How To Choose A Leaf Blower (Buying Guide)
Last Updated on July 25, 2024
One issue every lawn owner has to face is how to get rid of dry leaves and debris from their lawn. Luckily, technology has made things easy, and instead of using brooms and other manual means, we now have a perfect machine for cleaning leaves know as a leaf blower. Any gardener looking to make tending his garden easy will opt for this machine.
The crucial questions, however, are how do you buy a leaf blower? What are the things to look out for? All these questions and more will be answered in this article, so keep reading.
What is a Leaf Blower?
Leaf blowers are the garden equipment or garden vacuum used to blow away all the dry leaves as well as dirt on a lawn. It can be used to clean up other kinds of debris, including grass and twigs.
How Does a Leaf Blower Work?
A leaf blower works by compressing air and channelling it out of the machine and towards a chosen area to blow dirt. Inside a leaf blower is an engine that sucks in air from the environment, compresses it and passes the air through a nozzle. Once the air escapes the nozzle, it blows dirt’s and debris away.
How To Choose A Leaf Blower
These are the decisions you have to make before purchasing a blower.
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What is The Blower’s Source of Power?
The blower can be powered by three primary sources: gas, electricity via a cable, and through the battery. A gas-powered blower runs on gas or oil or a mixture of both. Electric blowers, both the corded and the cordless versions run on electricity.
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Noise Production
Because of the way they function, leaf blowers tend to be loud. However, this is not the case for all kind of blowers. While gas-powered ones are known to be exceptionally loud, electric blowers are relatively quiet.
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Method of Operation
Different leaf blower models have unique modes of operation. Those that are designed for home users usually come with a handle or has a strap at their back for support. Others that are created for commercial use have wheels.
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What Is the Size of Your Lawn?
Some particular models and types of leaf blowers perform better in large lawns while others do better in small gardens. A handheld blower will easily do for a small lawn. This is because they are less likely to have much debris in them. However, you need a big and powerful blower for a large field.
Types of Leaf Blowers
1. Electric Leaf Blowers
Electric leaf blowers come either with a cord or without a cord. For it to work, a corded leaf blower comes with a power cable that must be attached to an outlet while it is being used. Battery leaf blowers are cordless but come with batteries that power them.
Advantages
- They are lighter than gas-powered models.
- They don’t eject carbon emissions
- They are not as noisy as gas-powered blowers.
Disadvantages
- They are less powerful
- Corded blowers are always limited by their cord
2. Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
The engines are of two types; two-stroke and four-stroke engines. You’ll likely find a two-stroke engine in an older model. This engine thrives on a mixture of both gas and oil. It produces a lot of smoke but is lighter than a four-stroke motor.
A four-stroke engine is heavier and louder and relies on gas to work. They offer more power while emitting fewer fumes.
Advantages
- They are the most powerful leaf blower type.
Disadvantages
- Too loud and heavy
- Produce so many emissions
3. Hand-held Leaf Blowers
This type of blower use either gas or electricity. They usually have a handle connected to their rear. This is so that users can hold it when being used. Handheld blowers are standard and are the most affordable.
Advantages
- They are less expensive to purchase and manage
- Easier to handle.
Disadvantages
- Can’t work for large areas
4. Backpack Leaf Blowers
What sets the blower apart is its back-strapping harness that allows the blower to be worn on the back. The nozzle is what the user uses to direct air.
Advantages
- Less tiring to use
Disadvantages
- Vibrations may cause discomfort to the back.
5. Leaf Blower Vacs
This blower sucks in debris instead of blowing it away. It sucks the dirt in through a nozzle, and this dirt is reduced to tiny pieces and discarded.
Advantages
- Makes final disposal of waste easier
Disadvantages
- They are expensive
6. Wheeled Leaf Blowers
Also known as a walk-behind blower, the machine comes with wheels for easy movement. They are suitable for large leaf blowing.
Advantages
- Easy to operate
Disadvantages
- Expensive
Conclusion
Proper lawn care will in one way or the other involve a leaf blower. So, if you don’t own one just yet, do well to get it as soon as possible using the information provided here.
