How to choose a leaf blower?

When you want to buy a leaf blower vacuum, it is important to know what you need and what you don’t want! It exists different models of blowers, and not all of them may be suitable for your garden, your use or even your budget. Let’s find out together how to choose your blower in 6 steps!

1. Choice of blower type

There are 3 main types of leaf blowers. They are:

• Hand Blower
• Backpack blower
• Foot Blower

THE portable blowers are generally the cheapest on the market. To remain light enough to use, they are usually limited in their power (because smaller motors = lighter boosters). They can still feel quite heavy after prolonged use, so they’re only recommended if you have a yard or small enough area that you can clear relatively quickly. If you have a larger yard, this may not be the best leaf blower for you.

THE backpack blowers shift the weight of the motor toward your back during long periods of use. They are more powerful than hand-held blowers and suitable for larger yards up to 1 acre.

THE walking blowers are generally the most expensive on the market. The motor is mounted on a rolling frame, giving it unlimited size and weight. If you have several acres to maintain, this may be the best option for you.

2. Optional built-in features

The 3 types of blowers can be delivered with a vacuum cleaner and/or a shredder. Vacuum blowers have a black bag that attaches to the main body. After stacking your leaves, you can vacuum them into the bag and easily take them to the curb. Vacuum blowers and shredders shred leaves as they are vacuumed up, saving bag space.

You can then spread the mulch leaves on the lawn as fertilizer. Mulchers tend to have a reduction ratio which tells you how many bags of leaves a mulcher can reduce to 1 bag (e.g. a ratio of 10:1 means a regular blower vacuum would need 10 bags to accommodate as many leaves as this mulcher can hold 1) These features are useful for large job sites where using a tarp to transport leaves can be extremely cumbersome, but they are also more expensive.

3. Power cubic meters per minute (Air flow)

Now that you have decided on the type of blower you need, it is best to choose the fan power. The amount of air a leaf blower can expel at one time is measured in cubic meters per minute. Some fans also have a km/h rating which sounds similar to an m3/min rating, but does not always correlate to m3/min because it is measured differently. For this reason, it is best to avoid using Km/h to determine the power a fan can produce.

• Blowers less than 5 m3/min are best used for cleaning patios and driveways only. They are not powerful enough to easily push leaves across grassy terrain or clear bushes.
• Blowers of 5 to 10 m3/min are best used for clearing patios, driveways and small yards. They are not recommended for clearing yards larger than a quarter acre.
• Blowers with a capacity of 10-12 m3/min can be used for patios and driveways (although they are a little heavy if that’s the only thing you plan to use it for) and are ideal for small and medium-sized yards. They are not recommended for yards larger than one acre.
• Blowers rated at 12 to 14 m3/min are best used for jobsites less than an acre, but are powerful enough to handle larger jobsites.
• Blowers over 14 m3/min are best used for yards larger than an acre and can also clear smaller yards.

4. Local laws

Leaf blowers emit carbon emissions and noise when operating. For this reason, some local governments have passed laws limiting the amount of carbon a blower can emit and the noise it can make.

Sound level is measured by dBA, or decibels. The lower the dBA rating, the quieter the leaf blower. Leaf blowers that are clean enough for most emissions laws are rated “CARB compliant.” Be sure to check local laws before making a final purchase on a leaf blower.

5. Thermal vs. Electric

Gas-powered blowers tend to be heavier and noisier than their electric counterparts, but that doesn’t necessarily mean electric is better. So how do you know which one to choose? Take a look at our infographic for a list of pros and cons, but here’s what you should know:

Gasoline-powered leaf blowers are best for long periods of use. They are the most powerful and are not encumbered by battery life or cord length. If you have a very large area you need to clear then gasoline is a good way to go.

Keep in mind that the more powerful the fan, the heavier it tends to be. You can purchase 2- or 4-stroke blowers. 2-stroke engines are lighter and easier to maintain, but require a special mixture of gases to operate. 4-stroke engines are heavier and more expensive, but many 4-stroke engines can be run on regular gas. Check before buying whether a 4 stroke engine can use regular gasoline or not.

Electric leaf blowers are better in neighborhoods because they tend to be quieter than gas blowers. They tend to emit fewer emissions and are better for the environment. Battery-powered blowers are not limited by cord length, but blowers are powered by batteries and batteries drain quickly, so estimate how long it will take to clean your yard. Pay attention to battery life, called uptime, on models as you shop.

6. Protective equipment

Don’t forget to purchase protective clothing when shopping for your best leaf blower. You don’t want to risk injury by using an unprotected leaf blower! Some important accessories to purchase include:

• Safety glasses or visor with side shields to protect your eyes from all angles.
• Earmuffs or earplugs to protect your ears from noise pollution.
• Gloves to protect your hands from flying debris.
• A dust mask if the area is particularly dusty to protect your nose and lungs.