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

FAQs

Leaf Vacuum Hose | Choosing the Best Hose for Lawn Applications? ›

Urethane-Flex – The #1 Choice for Leaf, Lawn, And Yard Vac. “Urethane-Flex” ducts are the best leaf vacuum hoses for commercial and residential applications because polyurethane has excellent abrasion resistance, is flexible, and is available in a transparent film.

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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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Will leaf vacuum pick up grass clippings? ›

These machines are perfect for cleaning up lawn debris like leaves, clippings and pine needles, which if left unattended, can harbor pests and prevent sunlight from reaching your grass.

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What is the best material for a vacuum hose? ›

Material. It's crucial to choose a pool vacuum hose that can handle a demanding environment. Heavy-duty EVA or polyethylene plastic are excellent choices due to their durability and resistance to harsh pool chemicals, UV rays, and physical abrasion.

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What is more important in a leaf vacuum, CFM or mph? ›

Higher CFM = more power, but not necessarily more miles per hour. High CFM with a wide nozzle = lower MPH. High CFM with a narrow nozzle = high miles per hour. Ideally, you want both a high CFM with a narrow to medium nozzle for most residential jobs.

Can I use a shop vac on my lawn? ›

Here are just a few places around the yard and garden where your Shop-Vac comes in handy: Lawn clippings on the driveway. Mulch and leaf pile remnants. Hard-to-reach deck crevices and areas obstructed by garden ornaments.

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Is it better to bag grass clippings or leave on lawn? ›

The answer is that mulching the clippings is better for your lawn. That's because when you mulch the clippings, they will eventually break down and return nutrients to your soil. One of the most common misconceptions about mulching grass clippings is that it causes a thatch build-up problem.

Are leaf clippings good for grass? ›

By mulching leaves into your lawn, you help ensure your grass gets all the benefits you can put into it. Mulching leaves helps ensure your grass gets the full benefit of fertilizers and other fall tasks.

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What is the best way to move grass clippings? ›

If your lawn is healthy and grass clippings are not wet or thick, you can simply rake them away. Bagging your grass clippings can be beneficial in more ways than one. Not only does bagging remove the clippings from your yard completely, but it also reduces pests and allergens.

Are silicone hoses good for vacuum? ›

Silicone hoses are more durable against environmental conditions. If you regularly drive your vehicle in harsh environments, silicone vacuum hoses are a great choice.

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Are all vacuum hoses the same? ›

Central vacuum hoses come in various diameters, each designed to support different cleaning capabilities and compatibilities. Standard 1.5" Diameter Hoses are universal and fit most brands.

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What can I use to 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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What size hose gives the best pressure? ›

1-inch garden hose

This size of garden hose has more pressure than the standard 3/4 inch because it can withstand up to 80 PSI, but this means that you need an increased water flow which is why you need a larger hose diameter. – hose length: 25 to 100 feet. – garden hose diameter: 1 inch.

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How often should vacuum hoses be replaced? ›

The only time a hose needs to be replaced is when there's a puncture in it that prevents proper suction. If you change the tube and it still doesn't run correctly, then there's another issue which might indicate the need for a new vacuum cleaner.

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Can you use leaf blower on grass? ›

Gas-operated blowers are known for their power, making them great at sweeping leaves into piles and loosening leaves stuck in tall grass.

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Can you use a leaf vacuum on artificial grass? ›

If you're considering purchasing a leaf vacuum for your artificial grass you may be wondering if it's safe to do so and what type of vacuum you should use. The bottom line is any outdoor vacuum will work, you just need to use it in a way that doesn't pull the infill out of the grass.

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Can you vacuum turf grass? ›

You can also vacuum turf with infill, but you risk removing the infill which keeps the turf looking springy and also provides cushioning. On top of that, infill can clog vacuums too, so best to avoid it. There are special turf vacuums, but we recommend brushing turf over vacuuming it.

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Is there such a thing as a lawn vacuum? ›

A leaf vacuum is the perfectionist's outdoor power tool, great for sucking up every last leaf from under bushes and around foundation walls.

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