The snow reports are calling for 6 to 8 inches of snow overnight and you have yet to purchase a snow thrower. You’ve been waiting for someone to come along and tell you everything about snow throwers you ought to know. The first lesson in snow throwers is that they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are both electric and gas powered snow throwers.

The electric blowers are best for short, flat driveways, walkways or even your deck. The power cord will keep you from getting too far away from the house and tends to make maneuverability difficult. They work best with snow less than four inches deep.

There are two types of gas powered engines, the single stage and the two stage. The single stage works on areas similar to that of the electric thrower but also works in snow up to 8 inches deep. They have a two–cycle engine which means they need a mixture of oil and gasoline.

The two stage throwers are heavier and more expensive than the other throwers. They also work great on gravel drives, unlike the electric and single stage throwers. The two stage thrower can handle snow depth of more than eight inches.

Many dealerships will have multiple throwers on hand for you to test out. You’ll want to make sure you are getting one that has the correct height so as to not to hurt your back. You’ll also want to keep safety in mind. The snow blowers don’t just pick up snow, they will also pick up other small items, so be sure to keep children and pets clear of the area in which you're working. Snow throwers cause more than 3,000 finger injuries each year. Most models now come with a plastic clearing tool, be sure to use this tool and not your fingers to clear the chute.

Now you know everything you ought to know about snow blowers, so go on out and get the snow thrower that works best for your property. You’ll have no reason to fear the snow reports now.