Leaf Vacuum Hose | Choosing the Best Hose for Lawn Applications (2024)

Posted by Flexaust on Aug 4, 2020

As summer turns to fall, leaves begin falling from trees into the surrounding areas. While this natural process results in some of the most stunning views of the year, it also bestows residential property owners, commercial landscapers, and town/city municipalities with the task of gathering and disposing of the fallen debris. While leaf collection and disposal operations are both time- and labor-intensive, the right tools and equipment can make them more effective and efficient.

Lawn and Leaf Vacuum Hoses at Flexaust

All of our lawn and leaf collection hoses are designed for superior flexibility and durability, making them easy to use and long-lasting. As indicated above, we offer products suitable for residential, light-duty commercial/landscaping, and heavy-duty commercial operations. Below we provide an overview of our hose recommendation for each of these markets.

Residential – Tractor Vacuums: On residential properties, tractor vacuums are generally sufficient to remove excess leaves and lawn clippings. For these units, we offer two hose recommendations:

Flex-Tube PV: This medium-weight hose features a coextruded PVC construction reinforced with a rigid PVC helix. This design offers an ultra-smooth interior ensuring efficient air and material flow. This hose is also very flexible and crush resistant.
Flex-Tube PU: This medium-weight hose is made from clear coextruded thermoplastic ether-based polyurethane and reinforced with a rigid ABS helix. It offers great resistance to abrasion, crushing, and tears with its high tensile strength. Both Flex-Tube PV and Flex-Tube PU can be customizable (in color and length) to meet OEM requirements. Stocked in 12’ and 25’ lengths to accommodate most tractor equipment

Light-Duty Commercial/Landscaping – Truck Loaders: Compared to residential properties, commercial operations generally have more area to cover during leaf collection operations. As such, the commercial clean-ups typically rely on truck loaders, which offer more power and capacity. For these leaf collection devices, we recommend the following hoses:

Flexadux LCDC: This medium-weight hose is made from a high-performance polypropylene blend and reinforced with a spring steel wire helix and external polypropylene wear strip. It tends to be more economical with a long flex life and good abrasion and tear resistance.
Flexadux HT-W: This heavier-weight hose features thermoplastic construction reinforced with a spring steel wire helix and external polypropylene wear strip. This construction offers excellent resistance to moisture, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, dragging, and tearing, all of which are necessary for hoses used in outdoor environments.

Heavy-Duty Commercial – Municipal Loaders: Heavy-duty commercial and municipal leaf collection operations involve larger clean-up areas than both residential and light-duty commercial operations. Additionally, the amount of leaves and debris is much greater, while the amount of time given for their collection is much shorter. For these reasons, the town and city municipalities generally rely on stronger and larger equipment (e.g., municipal loaders). For these leaf collection systems, we recommend using heavy-duty hoses, such as:

Flx-Thane HD: This heavy-weight hose is available in clear polyurethane reinforced with a bronze-coated spring steel wire helix. This construction provides it with superior flexibility and durability (including resistance to abrasion, moisture, and UV).
Flx-Thane VHD: This heavier-weight hose is also available in clear polyurethane and reinforced with a bronze-coated spring steel wire helix. Compared to the HD model, it features a thicker wall (.060 inches instead of .045 inches). The (standard) clear color allows user to quickly see blockages. During leaf collection season, these hoses are also available in 10’ lengths to accommodate the municipal equipment

Comparisons Between Lawn and Leaf Vacuum Hoses

The following table provides a comparison of three of the hoses we recommend for leaf/lawn collection applications.

	LCDC (Good)	HT-W (Better)	Flx-Thane HD & VHD (Best)	Flex-Tube PV (Best for Residential)	Flex-Tube PU (Best for Residential)
Construction	Black wire reinforced polypropylene blend w/polypropylene wear strip	Black wire reinforced thermoplastic rubber w/polypropylene wear strip	Clear wire reinforced polyurethane	Clear all plastic smooth interior PVC w/rigid PVC	Clear all plastic smooth interior, thermoplastic ether based, polyurethane w/ABS helix
Weight	Medium-weight	Heavy-weight	Heavy-weight	Medium-weight	Medium-weight
Wall Thickness	.032 inches	.045 inches	.035 or .045 inches	0.020 – 0.040 inches	0.020 – 0.040 inches
Inside Diameter	6 to 12 inches	6 to 12 inches	2 to 24 inches
Length	10 & 25 feet	10 & 25 feet	10 & 25 feet	12 & 25 feet	12 & 25 feet
Temperature Range	-30 to 200 °F	-60 to 275 °F	-65 to 200 °F	20 to 160 °F	-40 to 200 °F
Durability	Good abrasion, puncture and tear resistance. Good UV protection	Better abrasion and drag resistance. Great UV protection.	Best abrasion resistance and puncture resistance. Great UV protection	Good abrasion and puncture resistance. Ultra smooth interior and crush resistant.	Superior abrasion and puncture resistance. Ultra smooth interior and crush resistant.
Application	Economical option for residential and commercial light duty intake	Suitable for commercial leaf collection intake	Suitable for commercial leaf vacuum. High abrasion intake	Economical option for residential lawn mowers	Best option for commercial lawn mowers

Selection Considerations for Leaf/Lawn Collection Hoses

When choosing a hose for leaf/lawn collection equipment, it is important to keep in mind the essential characteristics of the hose. Some of the key factors to consider are:

Leaf Vacuum Hose | Choosing the Best Hose for Lawn Applications (2)

Durability (e.g., resistance to abrasion, moisture, UV, etc.)
Flexibility
Inner wall smoothness
Visibility into and through the hose
Size (e.g., wall thickness and overall diameter)
Outside (low) temperatures
Cost

In addition to the above factors, it is vital to ensure the hose is compatible with the equipment—i.e., the connections on the chosen hose should fit the equipment ports.

Contact Us for Your Leaf/Lawn Vacuum Hose Needs!

The right equipment is critical to the success of the operation. This statement applies to many industrial, commercial, and residential processes, including leaf/lawn collection.

At Flexaust, our experts are ready and willing to help you choose the right hose for your leaf/lawn collection equipment. Equipped with over 80 years of experience manufacturing and distributing hose and ducting products, we have the knowledge and skills to identify appropriate solutions for nearly any need. If you have additional questions about leaf vacuum hoses, contact us or request a quote today.

Topics: Leaf Collection Season, Lawn and Leaf Collection, Leaf Collection Hoses, Leaf Collection Equipment

Leaf Vacuum Hose | Choosing the Best Hose for Lawn Applications (2024)

FAQs

Can you use a leaf vacuum on grass? ›

Two versatile yard tools can help you do the job quickly and efficiently: a leaf blower and a leaf vacuum. These simple tools can tackle leaves, grass and other yard debris, as well as tasks like cleaning your garage and gutters.

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When pulling a vacuum, it is best to use hoses that are? ›

Sometimes, it might be easier to use a pair of charging hoses to hook up the pump, but vacuum-rated hoses have a larger diameter and that extra room facilitates more flow to pull a vacuum.

What is better, a leaf blower or a leaf vacuum? ›

Leaf blowers are often better used for larger areas and places where you have room to create larger piles of leaves. For these larger jobs, a leaf blower is by far the superior choice. Quick clean-up: While a leaf vacuum is convenient, it requires you to move much slower to pick up all the leaves.

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What is the purpose of the vacuum hose? ›

The vacuum hose is a flexible connection that directs the vacuum of the auto collector to supply various components of the vehicle, like the brake booster, the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve, the heater control valve, HVAC control and exhaust gas recovery (EGR valve).

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Will leaf vacuum pick up grass clippings? ›

You can use a blower to displace and pile up leaves, cut grass, twigs or sawdust, whereas with a leaf vacuum, you can suck all these materials into a collection bag.

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What is the difference between a leaf vacuum and a lawn mower? ›

Lawn Mowers are intended for Lawn Cuttings and Lawn Vacuums are intended for Cleanups of lawn: A lawn vacuum is a specialized piece of equipment that is used to clean up leaves, grass clippings, and other debris from a lawn. It has a section that sucks clipping and debris etc into a large bag.

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When not to use a leaf blower? ›

Do not use a leaf blower if you are tired or sick, taking medication, or if you have used drugs or alcohol.

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What are the disadvantages of a leaf blower? ›

Impact on Landscape Workers: Those who operate the leaf blowers face the highest concentrations of carbon monoxide, particulate matter and extreme and prolonged noise exposure, and are under a significantly increased risk to become seriously ill.

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Do leaf vacuums mulch? ›

And we find that many tools shred leaves down to a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio. It's also worth noting that most models with a vacuum function aren't designed to mulch sticks or twigs, and either can jam the tool. All leaf blower vacuums work best with dry leaves, which the impeller can easily shred.

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How often do you need to clean a vacuum hose? ›

On average, everyone's vacuum hose should be cleaned around once per month. But it may be more or less than this depending on how often you vacuum. So, it's best to visually inspect inside the hose after a deep clean.

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How do you seal a vacuum hose? ›

Silicone tape, also known as self-fusing silicone tape or Tommy Tape, is a flexible, waterproof material that can be easily wrapped around a vacuum hose to create a strong, airtight seal.

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Are all vacuum hoses the same? ›

Central vacuum hoses are available in a variety of diameters, each specifically engineered to enhance different cleaning capabilities and ensure compatibility with various central vacuum systems.

Can you use leaf blower on grass? ›

Leaf blowers are a common sight and sound when autumn arrives and the leaves fall. This powerful hand-held gardening tool also makes tidying up a yard full of grass clippings easier in the spring and summer. A blower is a handy and versatile tool to have in your garage or shed.

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Can you use a leaf vacuum on artificial grass? ›

Yes it's ok to vacuum artificial grass as long as care is taken not to displace any of the artificial grass infill that sits under the blades, on top of the turf backing. The infill plays an important role with artificial turf including providing structure, temperature control and protecting the grass from punctures.

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Can you vacuum turf grass? ›

One question that we get asked every now and then by our customers is 'Can I hoover artificial grass? ' – the answer is no in most cases. You should refrain from using a vacuum cleaner on your synthetic turf, as the suction will remove the infill sand from the grass area.

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