| Shoveling snow is good exercise for the | | | | |
| young, but after a certain age it only makes | | | | Two Stage |
| sense that a snow blower be used to clear | | | | |
| that mass of stuff blocking your sidewalk. | | | | As its name implies, the two stage snow |
| There are two kinds of snow blowers. | | | | thrower gets rid of the snow in two stages. |
| | | | An auger is used to break up the snow first, |
| If you live in an area which gets a great | | | | and then it is sucked into the impeller and |
| deal of snow, you probably own a snow shovel | | | | blown out through the discharge chute. This |
| and get a lot of exercise shoveling all that | | | | type of thrower is used if your area |
| beautiful white stuff off your sidewalks. If | | | | typically gets snowfalls of more than a foot |
| you're fit, then certainly you'll have no | | | | or more at a time. |
| problem with that shoveling...unless you've | | | | |
| got three sidewalks and a driveway to do! | | | | Properly used, a snow blower can save you a |
| Everyone reaches a point when its best if | | | | lot of time and back ache. There are many |
| they don't do that kind of hard physical | | | | manufacturers, including Honda, John Deere, |
| activity - and that's where the snow blower | | | | Sears-Craftsman and Toro. The best time to |
| comes in. | | | | buy a snow blower is after the season has |
| | | | ended, when they all go on sale. |
| A snow blower is a machine that does all the | | | | |
| work for you. You simply stand behind it and | | | | Qualities to consider when buying a |
| push. | | | | snowblower are its clearing width, throwing |
| | | | distance, and the poundage of snow it can |
| There exist different types of snow blowers - | | | | handle at one time. |
| single stage or two stage. Most homeowners | | | | |
| will only need a single stage machine - | | | | Take care |
| rental property owners who have a | | | | |
| responsibility to their tenants will be the | | | | Whenever you use a snow blower, it is |
| ones who most likely use a two stage machine | | | | imperative that you wear ear protection and |
| | | | eye goggles. |
| Single Stage | | | | |
| | | | As with any bladed tool, snow blowers can be |
| A single stage snow thrower works with a | | | | dangerous if not used properly. If your snow |
| single high-speed "impeller" - usually two or | | | | thrower jams...turn it off and disengage the |
| more curved plastic paddles - that suck the | | | | clutch. Even then, do NOT reach in with your |
| snow into the machine, and then forces it out | | | | hand to clear the jam - use a sturdy stick or |
| of the discharge chute into the adjacent | | | | broom handle to do the job. A lot of people |
| yard. These snow blowers are very light and | | | | each year use a finger to a snowblower blade |
| not fit for snowfalls of more than a foot or | | | | because they do not follow these simple |
| so. | | | | precautions. |