How to Choose the Perfect Leaf Blower for You

*This is a collaborative post.

To many people, the changing leaves and autumnal palette of fall is a sight to behold. But the real hassle begins when your lawn becomes overrun with fallen leaves that require near-constant attention to keep cleared and clean. 

For any homeowner, investing in leaf blowers may seem like an unnecessary addition to their gardening and maintenance setup. However, once you fully discover the numerous uses and benefits of leaf blowers for clearing up unsightly and potentially damaging debris across your property, you will truly appreciate the investment you have made. 

Types of Leaf Blowers

There are many different variations of leaf blowers, which primarily fall into three main categories: powerful gas-powered models capable of clearing entire golf courses and simple corded and cordless models suitable for home maintenance. 

Gas-Powered

Gas-powered models, the most powerful of the three types, are the go-to choice for commercial use or extremely heavy-duty tasks. They are designed to exceed the needs of an average homeowner, providing a high level of efficiency. 

These blowers are usually built as backpack units, with the additional power provided alongside added weight and noise levels compared to smaller and less powerful corded or cordless options. The gas-powered engine will require more maintenance and ongoing monitoring of oil levels, spark plugs, and other components of gasoline engines. 

Unless you own a landscaping company or regularly manage large stretches of land, a gas-powered leaf blower will largely exceed your requirements and can feel like an excessive investment. Additionally, they come with a higher price tag that may push you out of your budget range. 

Corded

While gas-powered leaf blowers may currently be the most powerful option on the market, that doesn’t mean corded and cordless models are falling behind. Recent advancements in electronic motor design, which packs plenty of punch in a far more compact and quieter unit, are proving to be a popular choice for homeowners looking to make an investment in the perfect leaf blower. 

Corded blowers are available in backpack or handheld styles and are much lighter and less noisy than their gasoline counterparts. If you know you will need to run your blower for extended periods of time, this option will be ideal, as you essentially have unlimited runtime.

However, the extension cord needed for this device to operate can quickly become a nuisance to navigate, often getting tangled or hung up on nearly everything you own, potentially causing you to spend just as much time dealing with a knotted cord as cleaning foliage away. 

Cordless

In recent years, cordless leaf blowers have seen the biggest advancement in construction and performance and have quickly become the go-to option for most homeowners. These products operate using compact lithium batteries, delivering a surprisingly powerful amount of energy in a very convenient and portable package. Many of the larger models easily hold their own against their corded variations. 

However, the biggest reason cordless blowers have soared in popularity over recent years is their extremely easy and convenient application. While you may not have unlimited runtime, they more than make up for it with their grab-and-go setup, which allows for a quick cleanup in minimal time. 

Features to Consider

Manufacturers tend to highlight two main figures when advertising blowers: cubic feet per minute (CFM) and miles per hour (mph), but each feature focuses on a different aspect. CFM measures how much air the blower is emitting, while MPH measures how fast this air is moving. For example, a high CFM will blow away a lot of leaves at once, while a high MPH will be able to dislodge and move heavier debris and wet leaves. If you are unsure which is more important, it is better to opt for a higher CFM. 

Functions like speed-control and shut-off mechanisms should be easy to reach, ideally allowing you to operate the machine one-handed. You should also pay attention to the design of the nozzle. Wider nozzles excel at moving large quantities of loose leaves, while smaller, rounded nozzles can tackle heavier and more compact debris.  

Some blowers include a clever vacuum option allowing light mulching to reuse some of your yard waste. This addition may struggle to work through large piles of leaves, but it can be a fantastic solution for flowerbeds where blowing is less effective and manual raking could damage delicate plants. 

Finally, you must consider the noise level of the blower you purchase. These machines are notorious for their loud and somewhat obnoxious noise, and while you may be able to wear ear protection to combat this issue, your neighbors won’t have the same opportunity. 

Blower Maintenance

Electric blowers require very little maintenance. At most, they will need to be wiped down and periodically checked for dirt build-up on the air intake. If your model includes a built-in mulcher, you will need to occasionally clean out small leaf debris from the bag and blower. 

Comparatively, gas-powered blowers will need to be tuned up every one to two years, depending on how often they are used. You will also need to keep fuel available on hand and monitor oil levels and the condition of spark plugs. Two-stroke motors need a unique blend of gasoline and oil, which you can mix yourself or buy pre-blended for added convenience.