AVALANCHE! Original Roof Snow Removal System AVA500 with 17-Inch Wide Cutting Head and 16-Foot Quick Connect Light Weight Fiberglass Handle
Rod Length: 16 Foot
Blade Width: 17 Inches
List Price: $119.99
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The AVALANCHE! Original Roof Snow Removal System is aptly named… the keyword is “Snow Removal System”, which means that it’s less of a roof rake and a bit more of a sophisticated (yet still simple) tool to remove snow from your roof.
The “AVALANCHE! Original Roof Snow Removal System” is more expensive than most roof rakes. Plus, it also only works on “loose” snow. If you have packed snow or snow that has been stuck to the roof for a few days, this snow removal system may not be for you.
With the AVALANCHE! Original Roof Snow Removal System, you start at the bottom of the roof and push up your roof toward the highest point on your roof. All the while, you are sliding a piece of smooth plastic under the snow.
It’s a bit harder to explain in words, so here is a video that shows you exactly how the Avalanche! system is supposed to work…
So, as you can see, the concept is pretty simple.
The product even has rollers, so the cutter seems to glide up the roof with very little work involved and certainly no damage to the shingles.
The Complaints
However, there are flaws not only in the system, but also in the product itself.
First of all, it doesn’t work on snow that is “icy” or packed through a process of warming and cooling over the course of several days.
Secondly, the entire system is made of plastic, and there have been complaints of broken pieces after a single use… especially the “Y” coupler, which holds everything together where the handle attaches to the unit.
Third… the plastic is pretty flimsy and gets caught on the sharp corners of shingles. This causes the plastic to rip and tear, eventually rendering the entire thing useless. Yes, the manufacturer sells replacement plastic for $30 a piece, but this reeks of opportunistic when you’ve already spend so much on the original unit! But, just like the razor industry learned long ago: the money isn’t in the razor… it’s in THE BLADES.
The plastic piece is very unwieldy, and is difficult to maneuver when moving it from one part of the roof to another. On top of that, it’s almost impossible to use if there is any amount of wind at all. A soft breeze will flip the plastic around like a kite in a hurricane, leaving you with zero results and a lot of frustration.
All things considered, I simply cannot recommend this product. Although I had high hopes for the Avalanche! Snow Removal System, I was disappointed with the numerous weaknesses in the system.
Call me old fashioned, but I prefer a good ole roof rake. A roof rake is simple, with few (if any) moving parts and just works.
Tagged: 16-foot rod, 17-inch blade, avalanche, Featured, snow removal system
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