Corded vs Cordless Snow Blower: Run Time, Cords, Cold and Warranty

A corded snow blower runs as long as you need it to, and it never waits on a charger. A battery model typically lasts about 45 minutes per charge, and a higher Ah battery gives more run time. Some go longer: the two-stage Toro 60V e24 runs up to 70 minutes on a 6.0Ah battery. Neither cordless pick has a published run time in minutes.

EGO rates the SNT2134 for up to a 14-car driveway with 8 in of snow on one charge of two 6.0 Ah batteries, and Greenworks rates the 40V 16-Inch for an 8-10 car driveway in 4 in of snow. The 40V 16-Inch's battery takes 150 minutes to charge. The SNT2134 has no published charge time, though its kit includes a dual-port charger.

A corded blower goes only as far as its extension cord reaches. That cord must be made for outdoor, cold-weather use, and it has to handle the machine's amperage. Snow Joe warns that an undersized cord causes a voltage drop, loss of power and overheating. On a 25 ft cord, a 15 A blower takes 14 gauge.

Longer cords are where the advice splits. At 50 ft, sources for a 15 A blower split between 14 and 12 gauge, and the WSnow20's own documents give both. At about 100 ft, they split again, between 12 and 14 gauge. Both corded picks run a 15 A motor on 120 V, so these figures cover either one.

A corded blower needs an outlet, and that outlet should have GFCI protection. The WSnow20 calls for GFCI protection on the circuit or outlet you use, and its manual names outdoor cord types such as SJTW-A and SJTOW-A. It comes with a power cord retainer, a cable clip and a cable strain relief, but its included parts list shows no extension cord.

Start near the outlet and work outward. Step over the cord when you turn, and keep it clear of moving parts. Check it often for cracks in the insulation, and don't run it through standing water. It's a routine you repeat every storm.

The lightest listed pick is cordless: the 40V 16-Inch weighs 28 lbs with its battery. The WSnow20 weighs 29.3 lbs on its page and 31.1 lbs in its manual. Snow Joe's documents give the SJ627E 33 lbs in the manual and 34.6 lb on its pages, labeled a gross weight on the product page. The SNT2134 has no listed weight.

Battery power doesn't guarantee a light machine: the two-stage EGO SNT2400 weighs 143.3 lbs without battery packs. The 40V 16-Inch and the WSnow20 both roll on 7 in wheels. The 40V 16-Inch's upper handle folds for storage; the WSnow20's lowers once you loosen its knobs. The SNT2134 adds heated grips and 200 degrees of directional control from handle-mounted levers, against 180-degree chutes on the other three picks.

Corded snow blowers have no battery to warm, charge or store, but the cold still reaches the cord, which must be made for cold-weather use. The WSnow20 is designed for continuous use above 23°F (–5°C) and, if needed, short periods in extreme cold. Don't use it on ice, frozen lakes or rivers, or a rooftop. The Westinghouse WSnow18 48V carries the same 23°F rating.

A too-cold battery may not start the machine. Cold can also cut battery performance: Consumer Reports found 5 to 20 percent shorter run times in extreme cold, though in Bob Vila's review the cordless models handled temperatures as low as -7°F with no battery or power output issues. The 40V 16-Inch's voltage output may drop if its battery's internal temperature falls below -17°C. Brought indoors cold, its battery should warm up within 10-20 minutes.

Both cordless picks carry longer tool warranties than both corded picks. The SNT2134 gets 5 years on the tool and 3 years on its batteries. The 40V 16-Inch gets a 3-year limited warranty on tool and battery. The SJ627E has a 2-year warranty, and the WSnow20 a 2-year limited residential warranty plus lifetime technical support.

That gap belongs to these picks, not to every battery machine. The PowerSmart HB2805, an 80V 24 in. cordless model, carries a two-year limited warranty. The Ryobi 40V snow blower, by contrast, carries a five-year limited warranty for household use.

I've used all four picks, at my dad's, my brother's or friends' places. Here's what stood out.

• EGO Power+ SNT2134. It starts with a button, with no pull cord, and the heated grips really helped in the cold.
• Snow Joe SJ627E. Nothing to charge: a button starts it and it runs right away. The cord was the part I had to keep an eye on.
• Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Cordless. It's small and light enough to carry, and the upper handle folds, so it's easy to put away.
• Westinghouse WSnow20. It starts with a button and runs right away, with nothing to charge. Light snow goes easily and wet snow is harder, and I had to watch where the cord was.