Introduction
Dealing with fallen leaves in autumn can be exhausting even with the help of leaf blowers. Choosing the right type and model is essential for having clean lawns and driveways with minimal damage to the environment. Of course, some people stick to raking leaves so that the environment is not harmed; however, not everyone has their go-green attitude and indomitable soul that does not shrink away from hard work. So, most stick to electric or gas-powered leaf blowers.
The multiple options out there even after people choose between electric and gas-powered leaf blowers tends to make people’s head swim. Do they need a corded or cordless leaf blower? Is a four-stroke engine better than a two-stroke engine? Moreover, they need a leaf blower that is efficient and affordable. Therefore, meticulously pondering the pros and cons of the types and models of leaf blowers is essential.
Electric Vs. Gas Leaf Blowers
Electric leaf blowers do not release toxic pollutants as gas leaf blowers do. However, gas leaf blowers are far more powerful and so get the job done faster. So far, electric models are not on the same level as gas-powered ones when it comes to power.
Difference Between Electric And Gas Leaf Blowers In Tabular Form
| Parameters of Comparison | Electric Leaf Blowers | Gas Leaf Blowers |
| Ease of use | Corded electric leaf blowers restrict mobility, and the battery-powered models require higher quality batteries frequently. Therefore, electric leaf blowers are comparatively less easy to use. | People do not have to deal with restricted mobility when using gas leaf blowers. However, they need to be filled with gas periodically and are much heavier than the electric models. |
| Pollution | They do not cause pollution. | They are one of the main causes of air pollution, ecological habitat destruction, and noise pollution. |
| Types | Electric leaf blowers are mostly hand-held models. | Gas leaf blowers come in hand-held or backpack models. |
| Bans | Electric leaf blowers have not been banned in cities. | Washington DC banned gas leaf blowers in 2018, and California’s ban will take effect from January 1, 2024. |
| Affordability | Electric leaf blowers are much more affordable than gas-powered models. Moreover, rechargeable batteries do not cost as much as gasoline. | Gas leaf blowers are more expensive than electric models. In addition, they require gas/petrol, which adds to the cost in the long run. |
What Are Electric Leaf Blowers?
Electric leaf blowers work silently (some models generate a low thrum, but it is nowhere near the noise a gas blower generates.). That is a blessing, as people do not want to deal with cranky neighbors abruptly woken up by the noise traditional leaf blowers generate. True, electric blowers are not as powerful as gas blowers, but who cares? They are low-maintenance tools suitable for small areas such as a backyard garden or a front lawn. Therefore, they are the perfect choice for most suburban households.
What’s more, they are environment-friendly. That means people do not get the stink eye from those propagating ‘Green Earth’. With climate change becoming a serious concern, it is better to stick to greener options as often as possible. Moreover, people do not have to worry about a ban on using electric blowers, and the blowers do not cause health problems. The electric leaf blowers’ warranty periods range from two to eight months. However, most of the ones manufactured by trusted brands last for a long time. Toro, Worx, and Ego are some of the best electric leaf blower manufacturers.
Types of Electric Leaf Blowers
Leaf blowers powered by electricity are usually handheld models; however, there are a few backpack models, too. They may be corded or cordless.
Corded Electric Leaf Blowers
Corded electric leaf blowers are more powerful than battery-powered ones as they are connected to a power outlet. However, it is tiresome to maneuver long corded models (klutzes can barely walk straight even without obstacles in their path. Corded leaf blowers are a tripping hazard to them). Even so, they are a better alternative to gas-powered leaf blowers.
Cordless Electric Leaf Blowers
The battery-powered leaf blowers are portable and easy to handle. However, the batteries last only about ten to fifteen minutes. So, people do not have much time to work with these versions. Opting for rechargeable batteries has reduced this problem to a great extent. Better quality batteries last longer (lithium-ion batteries have longer lives), but the blowers still do not have the corded models’ power. Battery-powered leaf blowers are the most viable option despite their shortcomings.
The choice between corded and battery-powered models depends on the power required, ease of handling, extent of mobility, and so on. A corded electric leaf blower is a good option if people have suitable outdoor extension cords that allow them to cover a wider area. If not, people will be happier with a battery-powered one. After all, they offer greater mobility and are extremely easy to handle.
What Are Gas Leaf Blowers?
Gas-powered leaf blowers are still popular despite their detriment to the environment and the level of noise they generate (hearing impairment is no joke). Why is that? The answer is probably that they have a greater warranty period. Their warranty extends up to five years in contrast to the electric versions that do not have even a year’s warranty. Therefore, gas leaf blowers are still preferred despite the high maintenance and cost.
Echo (formerly known as Kioritz Corporation of America) invented the first leaf blower, and several modifications have been made since its invention. Despite the changes made to the designs to adhere to the regulations imposed, gas-powered leaf blowers still present several problems. The aerosol exhaust from a gas blower’s two-stroke engine is associated with heart diseases, cancer, asthma, and so on. Gas blowers cause dust clouds to contain pesticides and animal fecal matter (yuck) that cause allergies and various diseases.
Types Of Gas Leaf Blowers
Gas leaf blowers may have two or four-stroke engines and come in the following designs:
Backpack Model
Backpack models are more expensive than handheld models and pack more power, too. They cover a wide area but are a bit on the heavier side. So, people’s back and shoulders will not thank them for the grueling workout they are put through. Besides, backpacks make people feel like they are back in school carrying their heavy (and what they thought as unnecessary) textbooks.
Handheld Model
This model is the least expensive gas-powered leaf blower. Handheld models are pocket-friendly but lack the sheer power of the other models. However, they are more powerful than electric models. So, people can take comfort in the fact that they do not have to carry a leaf blower that weighs around 25 lbs – the silver lining in this situation.
Wheeled Blowers
Walk-behind blowers or wheeled blowers are highly suitable for yards and parks that never seem to end and extend beyond one’s view. Wheeling the leaf blowers is infinitely preferable to lugging backpack models when walking miles to cover the entire area. It is not even worth talking about handheld models here, as they lack the required power and run time to complete the task.
People have to choose a model that fits their requirements. A handheld model is more than enough for a yard with a few trees at the most. However, it would be prudent to purchase at least a backpack model for larger areas. Echo, Troy-Bilt, and Craftsman are some of the best gas leaf blowers.
Adverse Impact On The Environment
Most people are aware of how gas-powered leaf blowers cause air and noise pollution. However, they do not understand the extent of its impact on the environment. Though leaf blower users are aware that their health may be affected, they are unaware of the damage other living beings suffer. The noise gas leaf blowers produce (65 – 80 decibels) affects animals, insects, the topsoil, etc., and not only humans.
Gas leaf blowers emit carbon dioxide, non-methane hydrocarbons, and nitrous oxide. All these warm the atmosphere adding to the increasing causes of climate change and global warming. One pound of nitrous oxide causes 300 times the devastation (atmosphere warming) a pound of carbon dioxide causes. Decomposing leaves aid in soil restoration, and various insects make their homes using these leaves. While helping critters and insects live comfortably may not be at the top of one’s to-do list, it is worth doing, as they are essential for the environment’s smooth functioning in their own way.
It is better to switch to electric leaf blowers if people decide leaving the piles of leaves alone is not a good idea. People are reluctant to switch to greener alternatives, as they are not as convenient as the gas-powered ones for covering large areas. However, gas blowers with four-stroke engines cause much less pollution than those with two-stroke engines. While four-stroke engines may not be the most desirable answer to greener Earth, it’s a start.
The electric-powered versions are becoming more advanced, and it looks like they can be as powerful (if not more powerful) than the gas-powered models. In the long run, switching to electric leaf blowers will be beneficial, as there is a growing movement for banning gas-powered ones entirely on a global level.
Main Difference Between Electric And Gas Leaf Blowers in Points
- Gas leaf blowers emit smoke, whereas electric models, fortunately, do not.
- People using gas leaf blowers are recommended to use them before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m. to avoid polluting the air during peak ozone formation hours (mostly the afternoon hours). The pollution caused by a gas blower is equal to the pollution caused by an automobile driving 400 miles at 30 miles per hour. On the other hand, people may use electric leaf blowers whenever they want.
- Electric leaf blowers are more suitable for small areas, whereas gas-leaf blowers are suitable for large areas such as garages, sprawling yards, and driveways.
- Gas leaf blowers require higher maintenance than electric ones. It is pretty common to forget to stock up on gas and oil or spend time fiddling with the blower that refuses to work merely because it has not been used in about a year. Hey, people can’t be expected to remember trivial things like checking how much gasoline they have or using the leaf blowers once in a while to prevent them from getting choked or rusty from disuse. After all, it’s a miracle when some people get out of bed and remember what day it is.
- Electric leaf blowers are far quieter while operating compared to gas-powered models. The noise the latter models produce reaches such levels that banning them has become justified.
- Gas leaf blowers weigh almost twice more than electric models. The lightness of electric leaf blowers is the reason most people choose them (they only want a blower that does its job. They are not looking for one that helps them practice for a weight-lifting competition.).
Conclusion
In the end, the volume of leaves the leaf blower can blow and the speed at which they accomplish it is the deciding factor when purchasing one. What is the use of buying a leaf blower that can cover a lot of areas but has less mph? The result will be similar to what happens when a child blows all the seeds off a dandelion. The object moves but does not fall far off; that is, the leaves will move but only a small distance.
On the other hand, purchasing a leaf blower that has incredible mph but does not cover a lot of areas is a waste of time, too. Keeping the yard clean will be a slow-going process. It will be like counting grains of rice one by one. Who needs all that frustration? So, a leaf blower (gas-powered or electric) that strikes the right balance between speed and power is the right choice. Of course, one must also ensure that there are no (and there will not be any) laws banning the leaf blower model they choose.
References
- https://www.protoolreviews.com/gas-vs-battery-powered-leaf-blowers/
- https://www.mindstick.com/articles/198581/electric-vs-gas-leaf-blower
- https://www.motorbiscuit.com/are-electric-leaf-blowers-better-than-your-old-gas-leaf-blower/
- https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/news-insights/think-globally-on-climate-act-locally-on-leaf-blowers/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf_blower
- https://sustainability.wustl.edu/rethinking-lawn-equipment-2/
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/reviewed/2023/02/10/why-not-to-use-gas-powered-leaf-blower/11228384002/
