I want to get my husband a snow thrower / blower for his birthday... how does electric do vs. gas powered?

Question

We live in South West Michigan, have a driveway wide enough for a two car garage but that isn't very long and have to clear the sidewalk in front of our home also. It seems to me that an electric snow thrower would be ok... especially for the price. But what do you think?

Answer 1

There are advantages & disadvantages to an electric blower. The biggest being the cord you have to trail along with you. Ive repaired more than I care to think of when the owner gets the cord tangled in the auger. The other disadvantage is the loss of power. There is a drop in power when you have to use a long extension cord. Gas machines are more practical in that they do not lose power at any time. They will maintain a steady speed & not lag when they are put to a heavy load. They are more manuverable in tight situations because your not having to constantly move the cord around to avoid running over it. Ask anyone who has owned an electric machine how much fun it is to be tangled up in a stiff cold extension cord. If you live in Michigan my recommendation is to seriuosly consider a gas machine. They are more exspensive to purchase but you won't wear it out in one season either. There are lots of small machines available @ Home Depot & Lowes but my choice would be Craftsman from Sears. Mainly because they stock a large number of parts & have a service department whereas Home & Lowes only carry the basics & have to order the rest. Nothing is more aggravating than to have to shovel snow by hand while waiting a week for a $3.00 part. Just a few things for you to consider. Also keep in mind the electric one doesn't go vroom,vroom like the gas one. Guys love that!!!! He'll be so impressed he'll do every driveway in the neighborhood the first couple of snowfalls. Besides Craftsman are the official tools of Nascar.

Answer 2

Don't know anything about electric, but my husband got a gas powered over 25 years ago and still working fine. We also have a driveway wide enough for a 2 car garage and also when he first got it he cleaned out 2 or 3 of our neighbors and also used it on his mother's. I would gladly recommend gas. (We live in North-Central Indiana, so weather might be similar at times.

Answer 3

Go Gas,,, and Aldara knows MI winters as well as anyone,,,smiles.

With no offense meant, I had to answer and add a comment. I realize what you speak of is a neccesity,,,likely,,, although a shovel works too.

Why I'm chuckling is the ITEM as compared to a GIFT,,,smiles.

I suspect Guys are often OK with TOOLS as gifts, and wonder if Women, particularly a spouse, might show the same joy in getting an iron, or vacuum cleaner as a gift. A labor saving device, designed to be used while engaged in a labor???

Curious that some of us relate appliances to toys, while others might not.

Go Gas, in any case.

Steven Wolf

Answer 4

I own a 23 horse powered gas snow blower, it's had some modifications, a heavy duty hardened crank, over-sized pistons, a bigger carb & exsahust, just so I can have fun throwing it into the neibours feilds & across the road, it's like watching fire works it the winter time when I do the driveway lol

Answer 5

The electric ones are cheaper but they don't have as much power as the gas ones, And you don't have to mess with the extension cords and risk getting shocked in wet snow.

Answer 6

Definitely go with the gas - thats half the fun for the men, electrical ones come off as "sissy", little power and not as fun. With a gas one, at least he can pretend its a chainsaw.

Answer 7

When he's fifty feet away from the plug in, and fighting with the cord, maybe after he tangles it in the blades. Ask him then, what he thinks of it? you know what I mean?