Factors to Consider When Choosing a Cordless Leaf Blower
Check out these factors you need to consider before spending your hard earned money on a cordless leaf blower.
01/02/2020
Tired of spending an excessive amount of time racking your yard? Maybe it is about time to start considering a leaf blower. Even better than just a leaf blower is a cordless leaf blower. The amount of ease of access, and mobility that you are afforded to you with the use of a cordless leaf blower can help you with your yard work. Spending time wrestling with corded lawn care equipment is a huge pain in the butt. So if you are considering investing in a cordless leaf blower, you might not be up to speed on what to look for.
If that is the case, then check out these factors you need to consider before spending your hard earned money.
Cost
Pretty much as expected, one of the biggest factors you need to consider before purchasing a cordless leaf blower is the cost. Most yard work equipment is going to be a pretty penny, but the value of the tool generally outweighs the cons of spending your money. Cordless leaf blowers range in function, size, and maintenance needs. The lower end models can cost as little as >$120 while the higher end models can be upwards of $300-$500+. How much you are willing to spend on a cordless leaf blower will depend on your budget, how often you use it, and how much power you need. Homeowners are not going to need an industrial cordless blower, but often with power tools, money correlates with function.
Weight and Size
Before you consider getting a cordless leaf blower you need to see how heavy you are willing to go with it. Most cordless leaf blowers can range between 5 to 10 pounds, which is not that much weight, but could put strain on your arms if you are using it for extended periods of time or need to clear a large yard. Even though they can increase in size, they still offer more freedom than a corded leaf blower does. They do not have gas tanks which reduces a lot of the weight, but the heavier models are usually bulkier because they use a more powerful battery. Still, when you consider the ability to get into those difficult areas of your house, the weight or dimensions of a big or long blower is still rather exceptional.
Battery Power
In any cordless equipment, the ability of the battery is going to be integral to how much work gets done. The most common battery type in cordless leaf blowers are lithium ion powered. With the new lithium models becoming popular, it is unlikely you would find another cordless leaf blower using another type of batter, and these offer a good amount of operational time. Do keep in mind that the amount of operation use is determined by the size and strength of the blower. From ranging from 18 to as high as 120V means that your battery may be strong, but will require longer (relatively speaking, they are still quick) charging times, and vice versa. It never hurts to have a reserve battery so you can swap them out while they charge.
Air Volume Power
Air power is another thing you want to consider when purchasing your cordless leaf blower. The air power of a cordless blower is determined by CFM (cubic feet per minute), which is the measure of air volume moving through a blower. The stronger the battery, the stronger the CFM rating. Again, depending on your needs, you might not require a cordless air blower with a CFM rating of 400, but you might if your yard is notoriously leafy because of tree coverage. The rate varies, and can be rated at 80 all the way up to almost 500. It all depends on how long you need the battery to last, and how much blowing power you require. Consider how much air volume the blower you want has, and whether or not that fits into your needs.
Before considering buying a cordless air blower, there is some basic information you should have to help guide your decision. Much of the consideration around purchasing a cordless leaf blower revolves around the needs you are looking to match. There are obvious ones like cost, but they are reliant on a lot of other factors. Cordless leaf blowers come in many shapes, sizes, weights, and power levels. The average person trying to clear their yard will not need an industrial blower, but knowing the battery types and power, as well as mobility, will help you make an informed decision.