How much leaf blower do you need?

Experts recommend buying the lightest and most efficient leaf blower that will satisfy your needs. Picking a blower with more power than you need just means more noise and weight. They recommend comparing power in terms of air speed, measured in miles per hour (mph) and air volume, in cubic feet per minute (CFM). However, manufacturers' specifications for air volume vary; some give two figures, one for CFM measured in the unit without the blowing tube and another for the CFM with tube attached. If you can't compare specs precisely, you can at least use them as a baseline.

Here are some other factors experts say to consider when choosing a leaf blower:

  • Check local ordinances before buying. A few communities ban leaf blowers altogether, while others limit sound levels and/or emission levels. Noise limits are often set at either 69 or 65 decibels. Leaf blowers sold in California must meet California Air Resources Board (CARB) standards; manufacturers sometimes identify these with a "C" at the end of the model number.
  • Find out how noisy a leaf blower is before buying, if possible. Although most manufacturers provide a maximum decibel rating for their leaf blowers, reviewers don't always agree with the rating. Also, leaf blowers with the same decibel rating may vary in terms of the tone or pitch they produce, so that some make a more annoying sound than others. Though decibel ratings are measured from 50 feet away, you'll be much closer and thus more affected by the sound, even if you're wearing hearing protection.
  • For handheld leaf blowers, the lighter the better. Several electric leaf blowers weigh as little as 7 pounds, and light-duty models for hard surfaces can weigh as little as 3.8 pounds. For heavier gas-powered leaf blowers, a padded backpack style is usually more comfortable than a handheld model.
  • Choose a variable-speed blower if you need to protect plants and mulch. Using a blower on low speed helps keep mulch and edgings from blowing out of place, and protects plants from strong air blasts. Using the lowest possible speed lessens noise and vibration as well.
  • For leaf vacuums, look for a 16:1 mulch ratio and a metal impeller. Most leaf blowers with a vacuum feature also mulch leaves to compress bulk in the bag. Reviews note that only under rare conditions do leaf-blower vacs compress leaves as much as the manufacturers' stated ratio of beginning to end volumes, so it's better to err on the high side. Experts say the actual compression rate is often closer to 3:1. Look for a shredder/vac with a metal impeller as well; we found quite a few complaints about plastic parts breaking or wearing out.
  • Look for wide-mouth or flared blower nozzles that swivel. These are better for gathering leaves into piles. Models with tapered ends tend to scatter leaves. Swiveling nozzles make handling more comfortable. You may want more than one style of blower tip: rounder for more powerful loosening of debris, flatter for sweeping it away.

Types of leaf blowers

In general, electric blowers are quieter and less expensive than gas blowers. Other advantages are that they don't pollute the air as much, are easier to start and require less maintenance than gas blowers. The best corded electric blowers are as powerful as gas blowers and include vacuuming and mulching capabilities. Cordless electrics are the lightest in weight and have a wider range than corded models because they don't have to be plugged into an outlet. However, they are less powerful, and their batteries must be recharged periodically. Most don't include a vacuum function. 

Handheld gas leaf blowers have about the same power as high-end electric corded blowers, and their range isn't restricted by a cord. They are more expensive, louder, heavier and more polluting. Backpack gas blowers are the most powerful blowers, but they're the most expensive and the heaviest, and they aren't recommended for most homeowners.

Propane-powered leaf blowers have some of the advantages of electric blowers; they are more environmentally friendly, easier to start and lower-maintenance than gas blowers. However, propane leaf blowers are more expensive than electric blowers, and while just as powerful, they are also as noisy as handheld gas blowers.

Here are some additional guidelines for choosing the right type of leaf blower for your needs:

  • Light-duty electric leaf blowers: If you need to clean only hard surfaces like patios, decks, sidewalks and driveways, a cordless leaf blower or light-duty corded electric blower is relatively quiet and convenient.
  • Electric leaf blower vacs: If you need to remove leaves from a lawn and a 150-foot extension cord can reach all areas where you need to work, a corded electric leaf blower should have enough power to meet most homeowners' needs. Most corded blowers can also vacuum and mulch leaves. Experts say that how well a leaf blower does this depends not only on the model but also on the size and type of leaves.
  • Handheld gas leaf blowers: If you need to use a leaf blower beyond the range of an extension cord, a handheld gas leaf blower can get the job done. For a large lawn, experts at Popular Mechanics recommend a blower with a 24 cc to 30 cc engine. Most gas blowers don't vacuum and mulch leaves, and the few that do don't excel at it. Another option is a propane-powered leaf blower, which vacuums and mulches leaves and is less polluting, but is as loud and more expensive than a conventional gas leaf blower.
  • Backpack gas leaf blowers:  A gas backpack blower is easier to use for long work sessions. Only homeowners with wooded properties of more than a half-acre in size or gardening professionals are likely to need a backpack blower.

Leaf-blower recalls

It's a good idea to register a new leaf blower with the manufacturer so that you'll be notified of any recalls. Among the most recent ones, some Homelite backpack blowers were recalled because of a fire hazard, while some Toro electric blowers were recalled because of faulty impellers that can break, fly out of the blower and injure the user or a bystander. For more information on these or other recalls, check the Consumer Product Safety Commission website (see the Useful Links section of this report).

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