Entry-level single-stage snowblowers are engineered to clear your sidewalk and driveway without draining your bank account.
However, these snow blowers feature fewer frills, like smaller clearing widths, less powerful engines and basic hand-crank chutes.
Despite their more affordable price tags, you still need to make a handful of decisions before buying.
If you have the strength and stamina to pull start a snowblower, it's acceptable to save some money and go with a recoil start model.
On the other hand, if your throwing shoulder has seen better days, save your arm some agony and invest in an electric start model instead.
Let's be honest. Chutes on entry-level models are very manual. Yes, you will save money, but all that cranking can make you mighty cranky.
If you want to make snow blowing a breeze, you should consider upgrading to a mid-grade model with a more sophisticated chute.
Do you know the difference between 2-cycle and 4-cycle engines? The smoke-belching, two-cycle snow blowers from your childhood are as dead as dial-up internet service.
Modern four-cycle snow blowers no longer require mixing the perfect concoction of gas and oil. You simply add gas to the gas tank and oil into the engine just like your lawnmower.