Leaf Blowers: What To Look For

Types of leaf blowers

In deciding what leaf blower to buy, consumers can choose between an electric blower (cordless or corded) and a gas-powered blower, which may be handheld or worn like a backpack. In general, corded electric blowers are heavier and more powerful than cordless models. Handheld gas leaf blowers have about the same power as high-end electric corded blowers, but are louder, heavier, and more polluting. Backpack gas blowers are the most powerful blowers, but they're heavy and aren't recommended for most homeowners.

While some leaf blowers meet noise restrictions in place by many municipalities (generally lower than 65 decibels), they are still noisy enough that you should wear hearing protection while using them.

Experts recommend buying the lightest and most environmentally-friendly leaf blower that will satisfy your requirements; picking a blower with more power than you really need just buys more noise and weight.

• Light-duty electric leaf blowers. If you only need to clean 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 will have enough power to meet your 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. A few gas blowers can also vacuum and mulch leaves, but they don't excel at it.

• Backpack gas leaf blowers. A gas backpack blower is easier to use for long work sessions. Only homeowners with wooded properties over a half-acre in size are likely to need a backpack blower.

Expert reviews recommend comparing leaf blower power in terms of air speed, measured in miles per hour (mph), and air volume, in cubic feet per minute (CFM). The latter is supposed to be the better figure to use, but manufacturers' specifications vary. Some give two figures, one for CFM measured in the unit without the blowing tube, and another for the CFM with tube attached. While the ways in which manufacturers measure these speeds differ, you can at least use them as a baseline comparison.

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

• High-end corded electric leaf blowers are best for most users and jobs. The best corded electric leaf blowers these days are just as powerful as handheld gas-powered blowers. Most work with extension cords as long as 150 feet. They're sufficient for normal yard work, and generally quieter, cleaner, lighter and better for the environment than gas blowers are.

• A cordless electric leaf blower is most convenient to use. A cordless leaf blower can handle light-duty sweeping on hard surfaces like patios and driveways. It's the most convenient type to use: lightweight, quiet and clean. Like light-duty corded models, cordless blowers don't work well on lawns or for wet leaves or debris.

• Check local ordinances before buying. A few communities ban leaf blowers altogether, while others limit sound levels and/or gas engine emission levels. Noise limits are often set to either 69 or 65 decibels. Leaf blowers sold in California must meet California Air Resources Board (CARB) standards (manufacturers often identify these with a "C" at the end of the model number).

• Compare actual sounds 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 seven pounds, and light-duty models for hard surfaces can weigh as little as 4.4 pounds. For heavier gas leaf blowers, a well-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 with 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 at 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.

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. Plastic impellers seem especially vulnerable to defects. In 2008, Shindaiwa recalled some backpack blowers because the plastic impellers could break and send sharp pieces flying out at high speed. For more information on these or prior recalls, check the Consumer Product Safety Commission website at CPSC.gov.