I'm planning to buy an electric leaf blower to clear away the leaves in my back yard.
When selecting the model, are there any features that are particularly important to have, or to avoid?
Thanks in advance for your helpful replies.
Check Consumer Reports at library. If you don't mind a cord some of the electrics are incredibly powerful but noisy.
I got a cheap Weedeater brand when my fancy gas model went to the shop. It worked fairly well, considering I was using it on huge, heavy leaves.
I strongly recommend a cheap one that blows, vacuums the leaves, shreds them, and spits them into a bag. I vacuumed up a whole yard full of leaves, and only emptied the smallish bag twice, taking just a little space in the trash can.
I did try raking when I first moved in. It took forever, wore me out, and filled the trash can to the top.
The one I got was about $50 at Lowes. It's simple to change it from blower to vacuum, wasn't too loud, and did the job quickly, I'd say 1/4 of the time it took to rake. With smaller leaves that are easily sucked into the maw, it would take far less time.
I suggest you avoid the more expensive ones. I found it easier and cheaper to buy an inexpensive model, use it until it dies, then simply replace it, than to spend a lot of money on "one that will last for years", only to find it poop out right before a party, when it will spend a week or more in the shop, and still end up buying a cheap one so my guests don't think I've gone White Trash. Also, the cheap one worked fine for two years, and probably still does, but my neighbor cut down his monster leaf tree, leaving me with a leafless leaf blower. heh
Pagan
Avoid an electric blower; not enough power. The backpack (gas) models work very well, but require hearing protection.
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