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One of the most beautiful sights to see is in the fall months when the trees start to change colours. Going from green to yellow, orange, and red leaves me awe every year.
However, while they are truly wonderful to look at, it is only a matter of time before those lovely leaves start to drop – everywhere!
Your once neat and tidy garden can quickly become a blanket of weeds and cleaning them up can take ages and lots of backbreaking raking.
Using a leaf blower can help tremendously in keeping your garden tidy. You will find that leaf blowers make short work of getting those leaves cleaned up.
Are corded leaf blowers worth it? I think they are. While we all want to enjoy or gardens and we love being among plants, sweeping endless mountains of leaves up has me feeling exhausted.
Let’s discuss corded leaf blowers and if they are worth it. You will find several different types on the market. Leaf blowers come in gasoline, battery powered and electric. They also come in handheld units and backpacks.
You will even be able to find some mounted on wheels so they can be pulled or pushed around. Depending on the amount of work you have and your own fitness levels, you will be able to select the ideal one for your needs.
Are Corded Leaf Blowers Worth It?
There are definite advantages to a corded leaf blower. Possibly the most important one is that you have a constant supply of power which will last as long as you need it to.
As long as you have an electrical socket close to where you plan on blowing leaves, this is one of the best types of leaf blower.
You don’t need to be ready with a charged battery and fuel to start work. You simply plug your blower in and you’re ready to go!
There is no heavy battery to carry around with you either, so they tend to be lighter than battery operated ones.
Although many people may think that having a corded leaf blower will restrict their movement and the distance they can go, you will find them ideal for any small garden or area near the house.
While a decent extension lead may set you back an initial amount of money, it will be worth it because of the lighter weight of the leaf blower.
When you are finished blowing – or sucking – the leaves you simply roll the lead up and all is ready for next usage.
How Many Types of Blowers are There?
So, leaf blowers come in several types:
- Cordless
- Corded
- Gasoline
- Handheld – either corded, cordless or gasoline
- Backpack style
- Walk behind style
If you need this added feature, some leaf blowers come with a vacuum function where instead of blowing the leaves away you can vacuum them up and empty them from the bag.
This is an ideal feature if you plan on using the dead leaves to add to your compost heap.
The vacuum function on the leaf blower will also grind up the leaves so they are easily added to compost. If you would like to learn more on this check out our article on what is the best cordless garden vacuum.
Are Corded Leaf Blowers Better than Cordless?
As long as they are plugged in, your corded leaf blower will operate at a constant power. You will find that compared to a cordless blower, these are also slightly cheaper and very often lighter.
A corded leaf blower has the advantage because it can be used whenever it is convenient for you, rather than needing to ensure that the battery is charged and ready.
Charging the battery may take up to five hours and can be expensive to replace.
Corded blowers require less maintenance than other types, which is good news for busy gardeners.
Is an Electric Leaf Blower Better than Gas?
Comparing corded leaf blowers with gas blowers we find that budget, speed, and convenience all play a part in the choice.
A good, corded blower is as powerful as any gas blower, and will do the job in about the same time as a gas one.
A definite advantage is that you never need to keep a can of fuel at hand or be able to get to a gas station to fill up your can when you need to start blowing leaves. Many people prefer not to store fuel on the property in case of a fire.
Corded leaf blowers have an advantage over gas blowers in that they are always quieter than gas models.
They do not cause any pollution and tend to be lighter to handle – no added gasoline to carry around with you. This makes corded blowers easier to handle.
Gas blowers are noisy. If you have one of these you may have to check the leaf blowing hours in your community as some forbid them early in the mornings to keep the noise down.
Corded blowers need less maintenance compared to gas blowers and are typically far lighter so you can carry them around for longer. The average corded blower weighs in at about 10 pounds.
The difference in price may play a part in your decision, namely with a gas blower ranging between $35 – $150 and a corded blower between $30 – $110.
Do Electric Leaf Blowers Use a Lot of Electricity?
Do electric leaf blowers use a lot of electricity is a very valid question to ask. You will find that your electric leaf blower on full power uses 1200 Watts.
There are smaller models which factor into the 7-amp range with more powerful models up at 12-amps.
Taking Care of Yourself and Your Neighbours
Hearing Protection
Make sure you wear some sort of earmuff. While a leaf blower may not sound too loud at a distance, a constant assault of noise while working can be harmful to your hearing.
Make sure you invest in a leaf blower which scores ‘good or lower’ in the noise test at ear level.
Dust Mask and Goggles
This is especially important, as pieces of debris can and will fly up around you. You will also disturb a certain amount of dust by blowing leaves around and this can bother people with respiratory issues.
Lock you Pets Away
Animals, particularly dogs can be curious about new machines and will want to investigate. With debris flying up they can be injured, and you could end up with a vet bill which could have been prevented.
Stick to ‘Polite’ Hours
Most communities have hours which excess noise is not permitted. Make sure you find out when they are in your neighbourhood and avoid blowing or sucking leaves in that time.
Normally these hours are very early in the morning and late in the day.
You may also like: What is the best light weight leaf blower
Are There any Disadvantages to a Corded Leaf Blower?
Possibly the only disadvantage to this type of blower is that you always need an extension lead attached to the blower and plugged in.
This will give you around 100 feet of distance to blow, which should be plenty to do a small garden and the area outside your home – in most instances.
Pros
- Lighter than other types
- Cheaper than most others
- Do not require fuel to run
- Do not need a heavy battery
- Is environmentally friendly as no smoke or fumes
- Easier to start than gasoline blowers
- Less vibration so easier on the wrists and shoulders when carrying
Cons
- The cord may need to be unplugged and moved to another outlet as you blow leaves around the house
When is the Best Time to Buy a Corded Leaf Blower?
Although you may be driven batty by all the leaves in and around your garden, it is a proven fact that leaf blowers tend to go on sale after the leaves have dropped.
Indeed, in the sales time you may be able to pick up a new leaf blower at up to half price!
While it is not always in your best interest to wait until after the leafy season, it is worth considering buying your corded leaf blowers then because of the amount of money you may save.
Final Thoughts
Either way, you will want to scoop up the leaves before they become a place for insects and even rats to take up residence.
Having a corded leaf lower will allow you to keep your garden and immediate surrounding area neat and pest free. Leaf blowers make short work of excess leaves and leaves are great to add to your compost pile.
If possible you may want to think about a corded leaf blower with the vacuum suction feature to save having to dispose of leaves after lowing them into a pile.
Apart from having to plug in an extension lead, there are only advantages to having a corded leaf blower to keep your home and garden neat and tidy.
Before you go, here are some more related articles I encourage you to read below to help solve more of your gardening issues:
What is the difference between pruners and secateurs
The Best Cordless Pruning Saw Review
3 Best Portable Greenhouses for Winter
What is the Best Ergonomic Garden Kneeler and Seat
