Leaf Blower Buying Guide
By ProMatcher Staff
Buying a Leaf Blower?
A leaf blower is a piece of lawn equipment that uses air to move or relocate leaves and other debris. Here is a short list of things to consider before purchasing a leaf blower:
1. Fuel Source: Gas or Electric
Leaf blowers can run by gas or electric power. Electric leaf blowers tend to be less powerful than gas-powered models. However, if noise is a concern, electric blowers are generally quieter. They do not have a fuel tank that needs to be re-filled.
Gas-powered leaf blowers are typically more powerful and, as a result, make much more noise. Some neighborhoods have noise ordinances that forbid the use of exceptionally loud leaf blowers.
2. Cordless?
If you have a small yard with very few trees, you may want to consider a leaf blower that runs on a rechargeable battery. This will help avoid the hassle of locating a plug or extension cord when you need to use the blower.
Learn More: Leaf Removal Tips
3. Yard Size
If you have a large yard with lots of big trees, an electric leaf blower is not going to do the trick. You may want to consider a gas-powered leaf blower. If the handheld, gas-powered leaf blower is too heavy, you could consider upgrading to a backpack leaf blower. Although these are more expensive, they are portable and easy to use. Most leaf removal companies use these backpack leaf blowers, in addition to other ride-on or walk-behind models.
4. Noise Level
The more powerful the motor, the louder the leaf blower will be. Some professional grade equipment should only be used with protective earmuffs or headphones. Some jurisdictions have restrictions in place to regulate the amount of noise the leaf blower can make. There are several areas in California that have banned leaf blowers as a whole.
5. Power
The power of a leaf blower is typically measured by the volume of air it can blow, measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). Light duty leaf blowers are rated anywhere between 200 and 350 CM. Heavy duty leaf blowers can blow air at 500 CFM.
Some industrial equipment measures the power of the airflow with miles per hour (MPH).
Learn More: Leaf Raking vs. Leaf Blowing
6. Other functions
Leaf blowers can do a lot more than blow leaves. If raking and bagging just isn't an options for you, you may want to invest in a leaf blower with a vacuum function. Additionally, some leaf blowers may come with gutter cleaning attachments.
Up Next: Top Brands of Leaf Blowers
About the Author
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| ProMatcher Staff, ProMatcher
Orlando, FL 32803
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