Black & Decker Leaf Hog Bv4000

Pros: Vacuum power, optional leaf collection system, low noise and overall design.
Cons: Adapter hose connector, rubbery switch.

We took a chance and bought this Black & Decker BV4000 since there were limited reviews we could find on it. We have been very happy with it. Operation: The machine is of a decent size but the weight is very reasonable and the handles are big and ...

Pros: Ball-bearing motor, easy conversion from blower to vacuum. Optional Trash Can Leaf Collection System.
Cons: Weak vacuuming suction, unwieldy collection bag, average blowing power.

Two years ago, when I bought a Bl ack and Decker BV2500 Leaf Hog, I gave the blower/vac a good review because of its ease of use, strong blowing and suction, and its ability to collect leaves into a trash can using the ...

Pros: Excellent suction, price performance, excellent snap fit engineering, high tech plastic, blower, multi speed
Cons: More power coupled with a bigger mouth would up the "hogging" bandwidth.

I bought this product because we have six huge shade trees. These trees have so many leaves that we rarely have to use the AC in summer, and we live inland northern CA, which is desert like. Put another way, we have a dreaded fall leaf cleanup. I love ...

Pros: powerful blower, clog resistant, large opening for vacuuming, easy switch from blower to vac
Cons: cumbersome to use close to the body, poor design for cord release on adapter

I have a fairly large 60 X 120 lot and wanted a blower/vac/mulcher to provide food and mulch for my garden area. Did not want the extra noise and maintenance with a gas blower/vac and chose the Black & Decker Leaf Hog at Lowes for $99. I also picked up ...

Pros: Vortex anti-clogging system. Weight, power, Cord locking system, the height of the tubes
Cons: Trying to empty the bag. The hole is much narrower than the entire bag

To keep my yard clean is not a battle, it's an ongoing war. It was a losing war until I found the latest edition LeafHog by B&D. Previously, I had been using a Weedeater brand combo system that was just simply not getting the job done with two of ...

Pros: Easy to change from blower to vacuum
Cons: Raking is faster for needles

We have pine trees that drop lots of pine cones and needles. Black and Decker's web site says the BV4000 is ideal for pine needles. Its box says it will pick up pine cones. Hence, we decided to give the Leaf Hog BV4000 a try. The suction is ...

Pros: Good blowing power - Average vacuum power for it's size.
Cons: Could use clearer instructions for bag installation.

I bought this leaf hog blower to replace the previous B&D leaf hog (BV2500, type 3). The BV4000 works fine as a blower. It has two speed settings and claims to generate a wind speed of 230 mph. As a vacuum, it works similarly to the BV2500 as far as ...

Pros: Good suction power.
Cons: Flimsy collection bag attachment negates any value.

I selected this model because I had problems with the zippers on other leaf blower bags, and thought (and still do) the large collection basket was a great idea. However, the product description forgot to mention the auto-bag filling sensor - which is the collection bag popping off whenever the bag is a quarter-full. The thing then spews a fountain of leaf mulch into the air (my kids love that part). The problem is the wimpy little plastic clip that holds the bag in place and looks like it might be from the Barbie leaf blower. The blower actually did work great 2-3 times after I began holding the bag in place while vacuuming - but then the flimsy plastic lip holding the rest of the bag onto the blower gave out - and now the piece of junk is completely worthless. Don't waste your money.

Pros: Reasonably powerful. Collection bag quite convenient (until it falls off in mid-vacuum).
Cons: Plastic impeller wears easily. Collection bag not securely attached. Vacuum tube clogs on wet leaves.

After vacuuming 5 bags of wet leaves, the collection bag refused to stay on.

The manager at Home Depot refused to take it back, saying that I shouldn't have used it on wet leaves. I said "rain happens", and left him with the blower--we'll see if I can dispute the charge with Visa. So much for HD's posted return policy.

Pros: Very Powerful Easy of switching from blowing to vacuming. Cord lock, mulches like crazy.
Cons: Corded - only if you have a very large yard or a lot of obstacles.

Did all the research and ended on the B&D BV4000. liked the Toro super blower, however all the reviews have people complaining about breaking the impeller (thin plastic, rounded blades) and trying to get a replacement from the dealer. The B&D BV4000 impeller is also plastic however about twice as thick and has sharp edges for finner mulching. Right out of the Box easy to assemble and switch from Blowing to vacuming up leaves. Incredible power 230mph on high, highest i could find, (neighbor has a homelite gas powered model, the B&D has BV4000 alot more power and much easier to convert). Mulching is great!, sucked up waist deap leaves into a couple of bags (8-10 if not mulched). One of my best yard tools to date.

Pros: Good power level, blower works great, suction and mulching power are all good. Easy conversion.
Cons: Horrible bag attachment design -- worst possible design ever.

Overall, the power of this blower vac is great. I have no complaints about the ease of use, switching between blower and vac, etc. The power selector sometimes gets nudged during use, but that's a minor nuisance. The one thing that drives me nuts is the crappy bag attachment. Within a couple of minutes there is debris blowing all over the place because the bag does not attach securely and certainly doesn't seal. I would much prefer a bag that cinches shut around an opening to this. I already can tell that this will only get much worse over time. It may work fine if all you're doing is picking up some fallen leaves on a nice grassy lawn, but if you're trying to do any real work with it -- say trying to vacuum mesquite leaves out of gravel in the good old Southwest, this bag attachment is all but worthless. The bag doesn't even get a quarter full before it's spewing debris all over the place. You'll be covered in it, too! Very messy. I'm sure my neighbors hate it because of all of the mess blowing in the air.

Pros: like the blower to vacuum option
Cons: don't like like IT WAS MADE TO BE A "THROWAWAY " 

After about 2 years the on/off switch went bad . I could not locate an exact replacement . after about 2 hours of modification I was able to replace it . This item (the switch) should last for many years and at the least B&D should offer a replacement part . You could tell B&D didn't wont you to get iniside as it was held together with torqx screws , something the avg handyman does not have a tool to remove / replace the screws with. This "throwaway " mentality does the same thing to me as a fire about 3 feet high . It burns my rear end !