Gas works much better.
I had a Subaru one (I forget what brand, I think Husky) that would take old paint off of any surface, or I could power wash a Jeep and no water would force its way through any parts of the soft top.
Yeah.. replace the blower motor first. My Explorer actually smoked out my interior on setting 2, and after that it only worked on the highest setting or nothing lol. It's common for blowers to do that.