Factors To Consider When Shopping For Leaf Blowers
A leaf blower is a handy gardening tool commonly used to get rid of debris from the yard and sometimes, the roof. Although you could use a rake to rake of grass clippings and leaves from your yard, leaf blowers make the work much easier and fun. This equipment is commonly used during fall when trees start shedding of leaves in readiness for the winter season. You could also use the leaf blower in other times of the year to clear walkways, patio, decks, driveway, and the yard of leaves, sand, snow, grass clippings, and dirt.
With several different types of leaf blowers on the market, identifying the best one to buy can be quite a challenge. Some of the critical factors to consider when shopping for a leaf blower are discussed below.
Most leaf blowers on the market today have either electric motors or gasoline engines that drive the powerful fan. While each of these has its advantages and disadvantages, you need to decide wisely on the mode of power you wish your blower to use. Gas-powered leaf blowers are considerably more powerful and capable of moving larger masses of wet leaves easily. These, however, need to be serviced and maintained regularly to function optimally. Gas-powered blowers are however noisier than electric ones. Electric leaf blowers, on the other hand, come in two varieties. It can either be corded or cordless. Cordless blowers use batteries hence can be taken almost anywhere. Electric blowers are however only recommended for smaller tasks.
2. MPH and CFM Ratings
This is basically the pressure and amount of air the blower can move in a second. CFM (cubic feet per minute) is the unit used to measure how much air the blower can move in a minute, while MPH (miles per hour) is the speed that air will be coming out of the blower nozzle. Both these figures are vital for they determine if the blower is meant for light or heavy applications. That said, it would be advisable to choose a blower powerful enough to move whatever debris you wish to move.
3. Wheeled, Backpack, Or Handheld
Handheld blowers are the least powerful of the three. They are however powerful enough for simple jobs especially if you only need to move small masses of leaves and debris. Backpack blowers, on the other hand, are much larger and heavier than handheld ones. As the name suggests, these are worn on the back and have a handheld nozzle that makes blowing leaves and other debris more comfortable and easier. These units can either be gasoline or electric powered. Wheeled blowers are the heaviest and most powerful of the lot. As the name suggests, they are mounted on a wheeled base which makes moving from one area to another easier – considering the weight. This is the ultimate choice if looking to move large volumes of leaves and snow. The blower is also capable of blowing of damp leaves from your yard.
These are basically the three key factors to consider when shopping for a leaf blower. Talking to sales agents about this can help you make a more informed decision. Be sure to check customer reviews and testimonials before making the order.