Do you realize there are kids today who have never used a rake or a broom to do chores around the house. Their secret? Leaf blowers. If you're still in the dark-ages spending hours raking huge piles of leaves it may be time for you to either hire a kid with a leaf blower or buy one for yourself.
Using this guide will help you know what to look for when considering what type of leaf blower is right for you.
The first option that you'll have to consider is whether you want an electric or a gas powered leaf blower. Electric powered units have the advantage of being quiet and they don't pollute like a gas powered blower. They are often light-weight and easier to carry and maneuver. The draw back to electric powered blowers is that you are limited by the length of the power cord that you are able to employ.
An alternative to a corded electric leaf blower is a battery powered leaf blower. This may be a reasonable choice as long as you don't require heavy or extended use. Today's battery powered choices are much more powerful, and last longer due to modern battery technology.
If you cannot be restricted in distance or need to operate a blower for extended periods of time an electric or battery powered blower may not be an option and you'll have to consider a gas powered leaf blower. Unrestrained, gas powered blowers can be run all day and over long distances. Gas powered blowers may also be more powerful, able to propel leaves and debris at over 200 mph.
You should also check your local city and community statues as some communities have outlawed the use of gas powered leaf blowers due to their noise and pollution. Most gas powered landscaping tools use 2-stroke motors which are not the most efficient or clean running motors. These type of motors also require that you mix oil with the gas to provide lubrication adding to the pollution potential.
A second option that you'll want to consider is not how powerful the blower is, but how gentle the blower can be operated. Many blowers feature a variable speed allowing you to control how just how much power you're using. This is important when you are cleaning out the garage, or you have to clean leafs out of garden beds, or off of stone and gravel without blowing your flowers off their stems, or throwing your rocks across the yard.
Once you've blow all the leaves into a gigantic pile and the kids are done jumping in, you'll have to bag the leaves getting them ready for pickup and disposal. Some blowers have a vacuum function that allows you to suck up the leaves making your bagging a breeze.
Comparing prices and features online can save you a lot of time before you go to the local home store to pick out your new leaf blower. Leaf blowers can even be ordered online at most of the home stores websites.
