A leaf blower is a gardening device that helps you tidy up your lawn by getting rid of some fallen leaves. Instead of using a rake to tidy up a whole garden in the summer and autumn seasons, you can use this tool to remove leaves and other debris, such as grass cuttings, from your garden.
Although various kinds of leaf blowers are powered by various engines and motors, they all function according to the same principles. In this post, we are going to show you how a leaf blower works.
The Ins and Outs of How a Leaf Blower Works
All leaf blowers operate under a centrifugal force principle and come with a fan that rotates at a certain speed, recirculating air from one point to another. As soon as the fan begins to rotate, air is drawn into the leaf blower’s front compartment and then directed, under high pressure, into the funnel or nozzle.
Once the air is redirected to the funnel/nozzle, the speed of air increases, which can go up to 200 miles per minute; after that, it is ejected from the funnel/nozzle at a very high speed and high pressure, thereby generating the force that blows away the leaves that fall in your yard or garden.
Different Power Sources
While most leaf blowers work under the same principle, they are powered by different engines and motors. In this section, we will elaborate a little on these different power sources.
Gas-Powered/Petrol-Powered
Gasoline-powered leaf blowers have an engine that powers the whole unit and need regular refilling. So you get the best results for your garden work, ensure that you fill it with the appropriate petrol.
There are two different types of engines that can be used to power gasoline leaf blowers: a 2-stroke engine and a 4-stroke engine.
The 2-stroke engine leaf blower generates more torque when operating on a low number of rotations per minute (RPM) setting. The 4-stroke engine leaf blower generates more torque when operating on a high RPM setting.
Gasoline-powered leaf blowers are quite powerful and can be used on large lawns. In most instances, such leaf blowers are used commercially in large fields, but they are also suitable for domestic use.
Electric
Electric leaf blowers offer motors of different voltage ratings, which affect the overall performance of leaf blowers.
Leaf blowers with a high voltage rating are more powerful than leaf blowers with a low voltage rating. As electric leaf-blowers need to be charged, you will often find that these types are ideal for domestic use and small lawns. And, unlike gas-powered leaf blowers, electric leaf blowers do not produce a lot of noise.
Moreover, electric leaf blowers can be categorised into two groups; corded leaf blowers and cordless leaf blowers. Corded leaf blowers have a power cord that supplies electricity to the main unit and can be used indefinitely. As the name suggests, cordless leaf blowers are powered by a removable/non-removable battery. Therefore, they are quite portable, for which you will have to charge the battery to a certain level before you start using them. The benefit of a cordless leaf blower is that it allows you to be more mobile.
Components That Affect the Performance of a Leaf Blower
Air-Speed
The total airspeed of a leaf blower might change based on the power of the propulsion system or the motor’s power. In most models, the airspeed generated by the fan is given in miles per hour (MPH). However, in other models, the overall airspeed is given in metres per second (M/S).
While the speed of air might determine the number of leaves that you blow out of your garden, the volume of air also affects the performance of your leaf blower.
Therefore, airspeed and air volume should be considered together, as a leaf blower that blows a large volume of air is more effective in getting rid of leaves and grass cuttings than a blower that blows a small volume of air.
Power
A petrol leaf-blower power is graded in terms of cylinder displacement (cc) units.
Engines that have a high cc rating are more powerful than engines that have a low cc rating. While leaf blowers with a high cc rating might be quite powerful, they consume a lot of fuel.
On the other hand, the power of electric leaf blowers is displayed in voltage units. Here you must consider whether you would prefer corded or cordless power.
Leaf Blower Vacuum
Some leaf blowers also make the garden clean-up easier for you, as they provide a vacuum option. Instead of blowing leaves, such leaf blowers use centrifugal force energy to suck leaves into the main unit and a collection bag.
Once the bag becomes full, you can either get rid of the collected leaves or mulch them. The vacuum option is also effective in collecting a pile of leaves from your lawn.
The pile of leaves is sucked into the main unit and can also be shredded into smaller pieces. Some models have a fan that can multi-task and cut leaves into smaller pieces as it recirculates air from one point to another.
However, if large pieces of debris or stones are sucked into the blower, they might damage the fan; therefore, you need to be careful of how you use it.
Different Designs
Handheld
As the name hints, a handheld leaf blower has a unique design that makes it easier for you to move around your garden as you tidy. In addition, most handheld blowers are quite light and can be moved or swayed easily while blowing leaves. Often equipped with a 2-stroke engine, these units are lighter than their 4-stroke counterparts and, therefore, easier to handle.
Handheld blowers are more suitable for smaller gardens and small lawns. Not to mention, such blowers are ideal for tidying up hard-to-reach spots that might be on your garden or lawn.
Backpack
Backpack leaf blowers must be carried on your back as your blowing or vacuuming leaves from your garden. They are more powerful and larger than other leaf blowers, making them a good choice for large gardens and lawns. Additionally, they create less strain on your arms, as the weight is evenly distributed across your back.
Leaf Blowers – Efficient and Handy Tools
Whether you plan to blow or vacuum leaves from your garden, a leaf blower will get the job done. It is one of the most powerful garden tools and will make your garden clean a quick and simple task, especially when considering all the leaves you need to rack up during the autumn months.
