A blower vac clears fallen leaves and debris from lawns, paths and yards, either blowing them into a pile or sucking them into a bag, often shredding them too. In autumn it runs for hours in dust, wet leaves and dirt, and that dust is what wears its parts fastest.
There are mains electric, cordless and petrol models. Basic care is the same for all of them, with a few extra points depending on the motor type. The whole service takes about an hour.
What you will need
Important: Before servicing, unplug the blower or remove the battery; on a petrol model, stop the engine, let it cool and pull off the spark plug cap. Never wash the motor or electrical parts with water.
Step 1
Clean the body and tubes
After every job, use a brush and vacuum to remove dust from the motor unit, handle and all tubes and nozzles. Then wipe everything with a damp cloth, keeping water out of the motor.
Look at the shredder impeller through the inlet: wrapped stems and wet leaves unbalance it and overload the motor. Remove them wearing gloves. Turn the bag inside out and let it dry.
Step 2
Lubricate the tube joints
Once washed, brushed and dry, treat the tube joints and catches with WD-40 Multi-Use. It makes assembly and disassembly easier, displaces moisture and stops metal clips rusting.
Rubber seals and plastic catches are better treated with WD-40 Specialist Silicone: it is safe on rubber and plastic and stops them stiffening in the cold.
Step 3
Electric model: cable and retainer
On mains blowers the weak spot is the cable retainer that stops the plug pulling out of the extension lead. Keep it clean and treat it with WD-40 Multi-Use through the WD-40 Smart Straw.
Check the cable for chafing, especially near the handle. A damaged cable must be replaced.
Step 4
Cordless model: rails and contacts
The rails the battery slides into must be clean, or the battery seats crooked and contact suffers. Clear them of dust.
Treat the battery and tool contacts with WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner: it removes dirt and oxidation and evaporates quickly. Only fit the battery once dry. Store batteries somewhere warm, not in the frost.
Step 5
Petrol model: the engine
Petrol blowers are the most powerful and are used on large areas, but need more attention. Clean the air filter regularly and check the spark plug, fuel filter and fuel lines to the maker's schedule.
Keep the cylinder cooling fins clean. Treat throttle cables, levers and fixing screws with WD-40 Multi-Use so they do not seize.
Tip: Do not vacuum up wet leaves or small stones: wet mass clogs the tube and stones chip the impeller. Dry leaves in the afternoon are far easier to handle than dewy ones in the morning.
What next
Clean the blower after every use, and at the end of autumn give it a full service: drain the fuel on a petrol model, leave a cordless battery part-charged, treat metal parts with a protective lubricant and store the tool somewhere dry until spring.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».