***Official 2021 Weather Thread***
- Thread starter ClonesTwenty1
- Start date
Earl says NE Iowa gonna get it this weekend...
So a good snowblower costs $1,000 brand new. Let’s say you use it 5 times a year on average and it lasts you 15 winters. $1,000/75 total uses = $13.33 per use. I’ll just keep shoveling 
Depending on the size of your driveway, the $13.33 per use doesn't sound too bad. I was lucky enough to find a used one for about $150 and it's lasted 6 years so far.So a good snowblower costs $1,000 brand new. Let’s say you use it 5 times a year on average and it lasts you 15 winters. $1,000/75 total uses = $13.33 per use. I’ll just keep shoveling
So a good snowblower costs $1,000 brand new. Let’s say you use it 5 times a year on average and it lasts you 15 winters. $1,000/75 total uses = $13.33 per use. I’ll just keep shoveling
I use mine I would say about twice that much. I also blew out my moms driveway when she lived behind us. Had it for about 10 years now, has another 20 years in it as long as I don't do something stupid with it.
So a good snowblower costs $1,000 brand new. Let’s say you use it 5 times a year on average and it lasts you 15 winters. $1,000/75 total uses = $13.33 per use. I’ll just keep shoveling
Granted I got mine as a hand me down from my grandfather but my dad and I have identical Toro's that are now on their 20th season showing no signs of slowing down. I have already used it at least four times this season and it looks like I will be using it again this weekend along with at least once next week. They are pricey but they certainly have a great value proposition.
I had a snapper that when I accidentily shredded the gear box and took it in, looked almost new. That was about 10 years old at the time. The gear box was nearly half the cost of the blower and I wanted a more powerful one for where I live so I jumped up to an Ariens at the time. I live on the NW corner of a town and get it the worst of anyone.
So a good snowblower costs $1,000 brand new. Let’s say you use it 5 times a year on average and it lasts you 15 winters. $1,000/75 total uses = $13.33 per use. I’ll just keep shoveling
$13.33 for the equipment. What is your time worth to you?
Definitely depends on size of driveway and how much sidewalk. We bought our first house this year and it is a corner lot. I don't remember what day it was, but we got a 6" wet, heavy snow in early December in Ames. If a snow blower salesman drove by our house that day he would have been able to name the price and we would have paid.
Went the next week about bought an Ariens 24" Compact and haven't felt for a minute that it wasn't worth it.
My wife took over my snowblower last snowstorm. Now I have to shovel. I have used the leaf blower to clean a couple vehicles that sit outside, saved me from having soaked gloves right away.
Had a big Ariens 2 stage that I lost in my divorce. Other than not seeing my kids as much it was by far the thing that I miss the most from my first marriage, lol.
When the fiance and I bought our current home all I had was her little MTD single stage. When the first snow that year hit, as I stood there watching my neighbor with his two stage with tracks, I never felt quite so inadequate. Luckily I found a nice Craftsman 2 stage that was only a couple years old reasonably priced. When the next snow hit I was able to hold my head high as a man as I tossed snow 30 ft this way and that.
When the fiance and I bought our current home all I had was her little MTD single stage. When the first snow that year hit, as I stood there watching my neighbor with his two stage with tracks, I never felt quite so inadequate. Luckily I found a nice Craftsman 2 stage that was only a couple years old reasonably priced. When the next snow hit I was able to hold my head high as a man as I tossed snow 30 ft this way and that.
Leaf blower is vastly underutilized as a snow removal tool.
In you equation you did not take into account the size of the area (driveway/sidewalk) that you have to clear too. Say you have a small area of 500 sqft ($13.33/500=$0.026) or you have a larger area of 1,200 sqft- ($13.33/1,200=$0.011) that would give you a better breakdown of your cost.So a good snowblower costs $1,000 brand new. Let’s say you use it 5 times a year on average and it lasts you 15 winters. $1,000/75 total uses = $13.33 per use. I’ll just keep shoveling
So a good snowblower costs $1,000 brand new. Let’s say you use it 5 times a year on average and it lasts you 15 winters. $1,000/75 total uses = $13.33 per use. I’ll just keep shoveling
Let's say that snowblower saves you 1 hr per use compared to the shovel. So, you're getting 5 hours per year back for about $67 each year.
On the whole, you're saving 75 hours over the course of 15 years which is equivalent to about 3 days of your time back. I will glady spend $1000 to gain 3 extra days of free time back over a span of 15 yrs. I can always make more money, haven't found a way to get time back though.
THIS!
Bought a back pack blower in the fall. That thing will move a brick across the driveway let alone a few inches of snow .... as long as it isn't a wet snow.
So a good snowblower costs $1,000 brand new. Let’s say you use it 5 times a year on average and it lasts you 15 winters. $1,000/75 total uses = $13.33 per use. I’ll just keep shoveling
Part of this answer depends on your personal situation. How big is your driveway? Where does snow tend to cause big drifts at your house?
Snowblowers aren't going to pass many ROI tests but shoveling kills people and you won't be 25 years old forever. I shoveled my way out of a big blizzard once and vowed never to do it again.
How much does one account for the pain and anguish of having to shovel compared to using snow blower? That price has to be pretty high considering a lot of folks will suffer from the aches and pains that come with shoveling for days.
Blizzards on the farm were never fun!! Always remember having to shovel 4' tall drifts if not taller away from waters and feeders along with hog pens.
Here is my math when it comes to shoveling a big storm:
3 full passes driveway+sidewalk+steps = 1 entire small round Costco cake that I can eat when I’m done
