If you are considering a leaf blower you may have noticed there is a diverse set of units available. From battery powered and plug in electric leaf blowers to trailer attachments for your tractor, there is a leaf blower for just about any air movement need out there. Maybe you’re in the market for one of the most powerful leaf blower options. If you want a machine without a tractor attachment, you’re looking for a walk behind leaf blower.
Benefits Of A Walk Behind Leaf Blower
A walk behind leaf blower is a far bigger commitment than other models. Why might you use a walk behind leaf blower? These machines aren’t for everyone, but in some cases, they make sense.
Extra Large Leaf Load
The first reason is you need to move a lot of leaves. Yes, it may seem obvious, but when you need to move leaves from a soccer field for example, a handheld or backpack leaf blower might become an all day activity. Generally speaking if you want power, you need to get over 1000 CFM. This usually means a walk behind leaf blower will be the minimum option. Here’s a deeper description of what “CFM” means on a leaf blower.
Lack Of Water And Debris In Yard
Another reason for a walk behind leaf blower is you are a concrete or asphalt contractor. If you need to remove standing water and debris from a construction site, a leaf blower walk behind style is one of the best tools for the job.
Likewise, maybe you need to remove a small amount of snow from a parking area or work site. The walk behind leaf blower also does a great job with this situation. When you need to remove a dusting of snow, or just plain dust from your workspace, a walk behind leaf blower might be the perfect tool for the job.
Doubles As Compressed Air For Gutter Cleaning
If you have gutters to clean, a leaf blower walk behind style can provide you the powerful source of compressed air to do the job right. Nearly every leaf blower out there whether walk behind or otherwise has a series of attachments available for various other uses. Gutter cleaning is one of the most popular. If you’ve ever gone up on a ladder and cleaned out the stinky sticky mess that lines a gutter, you’ll be glad you switched to a leaf blower.
Gutter cleaning attachments allow you to keep the leaf blower on the ground. While on the ground, you can attach a long tube with a hook shaped end to blow debris out of the gutters. This not only does this make quicker work of cleaning the gutters. However, it also prevents you from needing to be high on a ladder to do the job.
How Much Does A Walk Behind Leaf Blower Cost?
Expect to pay more than $1,000 for a quality walk behind leaf blower. Furthermore, you will pay additional for any attachments you need. These tools are generally relegated to large property managers and professionals. However, there are times where it make sense for a homeowner to purchase a walk behind leaf blower.
Is A Walk Behind Leaf Blower Worth It?
Homeowners with large open meadows on their property with deciduous trees lining the perimeter will find a walk behind leaf blower a huge help come fall and spring cleanup. Likewise, those with long driveways in cold climates may find a walk behind leaf blower is the perfect tool for cleaning a dusting of snow which otherwise you might not remove. This can turn into a slippery condition or require large amounts of snow melt.
Walk Behind Leaf Blower Summary
In conclusion, a walk behind leaf blower is sometimes overkill. There are plenty of situations where it will be too much leaf blower for those with smaller properties. However, perhaps you have a large property or are a contractor in need of large amounts of blowing air. If that’s your situation, a walk behind leaf blower is the perfect tool for the job. Here’s a great tutorial on how to use a walk behind leaf blower if you end up purchasing one.
