Compare Gas, Electric and Battery Leaf Blowers

The beauty of fall foliage has inspired paintings, songs, and poems. Sadly, the foliage eventually drops to the ground and makes a mess to clean up. Clearing leaves with a hand rake can take hours of hard work. Luckily, a leaf blower will shorten this task by blowing all of the leaves into one pile, making them easy to gather.

According to Bob Vila, a good tactic for using a leaf blower consists of blowing all of the leaves onto a large tarp. Then gather up the tarp to dump the leaves on a compost pile. In turn, the compost pile can feed spring and summer greenery. That eco-friendly idea keeps people from wasting trash bags and helps conserve nature’s bounty.

With the best use of a leaf blower explained, which type of leaf blower works best? Keep in mind that people use leaf blowers for more than clearing foliage. They also make it easy to clean dust from a deck, off a parked car, or even a light dusting of snow from the driveway or walk.

According to Consumer Reports, consumers should consider convenience and speed when they decide between electric or gas leaf blowers. These days, good electric leaf blowers can handle fairly large jobs. Mainly, the length of the cord limits their effective range. On the other hand, handheld gas leaf blowers weigh more and sound noisier than electric models. Some are even banned in specific cities. Further, they require gasoline and periodic maintenance.

Some people don’t want the hassle of electric cords or the extra maintenance gas-powered leaf blowers require. They could consider buying a leaf blower with a rechargeable battery. Battery-powered machines generally weigh less than gas models but somewhat more than electric ones. The battery may only last about half an hour on a single charge, so a large job will take longer. Some people buy a second battery, so they can charge one while using the other one.

This list summarizes typical prices for various kinds of handheld leaf blowers:

Electric leaf blowers cost the least, and high-quality battery-powered models cost the most. Gas leaf blowers sit in the middle of the range, but buyers will also have to buy gas and oil – a cost you won’t have with an electric model. Also, gas models require more maintenance.

Some people with bigger lawns to clear might also choose a backpack leaf blower. These gas-powered machines weigh more than handheld leaf blowers, but they distribute the weight better so they are easier to carry. Expect to pay $160 to $480. Those who need serious power for the biggest job may upgrade to a wheeled leaf blower for $280 to $800. Typically, people who maintain lawns professionally will use a backpack or a wheeled leaf blower.

Proper leaf blower maintenance can help extend the useful life of these handy machines. If something does go wrong, having a surprisingly affordable Upsie leaf blower warranty can ensure prompt repairs without deductibles or service fees.

Upsie offers live claims service, coverage for mechanical and electrical issues, and local repairs. Upsie gives customers up to 60 days to register their leaf blower warranty, so there’s no reason to make a hasty decision on overpriced retail warranties at the time of sale. Of course, anybody who did buy the retailer’s overpriced protection plan still might be able to cancel it for a refund and choose Upsie instead.