!9# Factors to Consider When Buying a Snow Blower

!9#: Factors to Consider When Buying a Snow Blower

Bothered by snow on the walkway or the patio? Manual clearing of the snow is back breaking work. You can avoid all the pain if you invest in a high quality snow blower. Good blowers have been known to last for many years (easily from 5 years onwards). Here are 5 important factors to consider when buying a snow blower.

Factor 1: Engine power.
Factor 2: Blowing surface area.
Factor 3: Engine starting method.
Factor 4: Materials of the machine.
Factor 5: Sounds level.

Factor 1: Engine power.

The engine is the "heart" of the entire machine. With a more powerful machine (i.e. higher horse power), you get more mileage from the blower. Your choice of engine power depends on how much work you intend to use the machine for. For instance, if you are thinking of working with snow or ice on a daily basis, then it's only obvious that you should go for a powerful engine. Engine power can range from a mere 5.5 hp to as high as 11 hp!

Factor 2: Blowing surface area.

Every product will have the blowing surface area clearly printed on the brochure. The larger the surface area, the less time you have to spend in the cold. It's all about saving energy and time. If you can afford it, go for a bigger blower. You want to avoid the cold as much as you can.

Factor 3: Engine starting method.

Most modern blowers come with two starting methods - manual and electric. The manual engine start up is seldom used, and it's there only as a backup - just in case the electrical method fail. The blower may look intimidating for some people due to its sheer size. However, you will be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to start the engine with the electric starter. Just press a button and the engine roars to life! You never have to break a sweat just to get the machine started. Save your energy for the real work - blowing away the snow!

Factor 4: Materials of the machine.

Cheaper snow blowers are sometimes made from cheap parts. It may be a low quality engine or cheap plastic casing. In any case, if something goes wrong with any part of the machine, the blower may become impossible to operate. You then have to spend time with support trying to sort out the issues. To avoid this problem, go for trusted brands such as GIO snow blowers. These brands have a reputation to upkeep and you can be sure that they will do whatever is in their power to deliver top notch products.

Factor 5: Sounds level.

Finally, there is the noise. Good quality machines generate noise at slightly over 100 decibels. You want to be sure that the noise level is something you and your neighbors will be comfortable with.

The price difference for a high end snow blower and a low end one is usually less than 0. In other words, for a few hundred more, you could be the proud owner of a powerful blower. So if you have the financial resources, go for the higher end machines. It will be a wise investment.