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LEAF BLOWERS & BLOWER VACS

Blower or Blower-Vacuum? Jet fan or Centrifugal fan? There are a few things worth knowing before choosing your next blower or vacuum.

Leaf Blowers & Blower Vacsexpand_more

WHAT TO CONSIDER

SIZE & TYPE OF GARDEN

Let’s face it, every outdoor space has to contend with leaves, whether or not they’re yours! If you have lots of material to move, and maybe some distance to move it, you’ll need a blower with power and mobility. If you have narrow paths or a smaller backyard, you’ll want a blower with more control. And if you don’t want to blow leaves in your pool, a blower vac is a great option.

MATERIAL YOU NEED TO SHIFT

The type of material you need to shift or remove will help determine what type of blower or vacuum you’ll need. Damp, dense debris requires a blower with more air speed than if you need to move dry leaves or grass clippings. And if you want to mulch leaves to return them to the garden, you’ll need a blower vacuum that mulches.

TYPES

LEAF BLOWERS

If you want to clear grass clippings off paths and driveways, or shift leaves off lawns and decks, a blower beats a broom and rake hands down. They’re uncomplicated pieces of equipment … just point and shoot.

BLOWER VACS

Blower vacuums come in a single tube ‘conversion’ or double tube ‘over-under’ configurations. Conversion units are light but take a little longer to change between blowing and vacuuming modes. Over-under type units can change between blower and vac in seconds and have wheels to support the extra weight.

POWER SOURCES

Battery-powered

Battery-powered models come in 18V and 36V platforms. 18V models are light in weight and are great for clearing paths and decks. 36V models have more power for bigger yards with larger jobs and for moving heavier debris. But both offer freedom from power cords and are quieter than petrol models.

Petrol-powered

Petrol-powered models are the most powerful and have longer run times than their battery equivalents. They have the power to move large piles leaves and damp debris. They require a little more maintenance than battery and electric models but the trade-off is the extra power.

Electric-powered

Electric-powered blowers are ideal for small outdoor areas where everything you need to shift or collect is within 25m of a power outlet (longer than that and the power can diminish). Electric units never run out of power and are quieter than petrol units. They offer great value for money for the budget-conscious gardener.

FEATURES

AXIAL VS. CENTRIFUGAL FAN BLOWERS

Axial fan models (aka jet blowers) are great for moving lots of mess in large areas and are best used for shifting dry materials in a general direction. But if you have tighter spaces that require more directional control, like narrow paths, a blower with a centrifugal fan will be more suitable – they also remove stubborn materials better than axial fans because they ‘focus’ the expelled air.

VARIABLE SPEED & CRUISE CONTROL

A cruise control function is a great addition to a blower or blower vacuum, especially when you have a large area to clear and don’t want to have keep holding down the trigger. Variable speed allows you to better control where you want the material to go … into the garden or into a pile.

Turbo function

Blowers with a ‘turbo’ or ‘boost’ button offer that extra burst of power when you need it – like when moving a large pile of leaves or damp material. This mode uses a lot more battery power, so best to use it only when you need it.