The perfect sight of trees shedding leaves of all color and sizes surely casts a spell on the eyes of the beholder, but this fleeting spell is later replaced by a load of work at hand that needs to be sorted right away. To be more specific the work is about clearing tons of leaves, dirty walkways, and porches. This is when a good leaf blower comes to the rescue and ease the dreaded work for you.
Gas vs electric leaf blower. Can’t tell the difference? An electric leaf blower is a light handheld machine that is easy to carry and costs less as compared to a gasoline-powered leaf blower. A good quality Corded electric leaf blower is known to be at par with the gasoline-powered leaf blowers in terms of power and performance. Gasoline-powered leaf blowers are heavily weighted, fast, and high-performance machines. However, the noise and maintenance are the notable negatives here.
The following are the three most general leaf blower categories available in the market. We will be jotting down their most striking features for you while making sure not to overlook their respective shortcomings that could possibly disrupt the cleaning process.
- Gas-powered electric leaf blower
- Battery-powered electric leaf blower
- Corded electric leaf blower
Key Differences
#1 Power
The power of a leaf blower is manifested in its ability to blow air at a certain speed or being able to blow a certain volume of air. The former is measured in MPH (Miles per hour) and the later is measured in CFM (Cubic Feet per minute).
For Electric handheld leaf blower, the range of CFM is between 349 to 605 and for MPH it is between 95 to 250 respectively. As for a gas handheld leaf blower CFM is between 358 to 460 and MPH is between 145 to 195.
#2 Weight
Corded leaf blowers weigh from 8 to 13 pounds, whereas a cordless leaf blower is about 6 to 10 pounds.
Hand-held gas-powered leaf blowers weight around 10 pounds. However, weight increases significantly as we switch to a backpack and walk-behind models.
#3 Noise
Noise rating for the battery-powered leaf blower is observed to be around 65 decibels (dB) for the handheld model. Corded electric reaches around 68 decibels. And as we move to the gas-powered, Backpack, or walk-behind models the machine gets noisier.
94 decibels is the noise rating for a gas-powered handheld leaf blower. The user has to be cautious of the noise hike and must wear hearing protection.
#4 Maneuverability
Handheld leaf blowers are light in weight and easy to maneuver as they do the job. However, for the walk-behind and backpack models, the user has to keep up by moving the muscle against the weight of the machine.
Corded electric leaf blowers can give you a hard time moving across various lengths as the corded model necessitates movement constraints.
#5 Price
The cost of the corded electric leaf blower is less as compared to the other two that is between $30 to $110. The cordless electric leaf blowers have a price range between $150 to $300, Which implies that they are relatively expensive as compared to the previous model.
Gas-powered leaf blowers have a price range that varies from $90 to $220.
Which one of these is better?
Each one of us has a different set of preferences, expectations, and needs. So, there is no hard and fast rule to choose from amongst a number of options available because the choice varies from person to person. But that doesn’t mean a general overview of characteristics can’t help you decide the best and pick one for yourself.
- Gasoline handheld leaf blowers weigh a bit heavy because of the engine installed and are best for removing lots of leaves, stubborn dirt and debris. These models are powerful and fast. But one thing that won’t sit well with most of you is its noisy engine. One must wear hearing protection as a precautionary measure against the high pitch screeching sound produced.
- Corded electric leaf blowers are best for the job within 100 feet of a power outlet. They start easily and are light in weight. Also, you do not have to worry over the gaseous emissions and the power source implies no maintenance. The only limit to its working is the power cord that restricts mobility.
- Battery-powered leaf blower weights about the same as corded electric and gasoline handheld leaf blower. They are best suited for yards. Also, they are easy to start and are emission-free. There is no cord attached to restrict mobility.
You might develop an interest in learning more about CFM vs MPH for leaf blowers
2- cycle or a 4-cycle engine in a handheld gas leaf blower?
If you looking for a lightweight gas leaf blower that is easy to maintain and has power efficiency added to your benefit then a 2-cycle engine is the one for you. It runs on a mixture of oil and gas in the fuel tank and produces twice as much power as that of a 4 engine leaf blower.
Anyone who is big on fuel efficiency while considering the rest of the comfort-adding features to be secondary can vote against the 2-cycle engine. A 4-cycle engine is fuel-efficient and gives more mileage as compared to the 2-cycle engine for the same amount of gas. Gas and oil have separate reserve space so you won’t have to trouble yourself over mixing both.
Gasoline backpack blower’s vs wheeled gasoline blowers
Gasoline backpack blower
Backpack leaf blowers are pricy and hard to maneuver. However, the heavyweight is compensated in terms of its power and performance. It is noisy but can clear lots of leaves, however large the area maybe. And lastly, the gasoline engine requires maintenance to preserve its efficiency and durability.
Wheeled gasoline leaf blowers
They are observed to high-priced as compared to the rest of the kind. They are the fastest and most powerful blowers. But the power-packed performance comes with a price. You will have less control over the noisy machine and it can overpower if you do not have enough muscle to maneuver the heavy machine.
Consumer reports offer an exclusive guide to buying yourself the best leaf blower.
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