Backpack Leaf Blowers- Do You Need One?

If you are running a professional lawn care business or a homeowner with many trees, you definitely need a backpack leaf blower. There are so many choices out there that a rookie could get easily confused, or even worse, purchase an insufficient blower.

Now, you may be thinking that you can pull it off with a unnamed box store hand held blower. Well, let me put it like this. How would you like to use a ten year old 21 inch push mower to mow an acre of well grown grass? Well, that is what using a cheap hand held blower is equal to. Don't get me wrong, though. They have their purpose, even in the lawn care business. However, it is never a good idea to purchase a cheap box store blower. They are typically very unreliable and weak compared to a professional hand held.

The main thing pro hand held blowers are good for in the professional setting is for those hard to get to nooks and crannies. They are also good for a light breeze of dry grass. Why are they better in those aspects than the mighty backpack leaf blowers? Simple. They are quicker and handier.

If you are on a budget for your lawn care business and can only afford one blower, you should get a backpack blower if at all possible. The mid to top of the line models have an enormous amount of power compared to any hand blowers. It is better to go to a dealer and get a feel of the blowers, and to compare similar models. If you compare a backpack leaf blowers to hand helds, you will notice that the more powerful backpack blowers can move significantly heavier objects, like small limbs! How do you think that will help in the Fall time? Very well!

For you entrepreneurs out there who are on a really tight budget, a used backpack blower can be had for a very reasonable price. You can still compare models at the dealer, but you can buy used online or in person. If you are buying used online be sure the seller has reasonable feedback. Don't be afraid to ask plenty of specific questions. If they don't answer them in a reasonable amount of time, there are many other sellers out there!

Be sure to purchase one that is fairly new condition and not worked to death. It would be ideal to buy a demo model or one from someone who is going out of business. Used commercial lawn care equipment is better than new homeowner stuff 99% of the time. You just have to be a little more careful.

Backpack leaf blowers have an extra boost of power for the fall time or those wet days. However they are less handy in tight spaces and more expensive than a hand held leaf blower. Even though they have there disadvantages, I still would rank them more of a must have in a professional lawn care business than a hand held leaf blower.

By Heath Garner

A site that I recommend to buy used equipment on is http://www.lawnequipmentsite.com

If you would like to shop for any lawn equipment, please take a look at http://www.lawnequipmentsite.com

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Backpack Leaf Blowers or Hand Held? is a post from: Garden Leaf Blowers

Technorati Tags: backpack leaf blower, backpack leaf blowers, backpack leaf blowers or hand held, electric leaf blower, garden leaf blower, hand held, lawn care business, leaf blower, Leaf Blowers, petrol leaf blower

1. How is it powered?

3 options: electric, petrol, and believe it or not - cordless. Deciding which one you want, depends on your use. Cordless won't run very long, so you are limited to small areas. With an electric, you will be tethered (limited) by your electrical cord. A petrol powered leaf blower will allow you to cover anything from the smallest to the largest needs.

2. What type of engine will you have?

Your choice of power will help decide this, but just be aware of your options. There are 2 stroke and 4 stroke engines. We can let it to the experts to differentiate between each. There are people that love either one and hate the other.

3. Beware of the Noise

Some have baffles to deflect the noise, others have mufflers to help silence the noise and others are built to be quieter. A noise rating of 60-65 dB is pretty typical of a decent leaf blower.

4. How will it start?

Electronic ignition or pull start. Some manufacturers add features to help it start easier.

5. What type of impellor does it have?

Occasionally things will get sucked into it like sticks and stones. If the impellor is a type of metal it will be able to withstand these things, otherwise it may not.

6. How many speed(s) does it have?

1, 2 or variable

7. How versatile will your leaf blower be?

Will it blow, vacuum and /or mulch? There are choices for any or all of these. You also need to consider how easily they can be interchanged

8. How well does the air move the leafs, debris, or whatever?

Some manufacturers measure by volume flow, i.e., how much does it shoot out. Others measure speed of flow. i.e., how fast does it shoot out.

Typically a good volume flow is around 400 or more cubic feet per minute (cfm), while a decent speed flow is anything greater than 200 mph

9. What about interchangeable nozzles?

If you can change the end of the nozzle shape, from say a circle to a squished rectangle, you will help focus the air and make it more powerful.

10. How will you move it around?

Will you carry it, wear it on your back or it mount to tractor?

11. How much does it weigh and how well does it balance?

If it is too heavy you certainly don't want to carry it around too much. Also consider things like how long is the tube? If you're tall and your leaf blower tube is short, you will be doing a lot of bending and stooping.

If you have never purchased a leaf blower before, these are just a few things to consider. Some models may not offer all these options and other may offer options not listed. In any case, having some prior knowledge about the basic features will help you tremendously in selecting that perfect leaf blower for yourself.

By Bruce Dinger

Bruce Dinger is the author of a variety of articles on a variety of subjects

For more information on the best deals and biggest selections of leaf blowers please visit http://www.LeafBlowersGalore.com/

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11 Things To Consider Before Buying A Petrol Leaf Blower is a post from: Garden Leaf Blowers

Technorati Tags: 11 things to consider before buying a petrol leaf blower, 4 stroke engines, decent leaf blower, decent speed flow, leaf blower, leaf blower tube, Leaf Blowers, perfect leaf blower, petrol leaf blower, stihl