How Quiet is a “Quiet” Leaf Blower
How Quiet is a “Quiet” Leaf Blower? Whether you’re a professional landscaper or a homeowner, leaf blowers are some of the most efficient tools for clearing an area of debris such as leaves and grass clippings. Unfortunately, they also tend to be very loud, operating somewhere between 70 and 90 decibels (dB). Some gas-powered models can even get all the way up to 100 decibels, which is about as loud as an airplane taking off 300 feet away from you. As you can imagine, that amount of noise isn’t just annoying to your neighbors, it can also be dangerous for you if you’re exposed to it for too long. Luckily, in response to noise complaints and leaf blowers being banned in certain cities, many lawn tool companies have started creating quieter models. But how quiet are these, exactly? The Decibel Levels of Quiet Leaf Blowers To answer that question, it’s important to note that there’s no such thing as a silent leaf blower, but there are leaf blowers that produce very little sound. The quietest ones clock in at about 59 decibels, which is around the same volume as a typical conversation. That’s much less likely to annoy your neighbors, and it’s also likely to be less harmful to your own ears. Look Out for Sneaky Marketing Keep in mind, though, that companies can be a little sneaky with these decibel ratings. Often, the amount that they give on the box is the measurement from 50 feet away (and if they don’t give a decibel amount at all, that’s a big red flag). To the person using the equipment, it could be much louder. That’s why it’s a good idea to wear earplugs when using a leaf blower or other garden tools and to do independent research before making a purchase so you can be certain that the product you’re buying will work for you.
Are leaf blowers bad for your health
Are leaf blowers bad for your health If you happen to have one or more large trees on your property, you can expect to have a lot of leaves to clean up. It goes without saying that in a situation like this, it is incredibly convenient to have a leaf blower. Where it can take hours to rake up a bunch of leaves, a leaf blower can do the same amount of work in a shorter amount of time. But is there a cost for such efficiency? Are there any health risks with using a leaf blower? Convenience has its price Unfortunately, yes there are some various health risks that you need to keep in mind when you are working with a leaf blower. When you use a gas-powered leaf blower, the exhaust it produces can cause a lot of problems for the operator and other people nearby. This exhaust is especially harmful to those who have asthma. In the short term, you can get headaches and some dizziness from the extended use of a leaf blower. With long-term exposure, however, using a gas-powered leaf blower can increase your risk for cancer, lung disease, and even dementia. It’s in the air A leaf blower, as the name implies, uses airflow to blow leaves off your property. However, this isn’t the only thing that gets blown away. It is common for pesticides, dust, pollen, and fertilizers to be kicked up into the air when you use a leaf blower. As a result, those particles hang in the air and can easily be inhaled by the operator and other people nearby. Prolonged exposure to these particles can also cause diseases, including cancer, in the long run for anyone that breaths in that polluted air. What? Speak up! Of course, one of the more immediate issues with using a gas-powered leaf blower is that they are very loud. Permanent hearing loss can occur for the operator within two hours. Not only that, but this can affect nearby people as well.
Are Leaf Blowers Bad for Insects
Are Leaf Blowers Bad for Insects? Leaf blowers are a fast and efficient way of tidying up your garden, however they do have some repercussions to the small creatures living within your lawn. Insects such as spiders, bees, and flies all play a vital part in the environmental balance. However, they are suffering a rapid decrease in numbers, especially in built-up areas. How do leaf blowers kill insects? Insects are in danger of being sucked in, or blown away from the impact of the leaf blower. This will cause damage to their limbs or wings, and could lead to the insect dying. Leaf blowers can also cause harm to soil biology, and create noise pollution. Decline percentages In Germany, an undergone study suggested that flying insects had declined by more than 75% in the year of 2017. Whilst leaf blowers are not the main cause of this decline, it is certainly a factor, and something we should be aware of. Climate change, pesticides, and agriculture are top causes. Bees help us by pollinating plants, whilst flies and beetles help to naturally decompose dead wildlife. Data shows that each year, the bee population is dwindling more and more. Between 2018 and 2019, the bee population decreased by 40.7%. Other species of insects have suffered a similar decline figure, reducing in 40% around the world. Conclusion – How can we help? Whilst there is no call to ban leaf blowers, ministries are advising to minimise their usage, utilized only as a last resort. Small insects have a large role to play, and their population numbers have significantly declined. Insects provide benefits to many other species, including humans. To help protect them, less invasive ways of gardening should be attempted before getting out your leaf blower. Alternatively, search for leaf blowers that leaves minimal damage.
