Winter is almost with us and if the weather forecasts are anything to go by we can expect that snowfall will be rather heavy this year. Your patio, walkways and other parts of your yard will need to be shoveled on a regular basis.
Using a plain shovel can get the job done, but it is back-breaking, time consuming work. Luckily for you, there are electric snow thrower available in the market that can get the job done much faster and with little effort.
An electric snow shovel is a tool that is plugged into an outlet (or battery powered) and then run over snow. It is fitted with an auger that throws snows to the left or right or in front of you leaving your walkways, stairs, decks and patio clear.
What is the difference between an electric snow blower and an electric snow shovel?
This is an excellent question – if you already have a snow blower why should you spend money on a snow thrower? There are a couple of reasons why an electric snow pusher is such a good idea. The first is that it is designed for use in small spaces.
If you have ever tried to use an electric snow blower on a deck or patio you know just how difficult it can be to get it in place. These machines tend to be bigger and heavier than snow shovels, and even if you succeed in getting them in place you may not get to all the snow.
Another difference between snow blowers and snow shovels is that snow shovels are smaller and therefore do not require that much room to store. Some even come with handles that can be folded in so that they can be stashed away easily. In addition to that, snow shovels also require little or no maintenance unlike electric snow blowers. If you don’t have a big yard and a long driveway you will be better served by an electric snow thrower.
A glance at 10 of the best electric snow shovels in the market
Name |
Width and Weight |
Warranty |
Amazon Rating |
Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
18 inches, 15 lbs |
2 years |
4.5 |
||
13 inches, 14.5 lbs |
2 years |
4 |
||
12 inches, 14 lbs |
4 years |
3.5 |
||
13 inches, 13.8 lbs |
2 years |
4 |
||
14 inches, 16 lbs |
2 years |
4 |
||
16 inches, 19 lbs |
2 years |
4 |
||
11 inches, 13.8 lbs |
2 years |
4 |
||
12 inches, 12.5 lbs |
2 years |
4 |
||
16 inches, 26 lbs |
4 years |
4 |
||
10 inches, 11 lbs |
2 years |
5 |
The benefits of owning an electric snow shovel
It may seem obvious that if someone wants to clear a large amount of snow the best tool to use is a snow blower – they have more powerful engines and they work faster. While that may be true, snow blowers are designed to work on long driveways. If you have a smaller property and you buy a snow blower instead of a snow pusher you will experience several inconveniences, the first being that it will not get to those hard to reach places. If, for example, you want to clear snow off a small deck a snow blower just won’t get the job done – it may get rid of the snow that is right in the middle, but it will not clear snow off the edges of the deck. There are other benefits to investing in a snow pusher:
What should you take into account when shopping for an electric snow shovel?
When shopping for an electric snow shovel you will come across many different brands which can be confusing – how do you know which one will get the job done? The answer is simple; consider your needs as well as the features of the snow shovel that you have in mind to help you make the best choice. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you shop:
Amperage
It is very important to look at the amperage on any electric snow shovel that you have in mind. Most homes have breaker boxes that are designed to take about 16 amps before they blow, so if you buy a snow shovel that has high amperage you will be forced to disconnect other electrical appliances every time you run it. Fortunately, the best ones are usually between 8 and 10 amps. It is important to mention that this is why some people prefer to buy snow shovels instead of snow blowers, most of which come in at over 15 amps. That said, you shouldn’t buy a snow shovel with very low amperage as this affects performance – it will not be able to cut as wide or go as deep, which means you have to work harder to clear snow.
Intake height
This is the depth of snow that the snow shovel takes in at one sweep. If you live in an area that has heavy snow fall you are better off with a snow shovel that has a significant intake height. If, for example, you buy one that can only cut 4 inches at a time and you get snowfall that leaves 6 inches on your walkway or patio you will have to run the snow shovel twice before you can get the area cleared. Not a pleasant task when you consider that all the while you will be in freezing conditions.
Clearing width
Clearing width is the width of the auger of the snow shovel – the bigger it is, the more snow you are able to get in one sweep. This translates into less time spent shoveling away snow. However, you should be careful not to buy a snow shovel that is wider than necessary – it will be very hard to run it in narrow areas and corners.
Power drive in the auger
The auger is the blade inside the snow shovel that cuts the snow and throws it either forwards or sideways. In order for it to do this it has to be powered. If your snow shovel comes with a good power drive you need to do very little work, but if you buy one that doesn’t have a power drive you will have to supply all the power yourself – back breaking work that you would rather avoid.
Accessories
The cheaper an electric snow shovel is, the fewer the accessories it will have. While accessories are not a must have they are great to have. They include things like LED lights which make it easy to clear snow in the dark, heated handles to stop your fingers from freezing, auxiliary handles for easier maneuverability, a locking mechanism for the extension cord and more.
The snowfall in your area
While a snow shovel is an excellent tool to have, if you get more than average snow falls it can be quite inept – it will take a lot of work to clear your driveway. You may want to invest in a snow blower instead.
An In-depth look into the top electric snow shovels of 2018
1. Mantis IM8120 Snow Thrower
Top Features :
PROS
CONS
2. Snow Joe iON13SS Cordless Snow Shovel
Top Features :
PROS
CONS
Bottom line :
Snow Joe is one of the leading manufacturers of snow shovels and this one is definitely one of their best. It may be a bit expensive but it is designed to last and requires very little, if any, maintenance.
3. GreenWorks 2600802 Corded Snow Shovel
PROS
CONS
Bottom line :
This is another excellent snow shovel especially considering its price. However, don’t expect it to do a very good job if you want to clear very deep snow – you will have to run it over the area several times.
4. Snow Joe 323E 13-Inch 10-Amp Electric Snow Shovel
PROS
CONS
Bottom line :
Again, this is an excellent tool to have when you consider what it can do, and that it doesn’t cost you that much. Don’t let the plastic auger scare you – many people are able to use it with perfect ease.
5. Earthwise SN74014 40V Electric Snow Shovel, 14″ Cordless
PROS
CONS
Some people have described this snow shovel as looking girly, but do not be deceived – for how much it costs it does an excellent job and it will last a while.
Conclusion
There is no need to invest in a heavy duty snow thrower when you can easily get your yard cleared using an electric snow shovel – its smaller, easier to use and can clear snow in places where a blower cannot. Electric snow shovels are also cheaper but they do an excellent job.