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Are snow blowers worth the money?
I guess this question hinges on the amount of space that needs clearing in a yard. So take my house. I have an average-sized city lot and I need to shovel in front of my house, a path to the porch, the porch stairs, a path from the back door to the garage and in front of my garage. Pretty typical, but a pain in the arse if I don't go with the "look at it as fresh air and exercise" approach to shoveling.
So I decided I would buy a snow blower. And so I went to a few stores that sell snow blowers. And I froze with sticker shock. (But this is common for me. I seem to always think things should cost about half of what they do). I did not buy one, but I have not let go of the thought.
Are snow blowers really worth the money? Is it one of those purchases that "pays for itself?" Or is it more like a dishwasher, which, in my opinion, is just as much work as hand washing dishes, just different work?
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girl | Jan. 25, 2012 at 11:59 a.m. (report)
Maybe your purchase won't happen for this season, but try checking them out during the summer. The prices will be incredibly lower during the off season.
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jakkalope | Jan. 24, 2012 at 3:52 p.m. (report)
I take that back..downtowners probably do need one after the trucks cave you in.
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jakkalope | Jan. 24, 2012 at 3:51 p.m. (report)
All depends where you live. Most people who live downtown probably do not need one. I live in the burbs with a large circular driveway. Buying a 2-stage when I bought the house was a wise decision. Driveway is done in 20 minutes
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ActionDan | Jan. 23, 2012 at 12:43 p.m. (report)
First thing I bought when I got my house. Single stage model has worked great for me even when we had the 15+" snowfall last year. And it's so lightweight, I was able to throw it in a car and go help my friends clear their driveways, as well.
I use a shovel to clear my steps and that's it; I don't mind shoveling, but I can do my whole driveway and sidewalks in under 20 minutes with the snowblower and the time saved is what makes it worth the $$$.
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dsquared | Jan. 23, 2012 at 12:38 p.m. (report)
This *woman* says: buy one! I love mine. I also love the idea of an electric one and the idea of sharing the cost with a neighbor. I've done that -- shared cost of a rototiller -- and it worked-out beautifully.
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