Gas or electric is the first question when you shop for a snow blower, and the answer depends on your driveway, your storage space and where you can safely start the machine. Here’s what Canada’s occupational safety centre and Health Canada say, how the two types differ on the product pages we checked, and six gas and electric models to compare.
Quick answer
Affiliate links (paid links) below. Details
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) says to start a gas snow blower outside, not in a shed or garage, because carbon monoxide can accumulate in enclosed spaces. Health Canada lists snowblowers among the fuel-powered equipment that should never run in a garage. An electric model burns no fuel, but CCOHS says to use an outdoor cord rated for the machine on GFCI-protected power, and a cordless model is limited by its battery.
Where we’d start: the Greenworks PRO 80V cordless, a 20-inch model with no fuel and no cord. It ranked 11th in the retailer’s Snow Blowers Best Sellers when we checked. The gas models we checked ranked far lower in that list, well outside the top 100, so the two gas picks below are the most-reviewed gas options we found rather than best sellers.
Gas and electric snow blowers to compare
| Model | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| PowerSmart 24-inch gas (PSSAM24) | A two-stage gas model, and the most-reviewed gas model we checked. 24-inch clearing width, 212 cc four-cycle engine, six forward and two reverse speeds, electric start with an outdoor cord, about 65 kg, and a 2-year limited warranty listed. | See price |
| Ezasin 209 cc gas (EASW01) | A self-propelled gas model titled as a 24-inch, with electric start and six forward and two reverse speeds. It lists about 56 kg, the lightest gas model we checked, but it had few ratings when we checked, so read recent reviews first. | See price |
| Greenworks PRO 80V cordless (2600402) | A 20-inch cordless model with no fuel. 10-inch clearing depth, brushless motor, 2.0 Ah battery included, and a 3-year warranty listed. | See price |
| WORX 40V cordless (WG461) | A 20-inch cordless that runs on two 20V batteries. 10-inch intake depth, two 6.0 Ah batteries included, about 22 kg. WORX says it clears up to a 15-car driveway in 6-inch snow. | See price |
| Snow Joe Ultra corded (SJ623E) | A corded model with no battery to charge. 18-inch width, 15-amp motor, 10-inch clearing depth, about 15.4 kg, ETL listed, and a 2-year warranty. | See price |
| VOLTASK 48V cordless (SB-40A-AZ) | The lightest of the four. 20-inch width, built-in LED lights, two 24V batteries, 30 minutes of runtime listed, about 10.4 kg, and a 1-year warranty. | See price |
Model details come from the retailer’s product pages. Product pages for the same model sometimes disagree with themselves (the Greenworks PRO 80V page shows several weights and runtimes in one table), so we’ve left runtime and weight out for that model. The Ezasin page also lists a clearing width that doesn’t match its title. Check the product page before you order.
Gas or electric: what the product pages show
The gas models we checked list a 24-inch clearing path, a 212 cc four-cycle engine and two-stage clearing with steel augers, and one lists up to 12 inches of snow. Two of them list a weight of about 56 kg and about 65 kg. The electric models in the table list a path of 18 to 20 inches and a weight of about 10 to 22 kg. A wider path means fewer passes, and a lighter machine is easier to turn and to store, so match the machine to your driveway rather than to a spec sheet.
Gas does not mean cord-free. One gas product page says its electric start works by plugging in an outdoor extension cord, so you may still want an outlet near where you start it. Check the manual for the machine you choose.
Starting and fuelling a gas snow blower
CCOHS’s advice for gas snow blowers includes these points:
- Start a gas engine model outside, not in a shed or garage. Carbon monoxide can accumulate in enclosed spaces.
- Check fuel and oil levels before starting, and do not leave a running unit unattended.
- Fuel is highly flammable and its vapours are explosive. Use an approved container and refuel outdoors.
- Wait until the engine has cooled before refilling, and never fill the tank while the engine is running or hot.
- Remove the fuel cap slowly to release pressure, keep a portable fire extinguisher nearby, and allow no smoking, sparks or flames.
- Before cleaning or inspecting, remove the wire from the spark plug, and let the engine cool and the blades stop.
Source: CCOHS, Landscaping: Snow Throwers. Health Canada’s carbon monoxide infographic also tells you never to run fuel-powered equipment in the garage: Health Canada, Carbon monoxide.
Cords, batteries and cold for an electric one
For electric models, CCOHS says to use an outdoor extension cord rated for your machine, connected to ground-fault circuit interrupting (GFCI) protection, and to be aware of the cord’s location at all times. Unplug the machine before cleaning or inspecting it.
Cordless models trade the cord for a battery. Greenworks says that for its PRO 80V, batteries should be stored at room temperature (16 °C to 23 °C), and that if the unit won’t start you should let the battery warm up and try again. If your garage is cold all winter, read the maker’s cold-weather guidance before you buy.
Using either type safely
CCOHS’s advice for any snow blower includes:
- Wear safety glasses with side shields, hearing protection, protective gloves and proper footwear.
- Keep loose clothing and jewellery away from rotating parts.
- Never direct the discharge toward people, and operate only with good visibility and light.
- Do not operate on steep slopes, and look down and behind before backing up.
- Never put your hands or feet near the chute or blades. Use a tool, not your hands, to clear a clog.
Common questions about gas and electric snow blowers
Can I warm up a gas snow blower in the garage? No. CCOHS says to start a gas engine model outside, not in a shed or garage, and Health Canada says never to run fuel-powered equipment in the garage.
Is gas or electric better? It depends on your driveway, storage and where you can start the machine. The gas models we checked list a wider path and weigh much more, and the electric ones list a narrower path and weigh about 10 to 22 kg.
What cord does a corded electric model need? CCOHS says to use an outdoor extension cord rated for your machine and connected to GFCI protection. Check the cord length and gauge your manual recommends.
Can I clear a clog with my hands? No. CCOHS says never to. Use a tool, and turn the machine off first: unplug an electric model, or remove the spark plug wire on a gas one.
Before you buy
- Measure your driveway and check how far an outdoor outlet reaches.
- Decide where you will start and fuel a gas machine, since it must be outside.
- Compare weight, clearing width and depth on the product page.
- Read the maker’s cold-weather guidance for batteries, and check the warranty.
Related guides
- How to Choose an Electric Snow Blower in Canada
- How to Choose a Carbon Monoxide Alarm in Canada
- How to Choose a Fire Extinguisher in Canada
Our top pick: Greenworks PRO 80V cordless (2600402)
Get new buying guides by email.
We send new guides only, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
