Looking for the ideal leaf blower for your garden or yard but don’t quite know what you’re looking for? Leaf blowers fall into three categories: corded, cordless, and gas powered. Whilst the differences aren’t too severe, there are a few variances that could make or break a choice for you. Plus, it’s always a good idea to take your budget into consideration, as well as the size of your yard.
Let’s find out what features you need to look out for with each type.
Corded Leaf Blowers
Generally the most lightweight leaf blower type, investing in a corded leaf blower is a safe bet for anyone with pain in their back or joints as they’re specifically created for one handed use. Because of this, they’re extremely portable and maneuverable, and can get the job done quickly and precisely no matter how much debris you need to remove from your yard. Plus, they’re super easy to handle, with just one on and off button to give you instant power.
Of course, with a corded leaf blower, you lack the freedom that the others give, unless you also invest in a power cord extender to give you that little bit of extra range. Even so, these leaf blowers are best suited to smaller yards with less leaf build up. Making your way around trees or corners can prove tricky with a cord to contend with too, so always take this into consideration when weighing up your options.
An upside of the corded leaf blower: zero exhaust emissions, which means they’re environmentally friendly – giving you full peace of mind no matter how often you use yours. The only thing you need to watch out for is how much energy they consume. This differs from brand to brand, although generally speaking, you shouldn’t find your energy bills skyrocketing no matter which corded leaf blower you end up with.
When it comes to noise level, corded leaf blowers emit plenty of sound, but not as much as other types, and of course, as always, it depends from model to model and brand to brand. In order to figure out the exact amount of noise output you can expect, you should always check per leaf blower.
Cordless Leaf Blowers
The perfect leaf blower for unlimited range and yard size, a cordless leaf blower gives you the ultimate freedom unlike its corded cousin. That means they’re the perfect addition to medium to large sized yards that have plenty of debris to get rid of.
Whilst this freedom is paramount for many, it’s important to keep in mind that leaf blower batteries don’t last forever. From one full charge, you can expect to get an hour’s worth of work done before you need to put it back on charge, and charging times can vary drastically, with one hour’s worth of work sometimes equating to up to 7 hours charging time.
If you’re planning on using your leaf blower daily, you may want to double check that a cordless version is the right pick for you, or invest in multiple batteries.
A cordless leaf blower is still lightweight, with almost every one weighing less than 10lbs in total. However, they’re slightly heavier than their corded cousin, which limits maneuverability slightly. This isn’t necessarily a problem for most, but if you do struggle with muscle or back pain, you may want to rethink your choice. These leaf blowers can still be used one-handed, but many people will go ahead and use two hands to get the best amount of control.
Again, when it comes to noise output, a cordless leaf blower will emit plenty of sound pollution that could annoy your neighbors if you decide to give your yard a clean-up too early or too late in the day. In comparison with the corded leaf blower, you will find that a cordless version gives off less noise, but that’s partly due to the fact that they have less power than their corded counterparts, another thing to keep in mind when making your choice.
Gas-powered Leaf Blowers
Gas powered leaf blowers are still relatively popular, despite the growing popularity of both corded and cordless versions. To run effectively, they require fuel and oil, which can be expensive in the long run, and cause exhaust pollution which isn’t that great for the environment. On top of that, you’ll need to keep on top of maintenance to ensure it’s running at its full potential without any problems.
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However, strictly speaking, gas powered leaf blowers are incredibly powerful, and completely free range; without cords or batteries, they can go for a long time, which means they’re perfect for any sized yard and any amount of built-up debris.
Pick either a two-stroke or a four-stroke, depending on your own personal preference. Whilst a little less accessible than a simple on and off switch, once they’re running, you’ve got almost unlimited power in your hands.
Fantastically lightweight, you won’t find a gas powered leaf blower heavier than 10lbs, which gives you plenty of maneuverability for hitting those tight spots and nooks and crannies that get overloaded by debris.
It’s also great news for anyone who suffers with a bad back or weak muscles, as generally speaking, you can use these leaf blowers one handed. An extra hand on the frame will always give you extra stability though, no matter how lightweight the model.
As with all of these picks, you’ll find a gas powered leaf blower pretty noisy, and in fact, the noisiest of the bunch. They’re so loud that they’re even banned in some areas, which is something to consider before making a purchase.
When you’re using a gas powered leaf blower, it’s always sensible to wear ear protection to stop any harmful, lasting damage from occurring.
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Conclusion
Hopefully you’re a little more clued up as to which type of leaf blower would best fit you and your circumstances. With all of them having their own unique pros and cons, it’s definitely best to take some time to consider exactly what you need.
Whichever type you end up choosing though, rest assured that you’ll have a great piece of equipment on your side to keep your yard free from leaves and debris.
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Last Update: 2024-04-26 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
