Buy a snowblower or hire a snow plowing service?

[Murdoc]

I'm about to spend my first winter in my own house. In preparation for the snowy season, I'm trying to decide whether to buy a snowblower to clear the driveway, or sign up for a snow plowing contract.

The driveway is single width, but about 5 car lengths long with a detached garage at the end.

I'm leaning toward getting a snowblower under the pessimistic premise that the only way to do things right, and reliably, is to do it yourself. Also, I think I would save money in the long run.

What does ATOT recommend?

 

[AdamK47]

Just build up speed before entering the driveway. No need to clear it.

 

[lxskllr]

4wd four-wheeler with a plow. That way you have a fun toy when it isn't snowing.

 

[sdifox]

snow blower. Mine is ten year old, the electric starter just went, but it is easily replaceable.

 

[Krazy4Real]

snowblower

 

[IronWing]

An honest man would buy a shovel. How much can it possibly snow in Rochester?

 

[sdifox]

An honest man would buy a shovel.

I shovel when it is the fluffy stuff. No way am I risking my back for wet snow.

 

[rsbennett00]

My house had a corner lot, 2 car garage, about 3 car lengths long and cost $20 per visit to clear. How much is a decent snow blower? $400? So that's 20 visits plus time and energy. How often do you get enough snow to remove? For us it's about 4 times a year so that's 5 years worth of removal.

I didn't buy a snow blower.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

This is ATOT. Build this and drop an LS3 into it.

 

[LegendKiller]

My house had a corner lot, 2 car garage, about 3 car lengths long and cost $20 per visit to clear. How much is a decent snow blower? $400? So that's 20 visits plus time and energy. How often do you get enough snow to remove? For us it's about 4 times a year so that's 5 years worth of removal.

I didn't buy a snow blower.

I kind of agree - however, you also have to include whether or not you can get them to come when you want/need, how good of a job they are going to do, and how long you have to do that.

I have a corner lot also, about 250' of sidewalk plus 3 car garage at 3 car lengths and I saw neighbors weighting 1/2 to a full day to get plowed a couple times last year. When SHTF on a snow storm you don't want to be waiting for some guy to come bail you out, nor do you want to be shoveling 12"+ of snow.

I ended up buying an Ariens 28 Deluxe +, 28" 305cc, about 1G. That thing is built like a tank and will last 10+ years as long as I maintain it (and I do).

 

[olds]

Lived in Tahoe for years and only used a shovel.

 

[waffleironhead]

Lived in Tahoe for years and only used a shovel.

Yeah, but the wheel hadn't even been invented yet, let alone the snowthrower.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Shovel is best option, snowblower is 2nd best option, plow service is good if you are incredibly wealthy.

 

[olds]

Yeah, but the wheel hadn't even been invented yet, let alone the snowthrower.

And the shovels were made of bark and the driveway was uphill both ways.

 

[rsbennett00]

I kind of agree - however, you also have to include whether or not you can get them to come when you want/need, how good of a job they are going to do, and how long you have to do that.

I have a corner lot also, about 250' of sidewalk plus 3 car garage at 3 car lengths and I saw neighbors weighting 1/2 to a full day to get plowed a couple times last year. When SHTF on a snow storm you don't want to be waiting for some guy to come bail you out, nor do you want to be shoveling 12"+ of snow.

I ended up buying an Ariens 28 Deluxe +, 28" 305cc, about 1G. That thing is built like a tank and will last 10+ years as long as I maintain it (and I do).

You need to establish an SLA of course. My agreement was clean by 8am or that plowing was free.

 

[DrPizza]

My house had a corner lot, 2 car garage, about 3 car lengths long and cost $20 per visit to clear. How much is a decent snow blower? $400? So that's 20 visits plus time and energy. How often do you get enough snow to remove? For us it's about 4 times a year so that's 5 years worth of removal.

I didn't buy a snow blower.

He's in Rochester. So, using your math, he'll save money by buying the snowblower.

I second the option of getting a 4wd four wheeler with a plow. But, don't be looking for one on the Rochester Craigslist. (I've been looking for a used 4-wheeler. By reroofing my house myself, I saved enough money that my wife okayed the purchase.)

 

[Elixer]

Come on, global warming is going on.. you don't need a snowblower or a snow plow service. ()

If you get a service, then, they usually don't come more than 1 or 2 times a day (this neck of the woods, they charge $30 each time they show up--some even say they came X times a day, when they clearly didn't and expect you to pay it. Lots of scammers out there.).
They might or might not do good work, and it is hard to find people who are actually insured, in the case they damage something.
The good thing is, you don't have to worry about getting up to clean the driveway, so it is convenient.

The snowblower it a mixed bag. Some are good, others are crap, and it is really pretty hard to return the suckers, especially if you get a 2 stage unit, if you don't like it.
The biggest con with this, besides having to use it, is maintenance, especially 2 stage units. The local dealer wants $100-$150 for a "tune up" per season.
Add in the cost of fuel, oil, and your time.
If you don't get lots of heavy wet snow, then you don't need the 2 stage units.

Is it worth it ? It depends how much snow is going to fall, and how much you like cold weather.

 

[AnMig]

4wd four-wheeler with a plow. That way you have a fun toy when it isn't snowing.

I have one of these but in hindsight a snow thrower attachment os much better. With a small plow on an ATV there comes a time where you can really push against the high snow bank you have created and your road becomes narrower and narrower.

I have a combination ATV snow plow and a walk behind snow thrower. Then again its Winter 7 months out of the year up here in Northern Minnesota.

Paying somebody 20$ every time it snows sounds like a good plan given the ammount of time you save for yourself.

Already have someone mowing my lawn during the summer, winter plowing is next.

My vote pay someone to plow for you.
Next best thing snow thrower

Peace

 

[sdifox]

My house had a corner lot, 2 car garage, about 3 car lengths long and cost $20 per visit to clear. How much is a decent snow blower? $400? So that's 20 visits plus time and energy. How often do you get enough snow to remove? For us it's about 4 times a year so that's 5 years worth of removal.

I didn't buy a snow blower.

If you only get snow four times a year, then you don't need snow blower.

 

[Midwayman]

My house had a corner lot, 2 car garage, about 3 car lengths long and cost $20 per visit to clear. How much is a decent snow blower? $400? So that's 20 visits plus time and energy. How often do you get enough snow to remove? For us it's about 4 times a year so that's 5 years worth of removal.

I didn't buy a snow blower.

I wish it were that cheap here. $40 a visit, $80 over 8" or $200 a month was what we were being quoted. Then they didn't bother to show up after a huge 2' dump we got while I was on vacation and left if there for over a week. Came home to a chest high snow drift at the driveway. That's a short driveway too.

If you don't get really frequent or super heavy snows you can get an electric blower for $100-150. Doesn't take long for that to be worth it.

 

[Printer Bandit]

 

[IronWing]

At least wear gloves, man.

 

[Mai72]

 

[JamesV]

My snow plow guy arrives around 5-6 AM clockwork, and I pay for the whole season based on possible number of plows; last year got about 20 free plows over what I paid.

It all depends on price though. My riding mower died, and I figured I'll save a ton of money by having this guy do it for me. He only charges $15 a pop, and just left 24 bags of leaves on my front lawn to be picked up (try to find someone to do leaves that will do a 1/4 acre of heavily wooded lawn for $15). Got a similar good deal with the snowplow guy.

 

[dmcowen674]

Buy a snowblower or hire a snow plowing service?

I'm about to spend my first winter in my own house. In preparation for the snowy season, I'm trying to decide whether to buy a snowblower to clear the driveway, or sign up for a snow plowing contract.

What does ATOT recommend?

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