Leaf blowers are a widely used landscaping tool for cleaning up yards, but what about winter weather? Can leaf blowers be used to clear away snow from sidewalks and driveways or is it an exercise in futility?
We’ll dive deep into the question of whether leaf blowers can work on snow and give you all the information you need to decide if one might be right for your needs. Read on to find out more.
Snow is a difficult surface to work with because it is so slippery. Many people think that the leaf blower won’t work on snow, but this is not the case. The leaf blower can work just fine on snow because it has a high-powered motor.
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Does Leaf Blower Work on Snow? – Ultimate Guide
Yes, a leaf blower works on snow. This might however be a problem for people who live in areas with heavy snowfalls. Snow as thick as 4 inches cannot be cleared with a leaf blower because the air pressure exuded by it is not meant for snow.
In every class, there is one or a group of the best. Using leaf blowers in place of snow blowers would require that you check for the most powerful of their peers. Most of all, whichever of the powerful leaf blowers you choose to use, it should be a gas-powered one.
A gas-powered leaf blower is the most appropriate type of leaf blower for snow blowing.
Leaf blowers are made for winter. They are for the summer and any other not-so-cold season there is. So, the leaf blower should be stored properly.
Leaving it outside in the cold will cause it to freeze and could cause the device to wear down. Proper storage, care, and maintenance are the keys to long life. Nope, not for you, I mean the device.
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How to Clear Away Snow with a Leaf Blower?
Using a leaf blower to clear is not so different from using a snowblower. The same steps but with a little more precaution and most likely more working hours. But to save you the stress of figuring it out all alone, here are a couple of steps to follow.
- Dress up for the occasion:
As earlier stated, using a leaf blower to blow snow will take longer to accomplish. And because of this, you need to protect yourself from the effects and weariness that could come from using the device.
- Your ears:
Wear shields, earmuffs, or ear blocks to keep your ears from receiving so much of the noise produced by the leaf blower.
- Your hands:
Wear thick gloves to protect you from the cold most importantly. Another purpose for wearing the glove is to protect your hands from the shakes and possibly burns that could come from using a gas leaf blower.
- Get a powerful leaf blower:
Snow blowers produce more air pressure than leaf blowers. So, if you are going to use one in place of a snowblower, it has to be up to the task or almost up to it. You could try leaf blowers from brands like Craftsman, Echo, Makita, and Stihl.
- Hold the leaf blower:
Hold the leaf blower at an amble point with its nozzle towards the snow. Blow on the snow from side to side.
- Good Angle:
You don’t have to assert too much energy into the work, just hold the leaf blower at a good angle and your work will be done efficiently.
- Be extra careful
Watch your step as you work so you don’t slip on ice and hurt yourself. When you are done with the pathways or stairs, you can go to the beginning and start again. This is to ensure that the areas are completely cleared of snow.
Can You Use An Electric Leaf Blower For Snow?
An electric blower is almost if not more capable of blowing snow than a gas leaf blower, hence the answer is yes. But the fact that electricity produces a bad effect when in contact with water, an electric blower cannot be used to blow snow.
Hence, the reason for the answer, No. If water enters the leaf blower, it will shock you. And for sure, that is an experience you do not want to have. Besides, if snow enters the motor, it could spoil the engine.
Some Limitations Associated with Using A Leaf Blower to Blow Snow
Considering the fact that leaf blowers are not specifically built for blowing snow, they might not do as much as a snowblower would do. Anyways, it is still a better option than shovels and worse of all brooms.
A leaf blower can be used in place of a snowblower. But it might not be the best to use on snow that is up to 4 inches thick. One inch of snow is a much better depth.
A leaf blower works best when used on freshly fallen snow. However, these freshly fallen snows should be powdery and not wet. That way, they are thinner and easier to blow away. It makes the job easier and faster.
A leaf blower cannot be used in a weather temperature less than 32 degrees or extremely low temperatures. This is because not all leaf blowers are resistant to cold. For the ones the manufacturers claim to be so, you can use them but it is not advisable. The last thing you want to do is to spoil the device on a task that it was not meant for in the first place.
Using an electric leaf blower to blow snow is definitely not a good idea. This is because of the bad chemistry that exists between electricity and water. It is no news but basic knowledge. And trust me, you do not want to have a shock while clearing your pathways.
Clearing snow with a leaf blower is most likely to take hours, more time than it would when blowing leaves. So you need to dress for the occasion by protecting your ears and wearing thick gloves. Protect your ears because the leaf blower is much louder than a snowblower and gloves because of the impact of the shake and burn.
Conclusion:
Leaf blowers are less heavy than snow blowers and although it has its limitation they could save you during an emergency. Hopefully, now you understand that it is a trusted replacement for a snowblower. So in the absence of a snowblower, you can save yourself from the exhaustion that comes with using shovels.
I hope this was helpful and has given you the confidence you need to use your leaf blower.
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