If you are preparing yourself for the onslaught of winter as the season of the snow stuff quickly approaches, there is one thing you should consider investing in if you haven’t already done so. We are, of course, referring to a snow blower. Yes, the easiest way to shift the white stuff when it starts to fall and lay on the ground so that your day to day life is a little easier.
However, it is important to note that you can’t just buy any snowblower if your driveway is made from gravel. While it’s true that there are many different models out there, not all are suitable for every surface. If you are struggling to understand which you should be using, you’ve come to the right place.
Remember, it’s not us just being persnickety, having to repair a damaged gravel driveway will be more expensive and more of a nuisance than spending a little more on the right snowblower in the first place.
Looking for a way to make this winter a little easier? It might be a good idea to look for road salt for sale before conditions deteriorate. This is perfect for those who want to be able to clear their driveway or sidewalk with ease. Road salt brings the freezing temperature of water down below zero, so if you’re expecting a cold night, it can help reduce ice and snow build-up.
The key to removing snow from any driveway is with a snow blower, but how do you choose the right one? We have some helpful tips to help you make the right decision.
Avoid a Single Stage Snow Blower
If you look anywhere, the advice will be basically the same – under no circumstances should you entertain the idea of using a single-stage snow blower for gravel driveways. Why? Essentially, it is down to the fact that the impellers and augers on these models are set so low, they can actually cause damage to your gravel driveway. As we highlighted at the outset, this is something you will definitely want to avoid.
However, we understand that not everyone has the budget for more expensive models, so if you were going to opt for a single-stage blower, we suggest that you invest in some additional shoes for your blower in the form of little skids to help raise it off the ground a little further.
Opt for a Two-Stage Snow Blower
Especially if your area is prone to heavy snowstorms, you should always choose the largest snow blower you can afford, and when it is going to be used on a gravel driveway, we would highly recommend a two-stage model as the impeller and auger are set much higher in the machine than on single-stage devices.
There is also the fact that they feature motors with higher horsepower, which is ideal if the snow has laid more than 6 inches high. Some great two-stage and even three-stage models are listed at traditionalgardening.com/best-snow-blower-for-gravel-driveways
Pick Longer and Wider Skids
We already mentioned buying skids. On the subject of that, you should look for skids that are longer and wider, as these are less likely to bend when they come across those pesky frozen rocks.
Look for those that are more than an inch in width and 12 inches long for better flow over uneven surfaces, as they will lift the snow blower up more and protect it from rusting and corroding.
Power Steering Is A Good Feature to Have
Again, this might not be great for people with a tight budget, but power steering is an incredibly useful feature to have as it will help you to maneuver your snow blower over gravel surfaces. This is especially the case when the turns are tighter than normal, and you need to put a bit more push and pull into movements.
There you have it; if you are looking to invest in a snow blower and want to know which is best to use on a gravel driveway, we hope the above post has been useful! Stay safe.
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