Driveway snow removal options for Westchester? (New Rochelle: Home Depot, vs, moving to)

[jaba14]

Hi all -
Moving to New Rochelle from Manhattan soon. We have a driveway about 30 feet long with a bit of an incline. What do folks recommend I do for snow removal (I'm not going to rely on myself to shovel and get to work in time). Should we go through a snow removal service (any recommendations)? Get a snow blower? If a snow blower, single-stage vs two-stage? Recommended models?

Thanks!
-jaba

[kletter1mann]

Originally Posted by jaba14

Hi all -
Moving to New Rochelle from Manhattan soon. We have a driveway about 30 feet long with a bit of an incline. What do folks recommend I do for snow removal (I'm not going to rely on myself to shovel and get to work in time). Should we go through a snow removal service (any recommendations)? Get a snow blower? If a snow blower, single-stage vs two-stage? Recommended models? Thanks!
-jaba

Plowing services are quite local, can't advise on that. But, if you go the snow blower route, GO BIG OR GO HOME. We usually have heavy, wet snow. An anemic single stage unit - which is actually all of them - will soon drive you to despair. Get at least a 24" 2-stage name brand unit (Snapper, Ariens, Cub Cadet etc). It will probably be 10+ hp and set you back ~$1000. You'll be done before a plow service even arrives and you'll be saving $$ after the first year. Don't let anybody tell you that you can get by with something smaller or cheaper. You'll be sorry when it dumps 14" of heavy spring snow whether your driveway is 30' or 300' long. And especially avoid a no-namo unit from Home Depot.

[RJS5689]

Originally Posted by kletter1mann

Plowing services are quite local, can't advise on that. But, if you go the snow blower route, GO BIG OR GO HOME. We usually have heavy, wet snow. An anemic single stage unit - which is actually all of them - will soon drive you to despair. Get at least a 24" 2-stage name brand unit (Snapper, Ariens, Cub Cadet etc). It will probably be 10+ hp and set you back ~$1000. You'll be done before a plow service even arrives and you'll be saving $$ after the first year. Don't let anybody tell you that you can get by with something smaller or cheaper. You'll be sorry when it dumps 14" of heavy spring snow whether your driveway is 30' or 300' long. And especially avoid a no-namo unit from Home Depot.

Ariens blowers have served my family well for many years! Even when I was a kid and accidentally ran over the newspaper (which my dad even reminded me to avoid ) the Ariens was still easily repairable and quickly went back into service. Yea, I've never sucked up a newspaper since!

[sdcity]

definitely two stage with electrical start if you get a blower. But if you can afford it, get the removal service. I't won't be as convenient as doing it yourself, but it'll sure be a lot easier.

I don't shovel before going to work, do it when I get home or the night before.