For anyone who lives in an area where even moderate snowfall is expected in season, those cold winter mornings clearing the snow from drives, paths and patios are the ultimate chores. Yet, if you need to get the car out to go to work, or to take the kids to school, it has to be done, so you need to be prepared!

The old shovel technique is probably the one you go for, and you’re not alone, but what is it that your neighbor is using to clear the snow from their drive? It’s probably an electric snow shovel, and they are becoming much more popular thanks to being available now for domestic use.

You may well have seen larger versions used by your local borough, to clear snow from city streets early in the morning. Those are larger, commercial and some of the best snow blowers on the market, but you can also have one, a domestic show shovel that will make your life a lot easier, and that will also cost you very little.

What are they all about, and why do you need one? We took a look at a very popular and affordable domestic snow shovel – the Earthwise SN70016 Corded Snow Shovel – so that you can see just how much help one of these could be to you.

Earthwise SN70016 Snow Shovel Overview

We recently featured the Earthwise in our top 10 best electric snow shovel reviews for good reason. It’s a machine designed to do the job of a manual shovel by way of powered blades – or augers – which shift a great deal of snow in a short time. There are several types: you can get petrol-powered snow shovels as well as electric ones, and among the latter, there are those that come with a mains power cord, and those that are powered by rechargeable batteries, and are therefore cordless.

The model we are looking at today – the Earthwise SN70016 Corded Snow Shovel – is one of the corded models. This means you will need a nearby mains point to plug it into. You probably have one in your garage, so that should be no problem.

The beauty of a powered show shovel is that it means you will spend far less time outside on cold, wet, winter mornings, and it will also give you a much better clearance. They tend to be adjustable, so any of the family can use them and are perfectly safe with in-built cut-off and other safety features.

This model is designed specifically for domestic use, so is not as large or powerful as some, but for areas where moderate to heavy snowfall is expected, this could be a tool that you find invaluable. Let’s have a closer look at the Earthwise SN70016 Corded Snow Shovel in more detail, so you can see just how you can benefit from this impressive machine.

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Features of the Earthwise SN70016 Corded Snow Shovel

First, it’s important to stress that the Earthwise SN70016 Corded Snow Shovel is one that is powered by a fixed electric point. This is not a rechargeable model. That has its advantages and disadvantaged: the plus is that you do not have a limited running time as determined by the battery capacity; the downside is that you do have limited range of use, so will need an extension cord if you need to go further.

Another advantage of corded models is that they can be more powerful than the cordless variety (note there is a cordless version of this very model, which you might want to check out) and this one comes with a 12Amp motor that can provide 4500rpm. That is good enough to shift a massive 430lbs of snow every minute – you will have your drive, paths and garden cleared in no time at that rate!

Another feature to look for when choosing a snow thrower is the clearance width and depth. The Earthwise SN70016 Corded Snow Shovel has a clearance width of 16-inches. For a compact model such as this is, that is a very impressive capacity that we cannot fault. Also, a depth of 8-inches is more than most in its class, so it will happily handle heavy overnight snowfalls.

This model can throw the snow 30-feet; that’s about the norm for a domestic snow thrower. It does have an adjustable chute – with the turn of one knob you can choose to throw snow forwards, left or right – but users have reported it is most efficient in the forward operation. It’s easy to use as it weighs only 16lbs, and customer reviews are very favorable in this area. It also comes with an adjustable handle so anyone can use it, and is fitted with all the usual safety features.

For a domestic-use snow thrower, the Earthwise SN70016 Corded Snow Shovel is a good choice, the only factor to consider is perhaps the fact it is corded, which restricts you on the distance from the outlet you’ll be able to use it.

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Pros and Cons of the Earthwise SN70016

A quick look at the benefits and otherwise of the Earthwise SN70016 Corded Snow Shovel:

Pros

• 16-inch clearance width
• 8-inch clearance depth
• Easy to use
• 30-foot throw
• Adjustable Chute
• Lightweight and compact
• 430lb p/min clearance

Cons

• Corded model

As you can see, the only downside we can see is that the Earthwise SN70016 Corded Snow Shovel is not a cordless rechargeable model, but that may not be a problem for many users. So, is this the one for you?

Is The Earthwise Snow Shovel for You?

The specifications of the Earthwise SN70016 Corded Snow Shovel, especially its clearance rate, width and depth capacities, are very impressive and mark this out as one for the shortlist. The major potential drawback is that it is not cordless.

If that is not a problem for you, and you can reach the areas that need clearing with a corded model, then this could indeed be an excellent choice at what is a very sensible price. If you want to check it out there is an identical cordless model in the Earthwise range that may also appeal.

We recommend this very neat and affordable, not to mention capable, snow shovel for anyone who needs to clear snow regularly, and wants an easier life!

Snow may be very beautiful, but it is also a problem. When it lies on the ground, in your driveway or on paths, it needs to be cleared so that pedestrians and vehicles can get through easily. Bigger problems can occur, however, when snow settles in thickness on your roof.

The simple fact is that snow is heavy. Even a couple of inches of snow covering a roof can cause damage. Any more than that, and things can get very serious – as well as very costly. When It begins to melt, snow on a roof will find all the cracks and crevices it can and will cause any minor gaps to become bigger ones.

The Avanche snow roof rake ranked #1 in our top 10 best snow roof rake reviews and for good reason, the Avalanche Roof Rake System is very cleverly designed. Let’s have a look at it in more detail, and tell you why we think it is a cut above the competition.

What is the Avalanche Roof Rake?

First, let us say that the Avalanche Snow Removal System is not simply a rake, and it comes in two different specifications. There are also accessories for it, which we will cover later on. Whereas a conventional rake you would simply reach up and drag the snow from the roof, this system – for which a rake is available – works in a rather different fashion.

The differences are notable: the initial one is that whereas your rake would lead to the snow simply tumbling over the edge of the roof, this system does it in a much neater fashion. The second difference is that the rake does not have a blade as such – the wide scoop-type blades you usually see with snow roof rakes – but a cleverly designed cutting tool at the end of the reach.

Are you with us so far? The cutting tool literally cuts away a block of snow which, with a little downward movement, is then directed down a chute that is attached to the tool. Because the snow is directed down the chute, you know where it is going to end up, so no chance of you getting covered in snow while clearing! This video gives you a clearer idea of what it is all about, and why it is the most effective tool for clearing snow from roofs.

Let’s look in a little more detail at the benefits of the Avalanche Roof Snow Removal System.

Why You Need the Avalanche System

Clearing snow from the roof is one of the least enjoyable jobs of the winter. Unfortunately, in areas where snowfall is regular, it’s also a necessary and regular one, and very hard work. The Avalanche System makes things a lot easier, and if you get the technique sorted – and it really is not difficult – you will find it not only less stressful and strenuous than using a standard rake, but also much faster. In fact, you can remove as much as one ton of snow every minute if you use it correctly – that’s a lot of snow!

The Avalanche Roof Snow Removal System comes in two varieties: the 500, and the 750. Both are very similar, but are designed for different types of roof. The 500 System comes with 1.5inch wheels which make it ideal for shingle roofs (the wheels enable the movement of the blade and the snow without dragging a solid object on the roof tiles) while the 750 can handle tile, metal, shake and even solar roofs, and comes with 3inch wheels to give greater clearance.

The device consists of the blade/cutter, an extendable handle pole made from fibreglass for light weight and guaranteed strength, and the all-important chute, which attaches to the framework and catches the snow. If this sounds complex, it’s not; it is actually a very simple system that someone has taken a lot of time to get right, and it works.

Specifications and Accessories

Where the 500 and 750 versions of the Avalanche Roof Snow Removal System differ is in the size of the wheels – essential for clearance and care for the roof being cleared. They are almost the same price, too, but make sure you are buying the one that is right for your roof! What you get with both is as follows:

• A 16-foot fibreglass handle in four sections that clip together
• A 12-foot plastic slide for catching the snow
• The easy snap-together frame and blade assembly

The instructions for putting the three elements together are simple to follow, and it is all done by very simple snap-together methods so the item can be disassembled when not in use and stored away easily.

When it comes to accessories, you will find that you can get just about everything you need to ensure you get your roof cleared effectively, including the Avalanche Roof Rake, which works well with the Removal System.

The rake is a simple yet effective design that is similar to many other roof rakes, yet of a superior quality as you would expect from Avalanche products. It features a 20-foot long handle in five sections, so you can set it to your chosen length at five-foot intervals, and a sturdy and well-made blade with a 24-inch clearance width, designed to work with the full system. It also has small wheels for clearance, is very light to handle, and has a handy wall-mounting so you can store it away easily.

Used together, the Avalanche Roof Snow Removal System and accompanying Roof Snow Rake are an excellent way to clear snow from most roofs, and the range of replacement parts means you will get a long life from the product, no matter how often you use it.

Our Review Conclusion

Do you need the Avalanche Roof Snow Removal System? As we said earlier, clearing snow from your roof is a job none of us want to do, as it is cold, wet and hard work, but it is also essential, so anything that makes it as easy as possible is certainly welcome. The Avalanche Roof Snow Removal System is an excellent set of tools that can clear a ton of snow in a minute, is easy to use and will give you many years of service, and if you use it with the accompanying rake, then you really can’t go wrong.

As for cost, there may be many cheap and cheerful roof snow rakes that undercut this by a long way, but none will give you the efficiency of the Avalanche Roof Snow Removal System, so we recommend you take a closer look and make your life easier during those cold winter months.

If however you need to clear more than just your roof, you probably need a snow blower or electric snow shovel instead. Be sure to check out the rest of our site for some of the best reviews on the web.