When a fresh batch of snow falls overnight, it is important to get out and take care of things, so it doesn’t hinder the rest of the day. For many people at home, using a snowblower is part of the winter experience. It is never labeled as particularly enjoyable, but people understand it is necessary to function as normal.
While snowblowers work, one problem a lot of people run into is just how loud they are. Since snowblowers are commonly operated during the early part of the day, these loud machines could wake up other family members or neighbors. Even worse, extended exposure to the loud noise could do some damage to a person’s ears.
The perfect solution? Finding a quiet snowblower that is still extremely effective. It might seem like a dream scenario for some, but companies are releasing new models all the time that help out.
Before diving into the best snowblower options out there, why is it such a noisy experience? Is there anything that a person can do to limit the sound?
Quietest Options – Electric vs. Gas Snowblowers
There are many different reasons why people buy an electric snow blower over a gas option and vice versa. From a sound perspective, electric blowers will be quieter more often than not. Of course, this only makes a difference if the electric snowblower is powerful enough to take care of the amount of space you’ll be cleaning.
Most electric options are going to be smaller, less powerful, and a fairly simple single-stage machine. If it is cordless, it might not have a battery that lasts long enough to take care of an entire area without waiting for recharging.
A gas-powered snowblower will handle any type of heavy-duty job. They come in many different sizes, but people must be aware that they are usually significantly louder. A huge machine will be pretty loud, so use it with some caution around people who live in the area. The last thing a person wants to do is frustrate everyone else, even if the work is necessary.
There is also the need to make sure that a proper amount of gas is available at all times. People buy a snowblower so they can clean everything off and go about their day normally. If it doesn’t work, there is no way to go out and buy gas for it first.
5 Quiet Snowblower Options Available
1. Earthwise SN74018 Cordless Electric Snow Blower
It’s hard to find much wrong with this electric, cordless snow blower. Earthwise provides everything a person could ask for, all while making it affordable. From 16 inches to 22 inches, various sizes are depending on how much work needs to be done. Above all else, it’s one of the quietest operating machines out there.
Electric snowblowers have a reputation for not moving particularly quickly, or for handling a heavy workload. The 40 V motor is battery powerful and capable of clearing width of 18 inches and a depth of 12 inches at a time. That leads to around 500 pounds of snow per minute that can be blown 30 feet away.
There is the advantage of having an electric set up that is entirely cordless, but buying one that remains plugged in will save it all depends on if a person needs that cordless capability or not.
2. Snow Joe SJ615E Electric Single Stage Snow Thrower | 15-Inch | 11 Amp Motor
For an inexpensive option that can tackle any smaller area, it is hard to beat this price point. That’s right, for under $100, this provides some of the best quick snow throwing for small driveways and walkways. It is completely powered by electric, using and 11 amp motor that can move 440 pounds of snow per minute.
Since it is a single-stage snow thrower, it does have some limitations. People should not be expecting to get a ton of usage out of this on a single charge. It’s meant for smaller areas, and cannot handle longer jobs.
Another bonus of this option is the fact that it is so lightweight and easy to maneuver. Some of the snowblowers out there become a little too heavy, making it impossible for smaller and weaker people to operate.
It might take a little more time to get the same job done compared to some other snowblowers out there, but it’s still efficient enough to make it very valuable.
3. Poulan Pro PR300, 30 in. 254cc LCT Two-Stage Snow Blower
For the average person, investing in this option from Poulan Pro is probably too much of a snowblower. However, people who have large areas to cover or only business will benefit greatly from a two-stage snow blower of this magnitude. It has everything a person could ever ask for, and the sound is pretty controlled overall for something so powerful.
Most snowthrowers this powerful have trouble keeping quiet. You will indeed hear some noise from this machine, but its powerful and durable engine runs pretty quietly compared to its main competitors.
Another reason why it is capable of staying quiet is that it is so easy to move and control on many different services. The handle height is completely adjustable, so there is no added stress for a person controlling it.
The steering has improved quite a bit on this model, which means it will run very efficiently the entire time for any person operating it.
As for any negatives, it is a bit of a complicated machine. That’s to be expected for something that costs so much, but some people might not know that much about snow blowers. It has a ton of power, but if a person doesn’t know how to control it, it can become rather useless.
Only invest in a snowblower of this magnitude if living in certain areas around the world. If there is only an occasional snowstorm once in a while, this probably takes up too much room and cost too much money to make it a worthy investment.
4. TACKLIFE Snow Blower, 15 Amp Electric Snow Thrower
This is a very nice mid-level option for people who want something that gets the job done, and packs in a little bit of power over an entry-level snowblower. Powered by electric, the motor runs very quietly, despite having the ability to move up to 800 pounds of snow per minute. The powerful efficiency that it provides makes it suitable for large and small driveways.
The directional shoot is one of the better options out there on a snowblower. It is rotatable by 180 degrees, and it throws snow up to 30 feet. It does all this very quietly, and it never acts like it is overworked. Some snowblowers become louder when they are handling more snow, but this one stays pretty quiet throughout.
There are some limitations with the snowblower, as it is hard to do much of any work on gravel, grass, and other similar surfaces. It’s mainly used for pavement on the driveway, patio, or sidewalk. It gets the job done faster than some of the cheaper options out there, and the company should receive praise for keeping such a powerful device quiet. For something a little better than the cheapest options, invest in this one for some dependable help during snowstorms.
5. Briggs & Stratton Single Stage Snow Thrower
Gas engines usually do not run this quietly. Briggs & Stratton has a few different snowthrowers available to the public, but this one, in particular, stands out as one of the best values overall. It falls in the mid to your range of snow blowers but acts like a premium model. It handles a lot of different tasks, and it’s one of the most efficient running machines out there.
With a 22-inch wide clearing path and 12.5 inches of intake height, it is very easy to handle any type of snowfall out there. The components on this machine are second to none, meaning that it is useable winter after winter without any issues.
How do they keep a gas-powered snowblower like this so quiet? The engine is extremely efficient, as they redid the entire set up with this newest model. It’s very powerful, but the company took the time to soundproof the casing around the engine. Everything else on the machine is very quiet as well, fooling some people into thinking that it is electric.
The advantage of going gas is pretty obvious for those who have a lot of work that needs doing, so don’t be afraid to invest in the snowblower. It might just be the best gas-powered snowblower on the market right now.
Earplugs and ear covers
If the sound is becoming a little too much for the person operating the snowblower, there’s always the option to go with earplugs or ear protection. A lot of snow blowers can run about as loud as a lawnmower, and people protect her ears quite a bit when operating something like that.
It’s also usually pretty cold when using a snowblower, so that’s just another reason to protect the years. The sound dampening of fresh snow can trick some people into thinking that a machine isn’t as loud as it is, so getting close to it could do some serious damage. Even the quieter snowblowers will still be loud if putting the ear right up to the motor.
Can Soundproofing Material Work on Snowblowers?
It is generally recommended to not mess with using any type of additional soundproofing material on a snowblower. The reason being is that snowblowers have engines that can sometimes run a little warm, and the weather conditions in general just make it not worthwhile.
If the sound is becoming an issue, the snowblower either needs repaired or need to be replaced. Trying to completely soundproof, it is likely going not to be worth the effort. It’s better to go with the snowblower designed to stay quiet from the very beginning.
If there is something that might be causing some additional sound from the snow blowing machine, make some subtle improvements right away. That could be something as simple as tightening screws or something so complicated than it needs to be seen by a professional.
Should Owning a Quiet Snowblower Matter?
The quietness of a snowblower is just one selling point for people to consider. Some people put it higher than others, and it’s impossible to say who is right and who was wrong.
The number one thing every person should be looking for with a snowblower is making sure it fits what it’s needed for. Investing in a super quiet, electric snowblower meant for small places won’t do a person with acres and acres of land and a long driveway any good.
Cost is also a pretty big factor when shopping for something that is only useable during certain times of the year. The more snow a person gets at their home, the more justified it is to spend a decent amount of money on the snowblower. If there are only a handful of bad snowstorms of the year, spending $1000 or more on a snowblower might not be the best idea.
A quiet snowblower is a pleasant snowblower.No one truly enjoys having to blow snow consistently, so having a pleasant experience can make life a little easier. It’s also going to keep family members and neighbors a little calmer when they don’t wake up because of a super loud machine throwing snow all over the place