The white stuff: Using your snow blower to maximum effect

After getting out from under the last snow storm, you may not want to think about doing it again. But there is some method to the madness of removing snow with a snow blower. Most importantly, plan ahead. Decide where you want the snow to pile up because it may be there all winter and you don't want your sight lines obstructed when pulling into or out of the driveway. Next check your owner's manual for operating instructions and safety tips. Then learn how to maximize the capabilities of your blower to minimize the time you spend using it. Here's some pointers from Consumer Reports' yard and garden equipment guru Peter Sawchuk who oversaw our latest tests.

Single-stage electric snow blowers
Don't attempt to clear anything more than decks, porches or short walkways with an electric powered single-stage snow blower. "They're fine for these small jobs, but they can cost as much as $300. For $100 more, you can get a single-stage gas powered model that can handle more snow, including a smaller driveway, without the hassle of an electric cord," he says.

Single-stage gas snow blowers
Before tackling a big job, learn how to keep the rubber augers in contact with the ground. This keeps the machine pulling itself along and helps you clear the snow with less pushing effort. "Experience makes using a gas-powered single-stage snow blower easier," says Sawchuk.

• Clearing:  Start working before eight inches of snow accumulates. Tipping a single-stage snow blower to clear higher piles results in a lack of forward traction and can cause the engine to stall. Clear a patch at the end of the driveway first so you can turn the machine easily when making multiple passes. Distribute the snow from the discharge chute onto either side of the driveway to avoid blowing it onto an area that you've not yet cleared. A handle lets you quickly change the height and direction of the chute.
• Snow piles: This is a bigger challenge for single-stage blowers. "Push the snow blower into the pile and try to control the size of your bite so you can still move snow but not stall out the blower," says Sawchuk. On the first pass, go straight at the base of the pile and slowly take bites that undercut the top. Pull away letting the snow on top fall down, and clear the resulting piles a section at a time.

Two-stage gas snow blowers
Two-stage gas-powered snow blowers feature wider augers and a spinning impeller that can handle deeper snow. Their larger engines also enable powered wheels with multiple forward and reverse speeds.

• Clearing: Some of the machines in our latest tests have as many as seven forward speeds. Start at the slowest speed and gradually increase it as you move the snow. Moving too quickly will result in the machine riding up over the snow, making for additional work. More two-stage models now include handle-mounted triggers or levers that release the wheel traction for quick and easy turning although some must still be disengaged by manually removing a pin.
• Snow piles: Use the lowest speed to make contact. Slowly release the control handle until the snow stream from the discharge chute starts to diminish. Then squeeze the handle again to engage the snow pile, repeating until the pile is gone. This strategy prevents the wheels from spinning, possibly stalling the engine.

If the machine jams, do not attempt to clear it by hand. The impeller can rotate even when the machine is off. Use a snow-clearing tool furnished with the machine or a length of broomstick. That way you'll avoid becoming one of the 3,000 Americans injured each year by snow blowers.

—Reporting by Gian Trotta

More on snow blowers: Buying guide. Ratings. Recommendations. Forums.

—Aaron Bailey