The need to purchase a snowplow for a summer residence is caused not only to facilitate the work on clearing snow from the area adjacent to the house, but also to take care of the house itself, because timely cleaned snow helps to avoid flooding the basement with meltwater.
Taking into account the fact that there are a lot of snow-removing equipment, it is rather difficult to make the right choice of snowplower, which is necessary for your purposes. To simplify this task, let's try to make a comparative analysis of machines that provide snow cleaning.
Self-propelled or non-self-propelled?
Determining the choice of a self-propelled or non-self-propelled vehicle is the physical capabilities of its future owner. However, both types of machines have certain characteristics that must also be taken into account.
Characterizing the non-self-propelled snowplows, it is worth noting that they have a rubberized screw that does not harm the surface to be cleaned. Such machines are ideal for cleaning small areas and paths from freshly fallen snow. They are characterized by a relatively low price and the ability to throw snow at 3-5 meters, but on condition that the snow mass did not have time to freeze and cake up. Managing a similar machine, the operator must apply considerable physical effort, which increases on uneven and inclined terrain.
Self-propelled snow-removing machine easily copes with snow cleaning of any density. The rate of operation of this unit can be selected with the help of gears in such a way that it corresponds to the conditions as much as possible. On professional models, joysticks are installed, which make the machine control easy and intuitive. However, these machines are not without flaws. The first thing that catches your eye even during harvesting is that on the decorative coatings and paved paths and even concrete floors in the garage there are traces of working teeth. The use of self-propelled snow-removing machines is economically unprofitable in small areas, since the cost of fuel is economically impractical.
Single- or two-stage?
The snow-removal machine is considered to be single-stage, if only an auger is installed. In the same case, when there is a pair of auger rotor, the machine is considered two-stage. The rotor serves to increase the distance to which the retracted snow is thrown away, and is installed only on self-propelled models. Making a choice between a one- and two-stage machine, it should be understood that it is simply not necessary to drop snow over long distances within small areas.
Snow drift power and range
It is a mistake to assume that the higher the power and the longer the snow emission range, the better the machine. Selecting these two characteristics, it is necessary to proceed from the dimensions of the site where this snow-picker will be used.
| Cleared area, sq. M. | 500-600 | 600-1500 | 1500-3500 | 3500-5000 |
| Rational power, hp | 5-6,5 | 8 | 10-10,5 | 13 |
| Rational emission range, m | 5-6 | 7-9 | 10-12 | 10-15 |
Electric or gasoline?
The solution of this issue also depends on the specific operating conditions. For example, if the area of the site where snow is to be removed is not large, then the use of a powerful and quite voracious four-stroke gasoline engine will not be economically feasible. Proceeding from this, it is better to clean small areas with snow-removing machines that have electric motors.
Caterpillars or wheels?
Choosing between a tracked or wheeled snow-removing machine, you should take into account some of the nuances that may arise when operating it. If during the harvesting of the snow the car will need to be turned frequently enough, it is worth giving preference to the unit on wheels with the possibility of blocking them. If the snow is removed on the slides, curbs or there will be a need to move the machine along the steps, it is worth choosing in favor of the caterpillar variant, since it is more practical for inclined surfaces. In addition, similar machines have the ability to adjust balancing.
Additional elements that increase the efficiency of the snow-removing machine
On modern snow-removing machines there is a transmission, in which there can be up to 6 gears. If other parameters have already been selected, the preference should be given to the machine whose number of transmissions is larger, since this will facilitate the choice of the optimal rate of operation.
The presence of a deflector in a snow-removing machine greatly simplifies the entire process of snow removal, since the snow mass is thrown with it to where it is needed. On simple models, the deflector adjustment is manual. More complex and expensive machines can have on their control panel joysticks that provide the process of adjusting the deflector.
Many users like the function of heating the handles, while some completely deny it is advisable, since the snow melts on them, making the hands wet.
