Regardless of the power source, a leaf vacuum sucks the leaves in and thus, must be cleaned after each use to prevent blockage, damage and mold. Electrically powered devices tend to need less care than gas devices, which require preparation of gas/oil mixture and regular oiling for proper function. Maintenanceīlower vacs require moderate amount of maintenance. Also check with the manufacturer about the necessity of hearing protection, as it may be recommended for some of the louder models. With that said, be sure to check the noise regulations in your area, since some leaf vacuums may break them. Electrically powered vacuums are even quieter, rarely scratching 70 dB. Gas powered blower vacs rarely reach 80 dB. Noise Ratingīlower vacs are some of the quietest landscaping equipment on the market. In addition, the attached bag may get in the way when performing chores, as does the cord in the case of corded devices. However, their weight may be a limiting factor for users with an impaired physical condition, or during longer operation times. Most vacuums are designed as handheld devices. With that said, it still may be more convenient to use the vacuum directly on small lawns or on windy days. Lastly, blower vacs have a smaller effective range than blowers and their users should be prepared for some extra walking.įor maximum efficiency, it is recommended to use the blower to blow all the leaves onto a pile and then using the vacuum function to get rid of them. Thus, unlike in the case of a blower, you may end up needing to halt your work several times to empty your bag, which many users report as annoying. However, this function is a double-edged sword – the capacity of the bag is limited by its volume and the mulching ratio (a conversion rate of bags of leaves to bags of mulch) of its mulcher, if there is one present. They collect the leaves for you into a bag and even convert them to mulch. Once that is done, disposing of a giant pile of leaves is messy, especially on a windy day. Versatilityīlowers only move the leaves from one place to another. While there are a few cordless alternatives, they are less powerful, and their period of autonomy barely scratches the 1-hour mark. Since most vacs are handheld, their fuel capacity is limited 10–20 fl.oz.Īlmost all electric vacs are powered by 12 A/120 V engine and are corded, due to the weight limitations of their handheld design. Gas powered vacuums are almost exclusively powered by 2-stroke engines, which require a mix of gasoline and oil. The electrically powered devices follow gas with a varying, yet almost always lesser CFM, while maintaining a roughly equal MPH. However, a direct comparison between the two cannot be made – Vacuuming a leaf requires a greater CFM than just blowing it. These stats are comparable to other handheld blowers. Their average engine displacement of 27 cc allows for an average of 401 CFM and 192 MPH ( learn more about these values). The specs of both electrically and gas-powered vacuums are roughly equal, with the latter being on the higher end of the spectrum in terms of their power. Characteristics – What to expect from blower vacs Power Most blower vacs are both electrically powered and corded, with only a few featuring their own battery. This reduces the volume of the leaves and increases the capacity of the bag per number of leaves. The overwhelming majority of them feature a mulcher, which converts collected leaves to mulch – Imagine a smoothie mixer as an analogy. The leaves are stored in an attached bag, usually made from nylon. The body of the blower always contains both the nozzle and the engine through which the leaves are collected. For example, this walk-behind model from Sun Joe. Most blower vacs are shaped like classic handheld blowers, though there are some exceptions. Since our site filters out blowers by the ability to vacuum, we will focus on that aspect specifically. As their name suggests, not only do they blow leaves – they also suck them. Leaf vacuums, also known as blower vacs, are devices designed as an alternative to leaf blowers. Summary – Pros & Cons Of Leaf Blower Vacs.
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