Quick verdict
A corded 16-inch dethatcher that ships with a 24-tine rake head and a 20-blade scarifier head, a 14.5-gallon bag and a two-year warranty. It suits a lawn up to about a quarter acre within reach of an outdoor outlet. The caveat is the cord: every pass is planned around it, and the bag fills fast on a thatchy lawn.
Strengths
- Two heads in the box: 24 spring tines and a 20-blade scarifier
- 15-amp motor rated up to 3,500 rpm
- Five depth settings from half an inch below grade to a quarter inch above
- 14.5-gallon rear bag cuts emptying stops
- Light at a stated 29.5 pounds with a folding handle
- Two-year limited warranty and lifetime technical support
Weaknesses
- Corded, so range depends on the extension cord you buy
- Bag fills quickly on a heavily thatched lawn
- Plastic housing, typical of the class, needs care around roots and stones
- Swapping heads means stopping and unplugging
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Who this dethatcher is for
A lawn that feels spongy underfoot, greens up late in spring and sheds water instead of drinking it usually has a thatch layer over half an inch thick. A leaf rake will not shift it. The Westinghouse 16-inch 2-in-1 is a corded walk-behind that rakes the thatch out with spring tines and, with the second head fitted, slices the soil surface so seed, water and fertilizer reach the roots. It is aimed at the homeowner with a small to mid-size lawn and an outdoor outlet, who wants one machine for the spring reset and the fall overseed.
This review is based on the maker’s published specifications and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run this product ourselves.
What you get
The box holds the machine, two interchangeable heads and a rear collection bag. The dethatcher head carries 24 spring tines; the scarifier head carries 20 blades. Westinghouse says the heads swap in seconds with a quick-change knob and no tools. The motor is a 15-amp corded unit rated up to 3,500 rpm. Working width is 16 inches, there are five depth settings from half an inch below grade to a quarter inch above it, and the handle has three height positions. The bag holds 14.5 gallons. The stated weight is 29.5 pounds, and the handle folds for storage with a center carry handle for lifting. The warranty is two years limited, with lifetime technical support. There is no extension cord in the box, which is standard for the class.
Dethatching and scarifying
At 15 amps this is the top of the corded dethatcher range; most competitors run 12 or 13 amps, and the extra current shows when the tines meet a dense mat. Twenty-four spring tines on a 16-inch width is a reasonable tine density, and owners of this class describe a satisfying pile of brown debris behind the machine on the first pass. The scarifier head is the one that earns the price. Fixed blades cut narrow channels into compacted soil, which is the single best preparation for overseeding; set it shallow the first time, because a 15-amp blade head at the deepest position on a soft lawn will tear it up. The usual plan is tines in early spring to lift winter thatch, blades in early fall before seed goes down.
Depth settings and the cord
Five depth positions from half an inch below the surface to a quarter inch above it cover light surface raking through to a real cut. The above-grade settings are useful on a lawn that is more moss than grass, where the tines only need to comb. On the cord: a corded dethatcher is a tethered tool, and the practical range is set by the cord you buy. A 12-gauge outdoor cord is the sensible choice for a 15-amp motor; a 16-gauge cord on a long run will drop voltage, the motor will bog, and the tines will stall in thick thatch. Plan passes so the cord trails behind on the side already done.
Build, handling and ergonomics
The stated 29.5 pounds is light for a 16-inch machine with a 15-amp motor, light enough to lift over a bed edge or into a trunk with the handle folded. Three handle heights help taller users keep their back straight. The housing is plastic on machines of this type and does not forgive a stone or a surface root, so walk the lawn first and clear debris. A recurring owner note across corded dethatchers is that the bag mount and the depth lever are the first parts to feel loose; treat them gently and they last.
Living with it
The bag is 14.5 gallons, and on a lawn that has not been dethatched in years it fills every pass or two; many owners simply drop the bag and rake the rows afterward, which is faster. Clean the tines after each session, store the machine dry, and check the tine springs each spring, since replacement tines are the normal consumable. Dethatch when the soil is moist but not wet, and mow a notch lower first. The two-year limited warranty is better than the one year that many budget brands give.
Alternatives to Consider
The Sun Joe AJ805E is the obvious comparison: a 13-amp 15-inch 2-in-1 with a similar bag, slightly less width and current, and a long owner track record. The Greenworks 40V dethatcher and scarifier drops the cord for a battery and suits anyone already on that platform who is happy to buy a pack separately. For a half acre or more, a tow-behind tine dethatcher on a tractor beats any corded machine.
Verdict
Buy the Westinghouse 16-inch 2-in-1 if your lawn is up to about a quarter acre, you have an outdoor outlet, and you want both a tine head and a blade head with a two-year warranty behind them. Skip it if the lawn is large or far from power, where a battery or tow-behind unit saves the cord fight, or if you only need a light annual rake, where a cheaper 12-amp tine-only machine will do.
Full specifications
Westinghouse 16-Inch 15-Amp 2-in-1 Electric Dethatcher and Scarifier with Collection Bag FAQs
The dethatcher head uses 24 spring tines to rake loose thatch and dead grass off the surface. The scarifier head uses 20 fixed blades to cut narrow slits into the soil, which opens compacted ground and pulls out deeper thatch. Use the tines for routine spring cleanup and the blades once a year on a thick, compacted lawn.
The listing does not mention one, which is normal for corded yard tools. Plan on an outdoor-rated cord; a 12-gauge cord is the usual advice for a 15-amp tool on a long run, since a thin cord starves the motor.
Westinghouse lists five settings from half an inch below the soil line to a quarter inch above it. The top settings are for raking the surface; the deepest setting is for scarifying and is best reserved for an established lawn that can take it.
The maker does not give an area rating. With a 16-inch path and a 14.5-gallon bag, a lawn up to about a quarter acre is a reasonable afternoon job; beyond that the cord and the emptying stops start to dominate.
