Quick verdict
A 21-inch corded single-stage snow blower with a 15 amp motor, push-button start, an LED light and a 180-degree chute, rated by the maker at 1020 pounds per minute and a 30-foot throw. It suits a short paved driveway, a patio or a long sidewalk within reach of an outdoor outlet, in a climate where storms are moderate. The caveat is the cord and the thin listing: intake height, weight and warranty are all unstated.
Strengths
- 15 amp motor, the top rating for a corded machine
- Push-button start with no fuel, oil or batteries
- LED light for early and late clearing
- 180-degree adjustable chute
- Overload protection built in
Weaknesses
- Tethered to an outlet by an extension cord you supply
- Intake height, weight and warranty are not stated
- Light machines ride up on packed or icy snow
- Auger material is not specified beyond reinforced
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Who this snow blower is for
Corded snow blowers are the cheapest powered snow removal there is, and they make sense in a narrow set of conditions: a short paved driveway or a long sidewalk, an outdoor outlet within a hundred feet, and storms that run moderate rather than deep. The PowerSmart 21-inch 15 amp corded blower is built for exactly that, with a 21-inch path, push-button start and an LED light, for the owner who wants a step up from a shovel without buying fuel or batteries.
This review is based on the maker’s published specifications and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run this product ourselves.
What you get
PowerSmart lists a 15 amp motor rated at up to 1020 pounds of snow per minute and a throw of up to 30 feet, a 21-inch clearing width, push-button start, an LED light, a 180-degree adjustable chute, a reinforced auger and overload protection. It is described as lightweight and intended for patios, decks, sidewalks, driveways, steps and entryways. The listing does not state the intake height, the weight, the auger material or a warranty term, and it does not say whether an extension cord is included; assume it is not.
Auger and throw distance
Fifteen amps is the ceiling for a household circuit and the top rating in the corded class, which is why nearly every serious corded blower lands at this figure. The 1020 pound per minute rate and the 30-foot throw are the maker’s maximums in light cold snow. In wet snow a corded single-stage throws a fraction of that and clogs if pushed too fast; the technique is to slow down and take narrower bites. With no stated intake height, treat 8 to 10 inches of light snow as the working range, as with other corded 21-inch machines. PowerSmart calls the auger reinforced without naming the material; corded single-stage augers are typically rubber-edged, which is what scrapes pavement clean and what rules the machine out on gravel.
Power, cord and overload protection
The cord is the whole story of living with a corded blower. A 15 amp motor needs a 12 gauge outdoor cord and should not be run more than about 100 feet from the outlet, because a longer or thinner cord drops voltage, cuts power and heats the motor. Owners of corded machines consistently report the cord management, keeping it behind the machine and out of the auger, as the main annoyance. The overload protection is a genuine plus, cutting the motor when the auger jams rather than letting it cook; clear the jam with the plug out and a tool, then restart.
Weight, handling and light
PowerSmart stresses that the machine is light and easy to steer in tight spaces, which is true of corded blowers in general and is both a benefit and a limit: a light machine lifts up a porch step and turns on a patio easily, and it also rides up over packed or icy snow instead of biting into it. The push-button start removes any pull cord. The LED light is useful, since most clearing happens before dawn or after dark.
Living with it
There is almost nothing to maintain: check the scraper bar and auger edge for wear each season, keep the chute clear, and store it dry. Inspect the extension cord for nicks before each storm. No warranty term is stated in the listing; check the product page and register the machine.
Alternatives to Consider
The Snow Joe SJ627E is the established 22-inch 15 amp corded blower with a published intake height and a long track record. The Westinghouse WSnow20 is a 20-inch corded rival with a steel auger, dual LED lights and a stated two-year warranty. If the driveway is longer than a cord allows, the EGO Power+ SNT2122 kit removes the cord at a much higher price.
Verdict
Buy the PowerSmart 21-inch 15 amp corded blower if your clearing area is short, paved and within a hundred feet of an outlet, your storms are moderate, and the price matters more than published specs. Skip it if you need to know the intake height and warranty before buying, or if the snow is deep, wet or far from a plug, where a cordless or gas machine is the right tool.
Full specifications
PowerSmart 21-Inch 15 Amp Corded Electric Snow Blower with LED Light and 180-Degree Chute FAQs
A 15 amp motor needs a heavy outdoor-rated cord: 12 gauge for runs up to about 100 feet, and no longer than that, since voltage drop on a long thin cord robs power and heats the motor. The cord is not stated as included.
The listing does not give an intake height. Corded 21-inch single-stage machines are typically good for about 8 to 10 inches of light snow and less of wet snow; take deeper falls in half-width passes.
Single-stage machines scrape the surface and will pick up and throw gravel. Keep it to pavement, pavers, decks and steps, which is what PowerSmart lists it for.
It cuts the motor if the auger jams or the load is too high, which protects the motor from burning out. Clear the jam with the machine unplugged and a clearing tool, never by hand, and restart.
