Deciding Upon A Single Stage Or Dual Stage Snow Blower
If you're located in an area that gets snow during the winter, then you have probably considered buying a snow blower. These machines save you time, but they can also save your life. People die every year from heart attacks due to shoveling snow. Many people are not in shape and they should not be outside in the extreme cold shoveling snow.
So, once you have decided to buy a snow blower, you have to decide which type to get. All snow blowers are not the same. There are electric and gas models. There are large and small models. They even come in different colors. However, the most important distinction is the type of "stage" the snow blower is.
Below is a description of the single stage and dual stage snow blower. Each section will also discuss the pros and cons of each snow removal equipment design.
Single Stage Snow Blower
A single stage snow blower churns up the snow and forces it out the chute in one movement. They can be either electrically powered or gas powered. They are, as a rule, cheaper than the dual stage snow blowers.
There are some limitations to a single stage snow blower. The principal limitation is that they are not designed to deal with very heavy snowfalls. This means that if you live in an area that gets several feet of snow, these are not the snow blowers for you.
The other downside to a single stage snow blower is that they are not great for rocky terrain and hills. The drawback to the single stage design is that rocks and other debris can clog up the inside. This means that if your planning on clearing a field or even something as banal as a gravel driveway, you should not get a single stage.
Many people don't want to deal with oil or gas. For these people, an electric single stage snow blower is best. If you have an asphalt driveway or a sidewalk that needs plowing, then an electric single stage is perfect. You can use a long extension cord and never have to worry about changing oil or filling up the engine with gas.
Dual Stage Snow Blowers
Dual stage snow blowers get their name from the two-step method of removing snow. The first step is when the auger churns up the snow. The snow is then shot out of the machine via an impeller. This two-step process makes the machine much more efficient at removing snow. It also prevents gravel, rocks, and other debris from clogging up the machine. Because of this, people who plow gravel drives should choose a dual stage model.
One drawback to a dual stage model is that they are not available in electric models. They are only available in gas-operated models. This means that you will have to deal with oil as well as gasoline.
The major benefit to the dual stage design is that it can handle much more snow. These models are used in locations where people deal with blizzards. If you are located in an area that gets very heavy snowfall, then you should only consider a dual stage design.