Review: Echo PB-413T & PB-265 Backpack Blower

I've owned a handheld electric Toro blower for about 5 years. It's been a handy little device and great for cleaning up after mowing, pushing around leaves, etc. My friend kept some of his mowing equipment in my garage last summer and in it there was an older Echo backpack blower. I, of course, had to try it out. This machine literally cut 30 minutes off my weekly yard duties. Not having to drag extension cords around the house was half of the time savings. I could walk from the front of my lot to the back with the backpack and up on the porch without tripping over cords. The other main benefit was the power. So much more could be done, and from a farther distance. I was able to freshen up much, blow away grass clippings, dirt and tiny rocks. I was also able to blow a lot of dead grass up out of the lawn. I was sold. When my friend needed his equipment back, this was on the top of my list for summer.

Because his was a few years old, the model numbers werent exactly the same as what was available today. Home Depot carried two Echo models, the Echo PB-413T and the PB-265. The PB-265 was a less powerful model for about $60 less. Not being a commercial landscaper, I went for it.

PB-265 Review.
It blew, and not in the good way. First of all, it had a cheap plastic base that felt like it was going to break every time I tried to start it. It didnt have near the power of my friends model. Although the convenience of the back pack was there, the lack of power meant moving around at a slower pace and getting closer to objects to get the job done. After one day I returned this item.

Verdict: Do not recommend.

PB-413T Review.
Although $60 more, it was an entirely differnt machine. The construction was much better, no cheap plastic base and a lot more powerful. This was basically the same model my friend had. It was pricy at $319, but it was worth 30 minutes every weekend to me, and probably and hour worth of time savings with every fall leaf pickup. Although I love this device, I have a few dislikes. The throttle is controlled with a wand via your left hand, while your right holds the blower arm. My friends had a trigger on the blower arm, which seems more practical. Some higher models may still have this feature. Its kind of confusing to turn on. There is not true on/off switch, and the choke is cryptically labeled, so that you don't know what is choke on/off. There is also a bit of vibration as one would expect with such a powerful machine on your back. I will say that they have a good spring system that reduces it greatly.

Verdict: Highly recommend.

If you are a homeowner looking for a pseudo-commercial blower, this is definitely worth a look. There are numerous tasks you can perform with this blower that may make you life a lot easier in the summer and fall.

Review: Bissell Healthy Home Vacuum

After putting off the purchase of a new vacuum cleaner for a few years, I finally broke down and purchased one with the Home Depot promotion in my last statement. I had been doing some research and was leaning towards two that happened to be carried at HD.

The first was the famous Dyson (in particular, the DC-18 Animal). I am a huge fan and believer of the cyclonic technology, as I've researched it for home shop dust collection; however, I could just never swallow the price tag associated with Dyson. My next best bet seemed to be another vacuum with the cyclonic technology, the Bissell Healthy Home Vacuum caught my eye.

Here are my findings and comments on complaints I found on the web when researching.

Suction: Good

I found that it has good suction, a lot better than any of my previous vacs. I like to compare all of them to my 4.5 hp wet/dry vac which has amazing suction. The Bissell is not as powerful as the wet/dry vac, but not too far behind. For me the real test is how it does on hardwood. I found that it picked up most dust and the beater bar could even be used without throwing particles all over the place. It didnt seem to loose suction as the canister filled, which is good, and what it's supposed to do. I also noticed that the see through plastic beater bar cover was not covered with a film of dust after vacuuming. This tells me the suction is good.

Cord too long and gets in the way. Disagree.
Really? The cord can be wound up to whatever length you wish. I prefer this so I don't have to continue switching outlets from room to room. I simply unwind what I need and hold it in between the handle and my hand while vacuuming.

Canister difficult to empty and messy. Disagree.
I don't understand why the canister is smaller at the bottom than the top. Its like trying to dump ice cream out of a cone by breaking off the bottom. Having said this, it really not that difficult empty. A simple tap on the trash can usually gets everything out. The 10 in. tall collection bin should only fill up about half way before emptying, according to the "Full Line". I vacuumed and entire floor of my house on one canister, and it hadnt been vacuumed in a while.

As for being messy, you are dumping dust out of a bucket. I don't think any vacuum can claim dust won't become airborne when you dump their canister. Empty it outside if you are really concerned about dust escaping into the air, that's what I do.

The canister detaches from the vac for dust disposal and can be broken down into two pieces for cleaning. I plan to throw mine in the sink every now and then to thoroughly clean. I have the benefit of having an air hose in my shop. I use it blow out the canister in between cleanings when necessary.

Tip: I read somewhere to wipe the canister out with Swiffer pads. I tried it and it worked well. The dust sticks to the pads well. I wiped the whole machine down, althought not much dust escapes the canister.

Heavy and top heavy. Mildly agree.
It's kind of heavy, but it has two 5 in. wheels on the back which make pushing it around easy. I like the fact that its heavy because it makes me feel that good contact with the carpet is always there. I think it helps make sure the carpet height adjustment stays relatively accurate.

Likes:
- Light that highlights what you are vacuuming. Common feature these days.
- On/Off on handle.
- On/Off button for beater bar, also on handle.
- 3 simple attachments, and not 50.
- Tan rubber bumper around beater bar. Black blemishes baseboard.
- Good filter. My house doesnt smell like dog after vacuuming dog hair.
- Long cord. Heavy duty.
- Relatively quiet.
- Price. $249 at HD and $219 w/ free ship online.

Dislikes:
- Rubber bumer should wrap around entire unit. Potential for catching on corners on the back pull. This seems to be a common flaw in a lot of vacs.
- Canister that tapers towards bottom. Make it straight, or flare outward at bottom.
- The name.
- The beater bar cuts off when the upright gets to about 80 degrees. Not necessary with the On/Off beater bar button at your fingertips.

Overall Rating
I would recommend buying this. Although I've havent tried the Dyson, I find it hard to believe that it could be that much better, considering its twice the price. You could buy two Bissell's, or save $250 and buy a cool power tool.

About this blog.

This blog is designed to share information and experiences related to home repair, home maintenance, building and renovation. With all of the websites out there today that cover topics such as these I hope to offer a an unbiased point of view that will help readers. I also plan to provide reviews of products that I use. You can never have too many opinions when buying a new product, and you never really know what you get with some of the big review sites. If you would like me to review one of your products, send it on!