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Snowblower or plow service?

#1
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11/6/08 at 5:49pm
  • Joined: March 2001
  • Location: Rochester, NY
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For the first time, I'm looking at plow service or buying a snowblower for the winter and I'm looking for opinons.

I've always driven through the snow in the mornings, and shoveled as needed. But I'm tired of the shoveling and don't want to have the occaisional late at work due to fighting with snow in the drive.

Plow service is about $200 for the season. A new snowblower is $600 - $800 (single stage gas); notionally it would pay for itself in four years (max).

Plow service is an annual expense, but ideally requires no work on my part. When I'm ready to go to work, the plow fairies have cleared my drive already. The snowblower still requires me to deal with the drive first thing in the morning; but it also means I can deal with snow in the evenings or with a light snow that the plow service wouldn't get to.

What do you think? I hear neighbors semi-grumble about buying expensive blowers and never using them. But when I'm out shoveling and see a neighbor eating it up with a blower, I'm a bit jealous. And when I see the plow truck drive by, I wonder why they don't stop and try to sell me a contract on the spot
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#2
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11/7/08 at 4:27am
  • Joined: March 1999
  • Location: NJ
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Re: Snowblower or plow service?

Do you have a good reliable snow plow service, consider that too. It would really suck to pay $200 per season and then have the guy show up after you leave from work, etc. etc. I'm a DIY so I would rather have the snowplow if you think you're going to live in your current residence for say 3 years (based on your costs $200/season vrs a $600 snowblower)

But don't forget to add costs of maintenance on the snowblower.... gas.. oil changes, belts (that break occasionally)...


I don't snowblow or shovel, I have a subaru. I'll just shovel out whatever the plow makes but I get fine with AWD and snow tires....

Jay

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#3
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11/7/08 at 4:55am
  • Joined: December 1998
  • Location: Michigan
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Re: Snowblower or plow service?

$600 - $800 for a single stage snow thrower seems high. I paid a little over $400 for a Craftsman 5Hp single stage w/ electric starter a few years ago. You should be able to get a two stage for that price.
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#4
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11/7/08 at 5:29am
  • Joined: March 2001
  • Location: Rochester, NY
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Re: Snowblower or plow service?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott Merryfield
$600 - $800 for a single stage snow thrower seems high. I paid a little over $400 for a Craftsman 5Hp single stage w/ electric starter a few years ago. You should be able to get a two stage for that price.
I haven't priced carefully. I just checked Consumer Reports, and checked the Toro website. MSRP for a single-stage gas / electric start Toro is $600+. I've not watched retail sale prices or looked at other brands yet.
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#5
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11/7/08 at 6:31am
  • Joined: October 1998
  • Location: Boise ID
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Re: Snowblower or plow service?

Aren't there any teenagers in your neighborhood who'll shovel your drive for $5 a day?

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#6
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11/7/08 at 6:48am
  • Joined: May 2000
  • Location: Metro Detroit
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Re: Snowblower or plow service?

$5 for a driveway? IIRC, the going rate in my low rent Detroit neighborhood was $5 for a 50' sidewalk + front steps. That was 35 years ago.

My Craftsman 5hp hasn't been exactly trouble free, but it's still going strong after 9 years. Whenever there's enough snow to bother with the snowblower (I also drive a Subaru) I get to play good neighbor and clear a couple of sidewalks in either direction. It's too easy to pass up, for a measure of good will.
"Always tell the truth. It's the easiest thing to remember."
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#7
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11/7/08 at 10:00am
  • Joined: February 2002
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Re: Snowblower or plow service?

The plow service would be a lot more wear-and-tear on your lawn, curbing, and/or flower beds, if any of that is near the driveway (they have to push the snow somewhere, and they love to dig that blade right down into the ground). It makes for quite a bit of landscape repair in the spring if it was a snowy winter.

$200/year also sounds low unless there's little snow in your area. Most plows here in Northern New England charge at least $20 per trip (not per storm), and during a big storm they might plow 2-3 times.

Then there's still the fact that as soon as your plow has cleared your driveway, the state/town plow will come along and fill the end of your driveway at the street again. So you will still have to shovel/snow blow some anyway.

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#8
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11/7/08 at 10:04am
  • Joined: October 1998
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Re: Snowblower or plow service?

Give us a clue....how long is your driveway and how much snow does Rochester get? Like NYC or more like Buffalo?

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#9
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11/7/08 at 10:19am
  • Joined: March 1999
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Re: Snowblower or plow service?

I suspect Rochester is more like Buffalo.. NYC gets hardly any snow snow, because 1 day after the snowfall, it all becomes mush and slush and water...

Jay

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#10
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11/7/08 at 10:33am
  • Joined: October 1999
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Re: Snowblower or plow service?

You could move from Rochester to Houston, like I did.
No snow problems.
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#11
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11/7/08 at 11:39am
  • Joined: March 2001
  • Location: Rochester, NY
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Re: Snowblower or plow service?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dennis Nicholls
Aren't there any teenagers in your neighborhood who'll shovel your drive for $5 a day?
$5 for 90 minutes of shoveling at 6am? Is there a timewarp to an alternate 1940 universe in Idaho?

Quote:
Give us a clue....how long is your driveway and how much snow does Rochester get? Like NYC or more like Buffalo?
two-car driveway, 60' long, with 3"+ inches of snow, maybe 10-20 times during the winter. The snow may melt the next day, or turn into 12+" over the next week.

Quote:
You could move from Rochester to Houston, like I did.
Yes, but then I'd live in Houston... (There will be a short-term yr relo to Houston for JWST in a year or so for a number of employees. I've heard nothing good about Houston so far who might be tapped.)
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#12
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11/7/08 at 1:11pm
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Re: Snowblower or plow service?

it doesn't help you now, but Sears usually clearances out their seasonal yard tools for 50% off in the off seasons - I got a chipper/shredder/vac from them that ran great by buying it in the spring.

Not sure how friendly you are with the neighbors, but you could always go in together on the cost of a blower OR buy a used one and let them get the plow service. Or if you have an elderly neighbor, you could offer to clean their drive if they let you use their blower.
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#13
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11/7/08 at 1:50pm
  • Joined: October 1998
  • Location: Boise ID
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Re: Snowblower or plow service?

Quote:
Is there a timewarp to an alternate 1940 universe in Idaho?
Heck, we here just had a Republican sweep in the election. Here all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.

We only get typically 1.5" a night and my driveway is about 30' long.

Feline videophiles Susie and Dukie.

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#14
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11/7/08 at 1:57pm
  • Joined: February 2002
  • Location: Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
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Re: Snowblower or plow service?

I'd go for the snow thrower (I have a 2 stage 20something inch from Sears). It's years old and still works after a belt and carburetor change. I think they can be had for around $500 - $600.
My concern with plowing services would be when they show up vs. when would I need them. Too early and the road plow will plow in the end of your driveway causing you to shovel.
Too late and leaving for work or whatever turns into a PITA.
With the blower, I can get the job done when I need it and go about my business.
The only thing I mind is the fact that I always seem to get a face full of snow when the wind changes.

Lew
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