How To Choose The Right Snow Blower
Step 2: Snow Blower Quality
Snow blower quality is broken down into the categories of consumer, prosumer, and professional. Unlike single stage snow blowers, which are only consumer quality,
two stage snow blowers can be found in all three categories when it comes to quality.
Below, you can read about what defines each category to decide whether a consumer, prosumer, or professional quality snow blower is right for you.
Consumer Two Stage Snow Blowers
Consumer two stage snow blowers are great for the homeowner who wants the extra power and size to tackle the deep snow drifts that single stage snow blowers cannot handle.
With a consumer two stage snow blower you can throw snow further and clear a wider path than a single stage model.
A consumer two stage snow blower can be thought of as the base model of the two stage family.
They can handle the job for a lower cost, but without the extra features and added durability of a prosumer or professional quality snow blower.
Prosumer Two Stage Snow Blowers
Prosumer two stage snow blowers are larger, blow snow farther, and are more durable than a consumer quality snow blower.
They perform at nearly the same level as professional snow blowers, but may not have all of the same heavy duty features.
Prosumer two stage snow blowers have bigger, more powerful engines, larger augers and impellers, and more durable parts like steel chutes and heavy duty gear cases.
They also have standard features like headlights and interlock controls (which allow the user to have a hand free to control speed or chute direction during operation).
Prosumer two stage snow blowers also have many other features that vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Professional Two Stage Snow Blowers
Professional two stage snow blowers are high performance machines with commercial grade parts. They are built to last, can handle a heavy workload, and clear snow quickly and efficiently.
Professional snow blowers have powerful engines, large augers and impellers, and parts like the auger, chute, and gear box made from steel or cast iron.
They have standard features like headlights and interlock controls (which allow the user to have one hand free to control speed or chute direction during operation),
but many also have electric or key start, hand warming grips, and remote chute direction control standard.