Do you need to remove snow from walkways or decks, but you do not want to struggle with the snow shovel? The Snow Joe SJ615E is a single stage electric snow thrower with an 11-amp motor and a 15-inch clearing width. It is small enough for clearing walking paths, yet big enough to clean a small driveway.
Do you have to assemble the SJ615E?
Some minor assembly is necessary, but it is easy to do. Assemble the handle and chute control by tightening a few knobs and bolts. Follow the instructions in the manual and there should be no problem.
How much does the SJ615E weigh?
This single stage electric snow thrower weighs about 24 lbs. Therefore, the Snow Joe SJ615E is a lightweight snow thrower that is relatively easy to move around. It might seem like a toy to some people, but its compact size could be perfect for senior citizens.
Is this a cordless electric snow thrower?
The SJ615E is a corded electric snow thrower. It has a short 1-foot electric cord where you need to attach a longer outdoor extension cord. If you were looking for a cordless electric snow thrower, then we recommend that you read this review about the Snow Joe iON18SB.
Is the SJ615E shipped with an extension cord?
The snow thrower is not shipped with an extension cord. You have to provide your own cord. You should use a heavy-duty outdoor extension cord that stays flexible when exposed to cold weather conditions. Plug the extension cord into an outdoor outlet with GFCI for increased safety.
The Snow Joe SJ615E has an 11-amp electric motor, so the cord should be rated for at least 15 amps. The maximum extension cord length is 100 feet. You should check the product manual for the recommended wire gauges. It seems like there might be some confusion about the correct wire gauges between Snow Joe’s website and the product manual.
Is the SJ615E safe to use on wooden decks?
The SJ615E is light and portable enough to be used for cleaning decks. However, you need to be careful because the scraper bar at the bottom or the spinning blades might scratch the wood. If the deck has been painted, then the plastic blades might chip the paint.
An electric snow thrower does not have adjustable skid shoes. They are designed to clear snow from concrete driveways and walkways, even though owners might sometimes use it for clearing snow from wood decks.
Can it be used on a gravel driveway?
This single stage electric snow thrower is made for clearing snow from hard, flat surfaces. It has a scraper bar on the bottom so that it may clean right down to the pavement. However, it does not have adjustable skid shoes on the sides. The clearance height cannot be adjusted in order to avoid picking up chipped rock or gravel stones and throwing it out of the chute at dangerous speeds and trajectories. Gravel stones might also crack either the plastic auger blades, the plastic snow chute or the nearest window. Therefore, the Snow Joe SJ615E is not suitable for clearing snow from gravel driveways.
How do you turn the snow chute?
The Snow Joe SJ615E has a hand crank for turning the snow chute, so you do not have to step away from the handlebars to rotate the chute by hand. Even so, the handle of the crank might be a bit low for a tall person. If you are a tall person, then you might feel more comfortable with a bigger electric snow thrower such as the SJ627E, that has a 22-clearing width.
Conclusion
Electric snow throwers are designed to be much lighter and cheaper than two-stage gas snow blowers. As a result, the Snow Joe SJ615E has lots of plastic parts and plastic wheels. This keeps down the weight and makes it easy to move, but do not exceed the limitations or handle it too roughly.
The SJ615E is a small, lightweight, electric snow thrower with a 15-inch width. This compact size makes it an ideal snow thrower for senior citizens or people whose height and strength is less than average.
If this snow thrower was any smaller, it would probably turn into an electric snow shovel. In comparison, an electric snow shovel not only has a thinner width of about 13 inches, but also lacks a directional snow chute. The SJ615E does not cost much more than an electric snow shovel and yet it offers slightly more power, a wider clearing path, 8-inch depth and a directional snow throwing chute.
Overall, the Snow Joe SJ615E is a compact electric snow thrower that is available at an affordable price. If you are tired of shoveling lots of snow, then it might be time to buy a small electric snow thrower such as the SJ615E (buy on Amazon).