General FAQs

What temperature does it need to be to makes snow?

Prebuilt Snowgun FAQs

How much snow will I make?
Do I have to assemble the snowgun?
What else do I need to make snow?
How is this snowgun different than the ones at the ski hill?

DIY Snowgun FAQs

How much snow will I make?
How much will it cost to build a snowgun?
How large of an air compressor do I need?
Do I need a pressure washer?
What tools do I need?

What temperature does it have to be to make snow?
To make snow it has to be at least 2C(36F) however that would be if there was a relative humidity of 0%. You can make snow anytime the temperature is less than -2C (29F), however the optimal temperature for home snowmaking will be between -5C and -8C depending on humidity levels.

How much snow will I make?
The amount of snow which you will make depends on the size of your pressure washer. The snowguns which we offer can convert up to 2.5 gallons of water per minute into snow, which will produce about 50 cubic feet of snow per hour.

Do I have to assemble the snowgun?
There is no assembly required with the snowguns itself. With our stands there is some minor assembly, requiring less than 10 minutes of time and only a couple nuts and bolts

What else to I need to make snow?
To make snow you will require a pressure washer capable of pumping 1.3 - 2.5gpm at over 500psi.

How much snow will I make with your plans?
The amount of snow depends on many factors, especially which design you choose to build. With a household air compressor, and a regular water supply you can expect about 15 cubic feet of snow per hour over a large area. If you build a combo gun then you can expect to make about 40 cubic feet per hour. The larger the pressure washer you use the more snow you will be able to make.

How much will it cost to build the snowgun?
Depending on the plan you choose the cost can be as low as $20US for the least complex snowgun, however if you are looking to make a combo gun expect to spend about $150US without a stand, pressure washer, or air compressor.

How large of an air compressor do I need?
You will need a compressor which is capable of making 5CFM@40psi, to use our snowguns, please ensure your compressor is capable of at least 6CFM@40psi. Also look for a compressor that is oil lubricated and belt driven.

Do I need a pressure washer?
No, a pressure washer is not neccessary to make snow, however if you choose to build the combogun you will need a pressure washer which has a flow between 1.3 and 2.5gpm.

What tools do I need to build the snowguns in the eGuide?
The only tools you will need are a pair wrenches.

How is this snowgun different from the ones at the ski hill?
The snowguns which are included in these plans have been modified in a few different ways, the first being that they have been scaled down from what the ski areas use, because you house is probably smaller and most likely doesn't have thousands of gallons of water to use or industrial pumps.  The nozzles have been specially made for this application, and so they are designed to produce consistant droplets at high pressures, which will result in excellent snow quality.  Finally, these snowguns have been simplified, so that they are affordable for you to build and run, there is no need to spend more than the cost of a small car on commercial snowmaking equipment if you want a backyard ski hill or terrain park.