What is a leaf blower - is it a good buy or a waste of money

At first glance, the idea of getting a leaf blower or vacuum cleaner is very tempting. Instead of working for a long time with a rake and broom, you can quickly blow all the garbage into piles. The blower can be used to clear snow. It is easy for her to clear flower beds and garden paths not only from leaves, but also from other small debris: sticks, pebbles, cherry and plum carrion, etc.

If the unit also has a shredder, cleaning the area promises to turn into a fairy tale. The garden vacuum cleaner itself pulls in the leaves and reduces their volume by 14 times! The result is excellent mulch for the garden. At least that's what the manufacturers promise us. But in reality... In reality, a purchase often does not live up to expectations. In order not to regret wasting money, we suggest you understand everything in detail.

What is a leaf blower and how is it different from a garden vacuum cleaner?

Both devices are classified as garden tools. They are actively used by public utilities for cleaning streets in developed cities.

They appeared on private farms relatively recently.

Blower or air blower or air broom - a unit that produces a powerful stream of air. By directing the air flow, you can quickly clear the area of light debris. Mainly used for cleaning sidewalks and driveways.
A garden vacuum cleaner, also known as a blower-vacuum cleaner, operates in two modes: blowing out and sucking up debris.In front of the turbine impeller there are grinding knives, and at the outlet there is a bag for collecting the crushed mass. Leaves collected with a vacuum cleaner are reduced in volume by 10-16 times.

According to the type of power supply, the tool can be electric or gasoline. An electric device can be powered by mains power or a battery; a gasoline device requires fuel and oil. There are also hand tools and backpack tools (those carried in the hands and those worn on the back).

Underwater rocks

The advantages of leaf blowers and garden vacuum cleaners are described in the introductory part of the article. Manufacturers always focus on them, forgetting to warn about pitfalls:

Not every vacuum cleaner will suck in a large number of leaves, especially wet and heavy ones.
The same applies to a blower - with low power, debris will be blown away over a short distance. It will take a long time to “sweep” with such an air broom.
The flatter the site, the easier it is to collect waste. Knee-deep grass is a serious obstacle even for a powerful leaf blower.
Grinding is always accompanied by strong noise and vibration of the device in the hands.
To vacuum vacuum comfortably, you will have to wear a protective suit. Wet leaves in a bag will wet clothes, and in dry weather, when chopping, the cleaner will be enveloped in a column of dust.
The more powerful the unit (gasoline vacuum cleaners are considered the most powerful), the heavier it is. Accordingly, the load on the back and arms is considerable.
A thick branch, pebble or large amount of sand and earth that gets into the turbine can instantly shut down the vacuum cleaner. You will have to disassemble it and take out the “undesirable” garbage.
The tool on the wire will not allow you to move far from the outlet. It can also short out in wet weather.
Battery-powered blowers usually don't last long.The charge lasts for 20-40 minutes of cleaning, so you have to use several batteries.
A gasoline vacuum cleaner not only makes a lot of noise, but also puffs exhaust fumes. It needs to be maintained and do not forget to add oil.

The listed disadvantages, or more precisely, features, do not mean that blowers and vacuum cleaners are useless. No. They really make the job easier. For proof, watch the video:

And we read the review:

Georgy: “I have been using a Husqvarna 125 BVx garden vacuum cleaner for more than 8 years. Vacuuming them in the fall is unrealistic - dry leaves quickly get wet from wet soil. After this, they are weakly sucked in, and the exhaust pipe quickly becomes clogged, despite its rather large diameter. But for blowing it works at “5+”. I clean 7 acres in 20 minutes (I blow everything off to the compost). Sometimes I offer my services to my neighbors. I have never regretted the purchase. If I had known that a vacuum cleaner saves so much labor, I would have purchased it earlier.”

Questions and answers

Question: How to choose the right device?

Answer: First of all, pay attention to the volume of air flow and blowing speed. They affect the performance of the blower (vacuum cleaner). For quick and comfortable cleaning of the area, the indicators should be 10-15 m³/min and 80 m/s, respectively. It’s good if the device weighs within 5 kg, the air flow is adjustable, and the impeller is protected from crushed stone.

Question: Which blower models should you pay attention to?

Answer: Among the light, quiet and affordable blowers (vacuum cleaners), the BOSCH GBL 18V-120, BOSCH ALB 18 LI, Hammer VZD2000, MTD BV 2500 E, Bosch ALS 30 models are popular.Powerful units for cleaning large areas - Ryobi RBL26BP 5133001815, Champion GBR357, Gardena ErgoJet 3000, STIHL SHE 81, Iron Angel BV2800, Husqvarna 125 BVx, ECHO PB-770.

Outdoor vacuum cleaners can be compared to vacuum cleaners that are used to clean your home. Devices vary in power, functions, and price. Whether a leaf blower will provide real benefit depends on the characteristics of the model, as well as the conditions in which it is planned to be used. In a small area with a simple landscape, you can get by with a rake. But if the area is large and there are a lot of leaves, a powerful garden vacuum cleaner with a shredder will be a good help in housekeeping.