Snow blowers

If you’re a first-time buyer, you’ll be faced with a wide range of makes and models and it may be difficult to choose the right machine for your purposes. Average yearly snowfall statistics for particular areas seem less applicable, as in this day and age winter weather appears to be less predictable. However, if you are in the market for a snow blower, we believe that the following guide can be of help.
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History
Terms
Models and Characteristics
Accessories/features
Maintenance
Warranties

History

Did you know that the snow blower is a home-grown invention? Not that surprising when you consider our winters. In fact, Mr. Arthur Sicard of St. Leonard de Port Maurice, Quebec invented the snow blower in the early 20th century. As a youth working on the family dairy farm, he had to deal with the problem of winter snow-blocked roads that prevented him from getting the milk to market.

One summer day he saw a new, rotating blade machine called a thresher cutting and gathering wheat in a local farmer’s field. From that observation an idea was born and, despite the inevitable development setbacks and difficulties, he persisted and by 1927 was marketing the “Sicard Snow Remover Snow blower”. These machines were built for large-scale snow removal on roads, airports etc., and were sold around the world. It was only in the early 50’s that domestic snow blowers made their appearance and which led to the machines that have become commonplace today.

Terms

When buying a fairly complex piece of machinery, it’s a good idea to be armed with enough knowledge to ask the right questions and comprehend the answers. The following is a short list of snow blower terms and definitions that may help you:

  • Auger
    Located in the housing at the front of the machine, a rotating, horizontally mounted helicoidal auger holding the curved cutting blades that gather in and redirect the snow towards the chute. The auger assembly can be called the “first-stage” in two-stage models (see below).
  • Chute
    The discharge tube located above and slightly behind the auger housing. It can be adjusted to project the snow forward or to the sides.
  • Clearing width
    The width of the auger housing. Usually from 17 to 36 inches (43.1 to 91.4cm), it’s mostly determined by the motor power rating, i.e. two-stoke engines, 3 to 5 HP, rarely go beyond a 21 inch (53.3cm) clearing width, while four-stroke engines can go as high as 45 inches (114.3cm), although most consumer models stop at 36 inches (91.4cm).
  • Turbine (impeller)
    The second part of a two-stage assembly, its a bladed, horizontally mounted wheel located behind and facing the auger and propels the snow up and out of the chute.
  • Single-stage/two-stage
    Single-stage machines operate with a single auger that has the triple role of gathering and expelling the snow, as well as acting as the propulsion system for the blower. Two-stage machines are more powerful and use a second rotating, blade-equipped turbine to project the snow through the chute. These characteristics and more will be discussed in further detail in the following.
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