When buying a piece of gardening machinery there is a lot to consider isn't there? Probably performance is right up there in there in your thoughts. Price too of course and everything in-between such as the reputation of the company you are buying from, warranty and even if they carry any spare parts (often considered too late in the day).
Leaf Blowers are no different. A petrol cordless leaf blower is a powerful piece of equipment with its power concentrated in a focal point to move large quantities of leaves.
As beautiful as it is, dealing with Autumn leaves requires hard work unless you're utilising the freedom of a petrol driven leaf-blower - then its actually fun.
Power: CFM and MPH
The 'power' of a machine is expressed in different ways considering different aspects of the machine.
- CFM (cubic feet per minute) Is a measurement of volume, or exactly how much air passes through a leaf blower’s nozzle in one minute.Because CFM measures a quantity of air, it gives a good understanding of how much material you can move with your leaf blower or indeed how large an area you can clear in a period of time. The higher the CFM , the more air your leaf blower will produce and teh more effective it will be.
- MPH (miles per hour) familiar to most of course from the vehicles that we drive. No riding around on your leaf blower like Harry Potter on a broom though! With leaf blowers it specifically measures the rate at which air passes through the nozzle at the end of the pipe (often narrowed at the end) .
A high number on both of these aspects of a petrol leaf blower clearly makes for a powerful machine and it is certainly an aspect that you should check - any good manufacturer or supplier will display this data very clearly.
Other Factor To Consider When Ordering
You've found what you need - but check these two important aspect of any purchase:
- Warranty - Check that you have warranty for the machine that you have purchased and that the warranty terms are clear.
- Spares - Ensure the retailer stocks or can offer to supply spare parts for your machine. This is an often over looked aspect of purchasing equipment.
- Aftersales Service - Is there a contact phone number as well as an email address so that you can speak directly with the company that you are purchasing from?
Points to consider when working with your backpack leaf blower:
- Wear suitable outdoor clothing
- Be sure to wear robust gardening gloves when using your leaf blower
- Wear protective goggles - there will be a lot of debris flying!
- Wear effective ear protection
- Make sure the area is clear of obstructions - and people!
- Never leave your leaf blower unattended when it is running
