Key Takeaways

  • Electric snow shovels are more compact and easier to maneuver than snow blowers. They are effective for clearing smaller areas like stairs and decks.
  • Snow blowers are faster and can clear larger areas, but they take up more space and are more costly to buy and maintain.
  • Both electric snow shovels and snow blowers have their pros and cons, so it's important to choose the snow-clearing equipment that meets your specific needs.

With the current technology, the days of shoveling snow by hand are long gone. Snow blowers and electric snow shovels have made the job much easier. Therefore, as a homeowner, you might be wondering which snow-clearing equipment will help you clear your outdoors in winter. Understanding the differences between electric snow shovels and snow blowers can help you make the best decision for your home or business.

A quick run-down of the specific characteristics of a snow blower and an electric snow shovel from Greenworks will help you decide what you need. Also, it's essential to have an awareness of the type of surface you want to clear, availability of storage areas as well as the size of your outdoors.

Everything You Need to Know About Snow Blowers

Get familiar with a single-stage and a two-stage snow blower

A person using a snow blower to clear snow on a road

Snow blowers are machines designed to remove snow from sidewalks, patios, decks, and driveways. As a business owner, you might use this equipment to remove ice on a roadway, railroad track, runway, or even an ice rink. When in use, snow isn't blown away but rather moved away by an auger or impeller (i.e., it's not air blowing it away, but a mechanism moving the snow). Usually, this impeller discharges snow to one side only, unlike a plow that pushes forward and out to both sides.

As you will notice, Greeworks has snow blowers that come in a variety of sizes based on width. Others come in gas-powered models, diesel, or electric power options. There are different sizes for removing only a few inches of snow to a large, wide path of up to 20 feet wide, possibly wider, and as deep as 6 feet.

There are two types of snow blowers, single-stage and two-stage.

Single-Stage Snow Blowers

A person with a green jacket using a snow blower
Image credits: Tim GG Via Pexels

The single-stage snow blower pulls snow into the machine using the auger (which is a paddle mechanism that you can see from the front) and directs it out of a discharge chute. They're great for paved surfaces like sidewalks and driveways.

  • Have a soft rubber auger.
  • Clears snow to a maximum depth of 8 inches.
  • They're effective for smaller driveways and pathways.
  • They have simple controls, making it easy to maneuver.
  • Their compact size enables them to clear snow quicker than a two-stage unit.

Two-Stage Snow Blowers

Two-stage blowers use an auger to pull the snow into the machine and feed it into the high-speed impeller. Using the impeller, the blower directs the snow out through the discharge chute. A two-stage snow blower can handle greater depths of snow than a single-stage snow blower.

  • Effective for handling snow on any surface.
  • Two-stage blowers are mainly used to clear snow in large areas.
  • Clears snow to a maximum depth of 24 inches.
  • A two-stage snow blower has a large metal auger.

A snow blower is an effective snow-clearing equipment that will make your work easier in winter. But before buying one from Snow Joe, it's essential to understand the pros and cons of this snow equipment.

Pros

Cons

An electric snow thrower makes clearing snow much easier.

Snow blowers may break down when needed.

An electric snow blower may be self-propelled, so the job is effortless.

They don’t always start immediately, especially if stored in a cold garage or shed.

Snow blowers are faster than snow shoveling.

A snow blower will take up more space than a manual shovel.

A snow blower can clear a reasonably wide path.

They are more costly to buy and maintain.

A single-stage snow blower's auger comes into contact with the ground, which makes it unsuitable for dirt surfaces. A two-stage snow blower's auger doesn't touch the ground, so you can use it on unpaved surfaces.

Everything You Need to Know About Electric Snow Shovels

Learn why electric snow shovels are effective in small areas

Electric snow shovels are, in many ways, similar to snow blowers. When you turn on the power to these beauties, they start sucking up the snow and tossing it to the side, out of your way. They usually give you a path 12 inches wide in snow up to 8 inches deep. They’re more compact than snow blowers, though, making them a bit easier to store.

  • Electric snow shovels are generally more helpful for smaller areas, such as clearing stairways or decks.
  • They use a lightweight design, which makes them easier to maneuver.
  • Electric snow shovels have an adjustable handle which makes them easier to use by anyone in the family.
  • An electric snow shovel may come with headlights, making it easier to remove snow at night.

There is no doubt that electric snow shovels are an excellent innovation in outdoor snow removal. However, before ordering your electric snow shovel, you'll need to learn more about its pros and cons.

Pros

Cons

An electric snow shovel is an excellent option for smaller snow removal jobs.

Electric snow shovels are less powerful than snow blowers.

Electric snow shovels remove snow closer to the pavement for a fine-tuned snow-clearing job.

You will need to replace the battery regularly.

Electric snow shovels are lightweight and compact.

An electric snow shovel is not a reliable option for heavy and deep snow removal.

An electric snow shovel is less expensive than a snow blower.

They are not effective for clearing snow on large surfaces.

As the name suggests, electric snow shovels run on electricity using either a rechargeable battery pack or a corded model. However, it is essential to note that a corded snow shovel is more powerful than a battery-operated one.

Understanding the Differences: Electric Snow Shovel vs Snow Blower

Learn which snow-clearing equipment meets your needs

An electric snow shovel and an electric snow blower play a critical role in clearing snow in your outdoors. They have considerable similarities, which means that you can use either to clear your pathways and driveways in winter. However, understanding their differences can enable you to choose snow equipment that meets your needs.

Snow Blower

Electric Snow Shovel

Useful in both small and large areas.

Useful in small and tight areas.

Snow blowers are expensive to buy.

Electric snow shovels are affordable.

It is costly to maintain a snow blower.

Maintaining an electric snow shovel is less expensive.

Can clear deep snow, up to 24 inches deep.

Can only clear snow up to 8 inches deep.

Select a Snow-Clearing Tool That Meets Your Needs

Clearing snow in winter requires the best tools. It is the only way to seamlessly clear your pathways, driveways, patios, and other outdoor areas. However, there is always a debate about which is better, electric snow shovel vs snow blower. That's why you need to understand the similarities and differences between an electric snow shovel and a snow blower and get a snow-clearing tool from Snow Joe or Greenworks that meets your needs.

Now that you understand how a snow blower and an electric snow shovel work, share your new found information with your neighbors and help them clear snow this winter.