of 18 meters.

The advantages of a gasoline snow blower:

• there is no reference to the location of the electrical outlet;
• easy engine start in the cold season;
• small size and weight;
• easy access for clearing snow from hard-to-reach places;
• work in cramped conditions is possible;
• the rubberized auger does not damage glass, laminated or mirror surfaces, tiles, ice on the rink.

Disadvantages of a gasoline powered snow blower:

• increased noise during operation;
• engine exhaust contains soot, tar, carbon monoxide (CO);
• large dead weight, therefore, significant physical effort is required to move the snow blower during operation;
• low engine power (from 5 to 13 horsepower).

An electric snow blower is used to remove snow and ice in a limited area (skating rink, ice stadium). For its operation, it requires a permanent connection to a 220V electrical outlet using an electric cable. An electric snow blower is the best option for clearing snow and ice from the area around a wooden or brick residential building, cottage or small house at a summer cottage.

Positive traits:

• high power;
• good lighting of the place of work;
• additional equipment can be connected to the snow blower to prepare the earthen area for filling the roller.

Disadvantages:

• range is limited by the location of the electrical outlet and the length of the power cord;
• cannot be used at the time of atmospheric precipitation (rain, snow);
• must be stored in a dry, heated room;
• in the process of work, cuts and bends of the cord must not be allowed, the cord must not be stepped on, heavy objects must not be placed on it;
• after work, the cord must be wound onto a reel;
• in the process of work, it is necessary to strictly observe the rules of PTB and PUE;
• it is strictly forbidden to get snow or ice inside the case through ventilation or technological openings.

Models with a metal auger are able to easily crush snow crust, packed snow, fallen ice icicles. A toothed carbide strip is screwed to the auger cutting edge with screws. It protects the working body of the snow blower from being destroyed by strong objects that are frozen to the ice:

• horseshoe-shaped heels;
• nails or screws;
• pieces of wire or stranded wire;
• small stones;
• metal fittings and buttons.

A lightweight model of a snow blower on tracks has been developed for cleaning loose and marshy snow. The weight of the snow blower is distributed over a large area of ​​the tracks of the two tracks. Low specific pressure on the surface of loose snow does not allow the snow blower to sink deep into the snow under its own weight.

Such a design of the snow blower increases its cross-country ability on swampy snow and swampy terrain. Good grip of the rubber tread to the ground allows you to get a lot of force with minimal specific pressure on the snow.

A special place among snowblowers is occupied by a snowplow.

A structure is mounted on the snow blower frame, consisting of a large and small rectangular frames, fastened together by hinges, and two hydraulic cylinders with spools. The cylinders are connected to the hydraulic system of the loader via a centrifugal gearbox with a safety valve. A polycarbonate concave rectangle snow plow with a reinforced aluminum cutting edge is secured to the end face of a large snow thrower frame using rectangular bolts, cotter nuts and locknuts.

The main advantage of the snow blower is that it allows you to quickly clear a large area by shifting the mass of snow to another location.

Disadvantages of a snowplow:

• can only work on a flat surface;
• after clearing a large area, snow removal outside the cleared area is required.

A snowfall or cyclone in a few hours can paralyze civilized life in a cottage or in a country house for a long time, plunging it into darkness.

This article will help you choose a snow blower for removing snow and ice around your house, cottage, summer cottage, taking into account:

• its properties and technical characteristics;
• value for money;
• expert opinions and information from the Internet and open sources.

An analysis of customer reviews collected on the forums and websites of manufacturers will also be made.

Based on information from open sources obtained through a survey of professional users of snow blowers, customer reviews of snow fighting equipment on the forums and an analysis of sales statistics from online stores, a rating of the best models of snow blowers for the home was compiled.

The manual snow blower is a type of snow shovel and is a wide deep scoop made of reinforced plastic or aluminum on a single or double axle trolley with a full length rectangular handle. Inside the scoop is a rotating shaft with a screw. The shaft is connected by a gear reducer with one or two bogie axles.

Advantages:

• high maneuverability and mobility;
• simplicity of design;
• independence from energy sources - no need for gasoline, diesel fuel, oil and consumables for work;
• no need for regular maintenance;
• light weight and size;
• easy to transport to the place of work.

Disadvantages:

• low power;
• low labor productivity.

Below is a brief overview of models of snow blowers of domestic and foreign production in decreasing order of rating.

This model is assembled in Russia from Chinese spare parts and components. A powerful electric motor is installed on the chassis. The robust vulcanized rubber auger does not lose its mechanical properties at low temperatures. The width of the working area is 46 centimeters. A single charge of the lithium polymer battery lasts for 30 minutes of continuous use.

Powerful small-sized snow-plow harvester from the company from Chelyabinsk. An electronic motor speed control circuit based on powerful thyristors with a heat sink, a high-speed fan with a thermocouple cooling system, an electric motor of serial excitation of a direct current with windings cooled by a powerful fan, provide fast and high-quality cleaning of the surface of the asphalt or concrete pavement from snow and ice.

A beam of light from a bright moon-white laser LED with a prismatic lens and reflector illuminates the road at a distance of about five meters. To work in dense fog or at the moment of frost falling on the reflector rim, a yellow-green light filter is put on top, increasing the penetration range of the light beam from the LED, up to 5 meters. The device weighs 16 kilograms with a fully charged battery.

Advantages:

• high mobility and easy access to hard-to-reach places, despite the heavy weight;
• durable and reliable plastic case;
• high capacity lithium polymer battery;
• the presence of a built-in lighting device;
• a significant range of throwing snow from the device;
• the high handle allows you not to bend the spine during work, which relieves the back and speeds up work.

Disadvantages:

• thermoplastic rubber from which the auger is made loses its elasticity at temperatures below -30 ° C and may crack;
• in the process of work, strong vibration is transmitted to the hands through the handle;
• when the icy infusion is destroyed, the auger makes a loud noise.

High-performance snowblower, assembled in Russia from components made in China, for quick cleaning of the area around the house from snow and ice. The high-power engine provides fast removal of fresh and packed snow cover up to 30 centimeters thick from asphalt, concrete and turf in one pass. The two-stage grinding system transforms the packed snow and ice into small pieces up to two millimeters in size. The variator and computer control system reliably hold the machine on a slope of up to 40 degrees.

Positive traits:

• powerful gasoline or electric engine Briggs & stratton snow;
• units of wheeled and caterpillar type are produced;
• compact size and light weight allow using the snow blower to remove ice and snow from hard-to-reach places;
• the triangular shape of the track links and tread improves traction on packed snow or ice crust;
• reliable undercarriage design;
• two-stage ice and snow crushing system;
• computerized suspension stabilizer for steep slopes;
• LED headlight to illuminate the place of work;
• heated control levers.

Negative qualities:

• simplified screw design;
• the removal of packed snow and ice at high speeds must be done at the minimum engine speed, otherwise the working body may break down.

Powerful inexpensive Russian-made snow plow harvester. Designed to remove snow and ice from asphalt and concrete surfaces.

Technical specifications:

• petrol engine with a capacity of 6.5 horsepower;

• engine type - single-cylinder four-stroke;

• fuel type - gasoline AI-92 (AI-95);

• specific fuel consumption - 395 g / kW * h;

• friction clutch with disc spring;

• mechanical five-speed transmission;

• downshift - yes;

• two reverse gears;

• starting the engine with an electric starter;

• accelerated engine spin-up at startup;

• lithium-ion reinforced battery;

• friction disc clutch;

• lantern with high voltage krypton lamp;

• rubber tires with metal lugs;

• two-stage snow discharge system;

• fully equipped weight - no more than 73 kilograms.

Manual snow blower from Swedish manufacturer. There are two types of Stiga snow blowers available:

• with a gasoline single-cylinder engine;
• powered by 220V electrical network.

Positive traits:

• Stiga models are designed for users of all levels;

• the tool can work at temperatures below 40 ° C;

• a screw with metal spikes easily breaks down thick ice;

• low noise level and low power consumption;

• reliable disc clutch;

Negative qualities:

• relatively high cost;
• there is no interchangeability of spare parts with other models;
• the complexity of the design.

Domestic and imported models of snow blowers ranked in terms of decreasing reliability as follows:

• "Sibrtech" model "ESB-46li", components - China, assembly - Russia;
• Stiga model "St 1145 e", accessories - Sweden, assembly - China;
• Honda model "HSM1390ikze" accessories - Japan, assembly - China;
• Greenworks model "GES13", accessories - USA, assembly - China;
• Denzel model "GSB-5" 3, accessories - China, assembly - China;
• Champion model "ST656", accessories - China, assembly - China;
• Monferme model "26077M", accessories - USA, assembly - China;
• Hyundai model "S5555", accessories - Korea, assembly - China;
• Carver model STE 1333, accessories - China, assembly - Russia;
• DDE model ST6556l, accessories - China, assembly - China.

Based on the statistics of repairs and the cost of services of service centers when purchasing a snow blower for home use, it is recommended to pay attention to the first three models in the rating table.

Domestic and foreign manufacturers produce many models of reliable small-sized snowplow equipment economy class for work on a flat surface. Reasonable price, small size and weight, powerful gasoline engine with low fuel consumption, smokeless exhaust and low noise level, headlight with a halogen lamp to illuminate the place of work in the dark, reinforced lithium polymer battery, auger made of frost-resistant plastic with a cutting carbide metal edge, convenience in the process of work, long MTBF, the ability to carry out maintenance and repair work on the snow blower at home and high mechanical strength make these snow blowers indispensable helpers for the farmer or the owner of the suburban area.

A brief overview of inexpensive models of domestic and foreign snow blowers with a gasoline internal combustion engine will help novice farmers and summer residents choose an inexpensive and practical model with an optimal price-quality ratio.

Technical specifications:

• power supply - 220V AC;
• cord length - 6 meters;
• engine power - 1300W;
• range of snow throwing - 6 meters;
• bucket width - 33 centimeters;
• weight - 6,300 kg.

A durable and lightweight carbon body, a reinforced electric motor, a flat tool for crushing snow, small dimensions and weight make this model an almost ideal tool for clearing the area around a summer cottage from snow and ice crust. In addition, this unit will help to keep parking spaces in parking lots of apartment buildings in optimal condition.

Technical specifications:

• power source - from a 220V AC network;
• body material - carbon plastic;
• reinforced electric cord - 5 meters;
• engine power - 1800W;
• bucket width - 50 centimeters;
• weight - 1,100 kg.

Powerful electric snow blower from the world famous manufacturer Daewoo. Its own weight with considerable effort presses the working body against the smooth ice crust during operation. The snow blower removes the thickness of ice up to five millimeters on the asphalt in one pass.A headlamp with a bright halogen lamp and a quartz glass diffuser lens integrated into the control panel. It allows you to carry out work to clear the area from snow at night or in fog or heavy snow.

Technical properties:

• engine power at full load - 3 kW;
• range of snow throwing - 12 meters;
• weight - 16,800 kg;
• overall dimensions - 590x550x495 mm;
• starter battery;
• electronic ignition regulator.

When choosing a model of a snow blower for a private house, farm or summer cottage it is imperative to take into account the following points:

• terrain and size of the area to be cleaned;
• power outages in winter;
• the state of health of a person removing snow - whether or not he can use a non-self-propelled snow blower;
• the total amount of snow to be removed;
• the presence in the cleaned area of ​​narrow passages, a well, pipes, benches and other places with limited access.

The self-propelled snow blower is effective for large areas and for people with disabilities. Additional gears in the gearbox connect the wheels of the cart to an electric or gasoline engine. The speed of movement of a self-propelled snow blower is limited to 5 km / h.

High efficiency of cleaning the asphalt surface from snow and ice can be achieved using a rotary screw snow blower with a gasoline engine. The combination of a powerful gasoline engine with an electric generator in one housing, a hardened steel planetary gearbox and an octahedron carbon plastic working tool with a titanium cutting edge positions the rotary snow blower as the best option in terms of price / quality ratio for a farm or summer cottage.

There are also belt driven auger snow blowers.

Advantages:

• simplicity of design;
• low price.

Disadvantages:

• the need for constant adjustment of the belt tension;
• the need to lubricate the belt and pulley with graphite paste.

Snow removal equipment allows you to quickly clear the area from snow and ice with a minimum of physical effort. To avoid mechanical or electrical injury when using the snow blower, you should follow the advice below and strictly follow all the requirements of the PTB and PUE:

• a faulty snow blower must not be used;
• when using a snow blower, do not wear shoes with slippery soles, laces that lie freely on the ground, and unzip a tracksuit;
• to connect the unit to the mains, use only standard electrical plugs and extension cords;
• a self-propelled snow blower with the engine running must not be left unattended;
• before filling fuel into the tank, turn off the engine, do not smoke nearby and refuel the unit with a nearby source of open fire;
• you can not use snow removal equipment if you feel unwell and in a state of alcoholic intoxication;
• when repairing, you cannot use non-standard or home-made parts;
• in the process of working on the eyes, you must wear protective goggles.

For more information on how to choose a snow blower for your home, see the video below.