There’s so much to love about winter! It’s got gorgeous landscapes, cozy fireplaces, and lots of heartwarming family time during the holidays.
But one thing I know everyone dreads during this time is all the snow we have to shovel from our sidewalks and driveways. It’s a tiring winter errand that drains everyone’s energy and takes so long to finish, depending on the inches of snow that blanket your surfaces. Sure, electric or manual snow shovels are great, but if heavy snow is involved, you need something to help you remove the snow with ease.
Luckily, I’ve found a quick fix for all my snowy yard problems, and I want to share with you why I’m buying an electric snow shovel!
Table of Contents
What is an Electric Snow Shovel
If shovels and electric snow blowers had a baby, you’d get the electric snow shovel.
An electric snow shovel is made to quickly clear an area using a powerful machine that scoops up the dry and wet snow and blows it out in another direction. This mechanism is attached to an adjustable handle and can be pushed around your sidewalks, yards, paved driveways, decks, and other outdoor spaces.
Using an electric snow shovel helps you clear your yard quickly, especially if you experience heavy snowfalls. After you’ve cleared away the fluffy snow, you’re left with lots of time on the same day to accomplish more things.
It’s a convenient and efficient solution that helps you spend your time more wisely during long winter days.
How Electric Snow Shovels Affect Your Health
A huge reason why I’m buying an electric snow shovel is due to health and safety!
Like many others, I stuck to my trusty manual shovel because I thought shoveling medium amounts of snow could double as the day’s workout. But we should all ask ourselves— is shoveling snow good for your health, or is it dangerous? Depending on the inches of snow that blanket your yard, shoveling lighter snow is manageable, but removing pounds of snow can be extremely tedious.
Although it resembles a good gym session, shoveling snow can tire you, get your blood pumping, and work your muscles in extreme ways. It’s so demanding that you could face the threat of a heart attack while clearing pounds of snow.
It is concerning enough that people of mature ages and those with health conditions that risk the heart should avoid the task altogether, even if working on flat surfaces. If they stubbornly continue with a traditional shovel, their blood pressure could spike dangerously.
That said, those with good health who regularly engage in strenuous exercises can continue manual snow shoveling safely as long as they don’t over-exert themselves. Even so, it’s still unsafe if you’re dehydrated, improperly dressed, or rushing the work.
Learning all this pushed me to finally take electric snow shovels seriously. Even if I’m used to demanding exercise, I don’t want to test my body or the bodies of my family members who help clear out the snow. With this, no one has to put their bodies through the wringer just to neaten up a winter yard.
Electric snow shovels with a lightweight design don’t just save time and energy, but they could also save everyone from some serious heart stress, especially if you deal with heavier snow.
Choosing an Electric Snow Shovel
To find the perfect one for me, I looked through my fair share of the best electric snow shovel reviews. It taught me to look at three details: power source, snow clearance, and design.
1. Power Source
Electric snow shovels can either be battery-powered or plugged into an outlet.
Cordless model designs are ideal for hard-to-reach areas but come with a time limit, depending on how long it can run for each full charge of its battery. With a rechargeable cordless model, you can go wherever you want but have to work quickly.
Corded electric snow shovels help you work longer, but your work area is limited to the length of your power cord. A limited work area isn’t a problem if you find a long enough cord for your needs. Depending on how you want to use your electric snow shovel, you can decide between a corded electric model and a cordless electric model.
2. Snow Clearance
Always know how much snow per minute you can clear through a single pass to estimate how efficient a shovel will be. The product description will have all the information you need to make your choice.
Apart from product dimensions, make sure that a shovelhead is deep enough to remove the average snowfall depth in your area. Additionally, look at how quickly it works, keeping in mind that double-blade designs operate faster than single-blade shovels.
3. Design
This design refers to how well the rest of a shovel matches your needs. Adjustable height, ergonomic handle, heated handles, user-friendly controls, and easy storage all help distinguish each electric snow shovel model. Ensure that you choose a product design that helps you stay comfortable while working out in the cold.
After considering those three factors, it’s led me to the Earthwise SN70016 Electric Corded Snow Shovel that works best for my yard. This snow shovel can throw up to 430 pounds of snow per minute! With this shovel in my winter arsenal, I don’t feel any dread when thinking of the upcoming winter snowfall.
In Summary
Although the convenience of an electric snow shovel was tempting, it wasn’t enough to sell me on it. What really changed my mind was learning its health benefits.
I’m concerned not just for myself but also for the safety of my family, who all lend a helping hand to clear out the snow. I can rest easier now, knowing that I have the Earthwise SN70016 Electric Corded Snow Shovel in my winter shed.
If you see where I’m coming from and can relate, it might also be time for you to invest in an electric snow shovel of your own to combat deep snowfall!
