Are Leaf Blowers a Threat to Your Car?
Leaf blowers can be immensely helpful when it comes to tidying up your property in the midst of fall, but it seems that many car owners are getting suspicious about this much-prized device. You might have heard someone saying they actually hated leaf blowers! Many people wonder, though, which kind of damage the equipment might cause to a vehicle and whether it only applies to gas-powered backpack blowers or any other particular category.
This article explores the blower versus car animosity in every aspect, so stick around to learn the truth!
Paint Problems
Car paint is part and parcel of the vehicle’s good look as well as safety. There’s little wonder that automobile enthusiasts tend to treat any heating and/or blowing objects near their cars with mistrust, to say the least. Luckily, even the most powerful leaf blowers don’t generate enough heat or airflow to cause paint damage. Blowers are so unlikely to damage car paint by simply blowing that they are actually used to make it dry faster, some are investing in car ceramic coatings for durability. This helps eliminate ugly water spots that can ruin the freshly painted car’s appearance otherwise and makes the process quicker overall. If someone tells you their car was harmed by a leaf blower, they most probably mean the damage was a side effect of the blowing operation. What sometimes happens if the person using the blower isn’t careful enough is scratches.
The Nasty Scratches
Scratches come in all shapes and sizes. They can be caused by a multitude of blower-related factors, too. Just like any instrument that the operator carries or moves around, a leaf blower can damage nearby objects by simply rubbing against them. For this reason, seeing someone use a blower near your vehicle should probably alert you just a little. Wires make things much less manageable, but fortunately, the market is full of cordless models that are powered by gas or electricity. These are often worn backpack-style on the operator’s back. Still, there’s a possibility that the long tube bearing the nozzle might leave a scratch here and there.
Finally, blowing towards a car is a bad idea since one might raise debris that will hit the vehicle, also scratching the paint. This isn’t likely to become a problem if the underside is affected but remember about the visible parts that have to be protected from all the pebbles, twigs, etc. The above scratch problems aren’t really specific to blowers. Any equipment that can come close to a car or blow something towards one can become a threat when operated haphazardly, and a leaf blower is no exception.
Blower vs. Car: The Verdict
Leaf blowers are generally safe to be used near cars as long as the operator pays attention to what they are doing. Just remember to blow away from the vehicle to avoid debris scratches, and watch out for any rubbing. Have you ever experienced a blower-caused car problem? Tell us in the comments section!
