Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
Love ‘em or Leave ‘em?
by Janet Hommel / October 4, 2021
If the reverie of your peaceful morning walk has ever been shattered by the reverberations of a leaf blower, or if you’ve been jolted awake when your neighbor’s lawn crew fired up, or if your Zoom meeting was drowned out by a landscaper working directly beneath your office window, help could be on the way.
Hundreds of cities across the country have significantly curtailed or even banned the use of landscaping tools powered by noisy two-stroke gas engines. Leading the way were cities in California, beginning in the 1970s. Places in the northeast followed suit. Now even municipalities in Florida have jumped on the bandwagon to improve the quality of life for their residents — cities like Palm Beach, Key Biscayne and Naples.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way . . . but is there the will?
Recently, the City of Winter Park emailed residents a comprehensive survey about leaf blowers. The survey is still on the City website, and the link will be live through October 6. If you haven’t yet completed the survey, you can do so by clicking here.
The Keep Winter Park Beautiful and Sustainable Advisory Board created the survey to gauge residents’ sentiments regarding the possibility of imposing new restrictions on the types of leaf blowers used and/or the hours of operation.
If the will is there, citizens must take the lead
If the use of gas leaf blowers is to be curtailed in Winter Park, citizens must lead the way. City leaders generally have little appetite for imposing new restrictions unless residents are clamoring for them. It is up to all of us to educate ourselves, understand the tradeoffs and tell City leaders what we think.
What’s so bad about leaf blowers anyway . . . besides the awful noise?
The source of the problem is the antiquated two stroke engine design which has little improved since the early 1900s. These relics of the past slosh around a mixture and oil and gas then spew out up to one-third of the fuel mixture in a toxic aerosol. Ever notice that scent of benzene wafting in the air near a lawn crew? This is even more dangerous for the worker than it is for the environment.
Jim Fallows wrote in the April 2019 Atlantic magazine, “By 2020, gas-powered leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and similar equipment in the state could produce more ozone pollution than all the millions of cars in California combined. Two-stroke engines are that dirty. Cars have become that clean.“
The noise is inescapable
Gas-powered leaf blowers are demonstrably too loud. It is not unusual for backpack blowers to register up to 110 decibels near the operator. This is not safe. OSHA permits exposure up to 90 dBA for an 8-hour day. For each 5 dBA over that, exposure time must be cut in half. Do the math — OSHA does not permit workers to be exposed to the level of noise emitted by backpack gas blowers for more than 30 minutes a day. Studies show work crews will experience hearing loss after about 10 years of use.
Gas-powered blowers emit a low-frequency sound that seems to follow you everywhere. Unlike high pitched noises, like drills, the racket from gas blowers travels a long distance and penetrates walls and windows. There is no escaping this noise unless you get in your car and drive to Starbucks, praying that they too are not seizing the opportunity to blow clear the premises.
If gas-powered blowers are bad, why do landscape contractors love them?
Three guesses. It’s the bottom line. The fastest, and therefore cheapest, way for a landscape contractor to move debris is not with a rake and broom or with an electric blower, it’s with that ear-splitting, particulate-spewing gas blower. And if the majority of Winter Park residents are more worried about the size of their landscaping bills than they are about worker safety, the environment and the general quality of life, we might as well stop talking right now.
Are battery-powered blowers quieter?
Electric blowers are much quieter, but don’t expect silence. They still create some noise, just not that wall-piercing low-frequency noise generated by the two-stroke motors in gas-powered leaf blowers.
How does performance stack up to gas?
While the performance of battery-powered equipment is catching up, they are not yet able to blow 200-MPH winds out the end of the nozzle. They are great for clearing dry clippings, but moving heavier wet debris may take longer. And time is money.
The biggest problem with battery blowers is the initial capital expense for contractors. The batteries are expensive. And with the current state of technology, a contractor will either need to invest in multiple batteries or use a generator.
Naples, FL is currently undergoing the transition to battery-powered blowers. David Mahl, a Naples-based landscape contractor with a 10-man crew explained the tradeoffs of switching to electric. He said it cost him about $10,000 to buy new equipment. He is not happy with the monetary costs of the switch, but understands it is the wave of the future and that all landscaping tools will eventually be battery operated. He had feared clients might find the results not as tidy but, so far, clients are happy with quieter blowers. He hasn’t decided if needs to pass along a price increase.
Sound off
Two-stroke engines have been regulated out of use in almost all other applications. Lawn equipment for homeowners is already trending toward battery power, but landscape contractors are dragging their feet. No one wants to incur the expense of switching when the competition can keep using cheap, noise-polluting equipment. That’s where Winter Park has to step in.
If you want some peace and quiet, let your Mayor and Commissioners know. Write mayorandcommissioners@cityofwinterpark.org
I always wondered why no matter how many pillows I put over my head in the morning I could not stop hearing the sound of those leaf blowers and now I know. Thanks for the information.
The majority of all new stihl gas powered lawn equipment is now four-stroke not two-stroke. Much cleaner, more torque, lower rpm thus quieter. Watch stihl video attached. https://youtu.be/UdjZhXwZBf4
Be careful what you asking for. Blowers clean the majority of our streets and sidewalks on a regular basis. Imagine the spring acorns and oak leaves in our right of way with out this tool.
Wrecking the earth with lithium mines and dead batteries isn’t the solution.
As my eight grade teacher frequently said “Paddle your own canoe”
Can’t wait for the “get off my lawn” and “ladies who lunch” types to get a fat new landscape bill. But even if you’re willing and able to pay up, what if no landscape contractor wants to deal with the investment and annoyance? Who in this city is ready to start spending your Saturdays in the yard or fork out for your own questionably “green” lawn equipment?
Is it annoying, heck yeah, especially on the weekend. BUT, Common sense would be to legislate an allowable day and time per street/zone for these blowers. We do something similar already. You know when you’re allowed to water the lawn, don’t you?
I’m not sure it’s practical to switch to electric leaf blowers and weed eaters for commercial lawn keepers but I have an electric weed eater and leaf blower for my yard. They work fine for the duration of time I need them. Contrary to popular belief, four stroke motors are not inherently quieter. They are only better muffled—except in the lawn business where shedding weight the user must carry is essential. The biggest problem I see with noisy lawn equipment is it can be heard all through the day. It’s not like your neighbor cutting their yard Saturday morning—you know that will be over in a few minutes. In most communities where lawn services are the prevailing form of lawn care, the noise never stops. I think a lawn and garden show would be a terrific place to exhibit and examine newer and better ways to maintain lawns. It would be a fun event on Park Avenue.
How many residents want their landscaping bills to increase? Let’s have a “citizens” survey on that.
Why are we trying to cram down an expensive change on landscape contractors rather than work with them to reduce the impact of the noisiest leaf blowers?
The author gives away her underlying values by presuming the landscape contractors only care about “the bottom line.” Well, the actual “bottom line” includes respect for all concerned.
Questions such as those you mention are raised in the survey. The survey is not a push poll. Efforts to reach out to professional lawn maintenance companies are being made at the same time. I recognize that everyone is different but I would pay more not to hear leaf blowers to the same extent that I hear them now. Quieter leaf blowers? Reduced hours of use? Peace? Yes!
Spoken like a true blowhard.
simply allow the blowers to be used only after 9 AM.
I mow, edge, weed, rake, and sweep by hand without any gas or battery equipment. I have found very good physical and mental health benefits, and my neighbors often stop to ask me how at my age, I stay in such good shape. I tell them the secret is gardening without power tools. You can watch some awesome YouTube videos that show how to do these tasks while minimizing injury and maximizing cardiac and muscle benefits. Great for the glutes as well. And the real benefit it that I am respecting my neighbors quiet time.
GQ Man,
In the words of Fred Rogers: Won’t you be my neighbor?
Having been a part of the marine industry for years and watched the transition from 2-stroke to 4-stroke outboards, there is something to be learned. At first California Air Resources Board CARB tried to ban 2-stroke motors because their emissions were higher. Evinrude sued saying the goal was to reduce emissions, not regulate technology. Evinrude made 2-stroke engines that were more fuel efficient and cleaner burning than CARB’s preferred 4-strokes. CARB was in bed with the 4-stroke motor companies, albeit in an altruistic effort to clean up the air and water. But when Evinrude sued them and proved in court they would be better served to regulate emissions, not technology, CARB accepted Evinrude’s extremely clean outboard 2-strokes. Four strokes at the time were quieter. They had to be to justify their heavy, slow existence. They were better muffled than 2-strokes not inherently quieter. Try listening to a NASCAR 4-stroke. Point is, find out what noise level is reasonably achievable and mandate that. Phase it in. That was the successful pathway for outboards. It will work for lawn equipment. Electric, 2-stroke, 4-stroke. It’s the noise you want to mitigate. And it should be done fairly and sustainably.
At least 50% of the landscape contractors in this city are small independent contractors, not large companies. To push this change onto them, forcing them to buy more equipment and generators to run them throughout the day is ridiculous. Find something more important to spend your time whining about….and go buy some ear plugs.
Anonymous:
Just a few pointers: You can’t have your cake and it it to. Think about the landscapers and their workers. They don’t wish to start after 9: am. Find something to do while your lawn is being manicured and go back to bed when they are finish. Are you willing to pay more for a landscaper?
Take the advise from GQ Man. There are more important things that the Commissioners, Boards, City Manager and staff needs to concentrate on. Have a great life.
I think everyone can agree that the gasoline powered leaf blowers are part of the charm of Winter Park.
Winter Park just wouldn’t be the same without them.
Our city is moving way too fast into the future.
Can I hear an “Amen” from the Voice readers?
We just need to slow down a bit with all the changes.
Right?
There will be time for change.
Yes?
Until then, let us treasure the heritage we still have.
No one was complaining about the gas leaf blowers until the trouble makers who want all the development in Winter Park threw it out there as something to distract residents from Progress Point and the Orange Avenue Overlay.
Everybody in town liked the gas leaf blowers before that because they do what they are supposed to do – clean up the tree debris – while making enough noise to warn people not to get too close and risk injury.
I never received the survey, but why bother. This article falls in the category of winy baby syndrome. Don’t get me wrong, we all crave peace and quiet and God forbid I am labelled a noise pollution denier. But two stroke gas powered leaf blowers?! Seriously? This temporary annoyance is what motivates you to write a long article? Life is precious and short and we are blessed to have the luxury of such petty complaining. Moving on.
I am encouraged by the replies to this article. Not everyone sees the point of it. There are so many more important issues requiring the attention of our commission. It could be an intentional distraction from actual issues or it could be just meddling, I don’t know. But to impose more restrictions, costs and regulations on homeowners and small lawn maintenance businesses at this particular time in history displays a disconnect with the condition of average citizen.
To some, a lawn service is a luxury. To others, it’s a perceived necessity. And to many more, it’s a chore which must be done and which steals from well deserved and earned quality family time. Regardless, those least able to afford it will be most affected.
It seems to me that someone is lamenting the interruption of their much needed midmorning beauty sleep and has nothing better to do than impose their pain on the labor class.
This wasn’t a problem before the irrational reaction to the virus caused so many people to work from home. These lawn activities aren’t new, they’re only newly annoying to you.
In Leary’s two Zoom party videos, eagle-eyed residents have noticed that the woman in the second video is the same as the woman in the first video – ONLY IN DISGUISE!
Through modern video forensics residents were able to prove with probability of 30% that O’Pawnessy is Kernel with a wig and glasses!!!
If true, this indicates just how thin Leary’s support is in this town.
Leary calls his Zoom party “The 7” but there have never been any more than 4 appearing on the screen at any one time.
What will Weldon dress up as on Leary’s next video?
Keep your eyes on The Voice and find out.
WP Commissioners on Tues Nov 23 (see video on City website), approved 4-1 (Cooper dissenting) to allow a political crony of Steve Leary’s, Mike Miller, to bypass an established City committee that has the authority to make Miller tear down the new house he built in Winter Park that is in violation of the City’s setback requirements.
The special City Commission meeting was called because no zoning variance was ever approved. And the neighbors have been complaining about the size of the home.
The structure is gargantuan in size, especially when compared to the charming ranch homes with the expansive yards that line the quiet residential street.
Miller ran for Orange County Commission after Leary dropped out of the contest citing “family reasons.” Leary endorsed Miller. And Miller lost the election.
Previously, Miller was the Republican candidate for Congress and lost.
Before that he was a State Representative for four years.
He has been rumored off and on as a potential Winter Park City Commission candidate.
It’s business as usual at City Hall.
Absolutely nothing has changed, folks.
Wake up, Winter Park.
Pitt Warner is all excited about “45 bookings for next year!”
What he apparently fails to grasp is that next year is a month away.
How many bookings for 2020 were there in December 2019, the last December the old Winter Park Civic Center was standing?
How many of those bookings are included in the 45? So, if the City wants to have a staff meeting there, it’s a “booking?”
The City has been mum about how many actual paying events have been booked, what percentage of deposit if any was required for booking, what the cancellation policy is and the likely percentage of the 45 that will be cancelled.
They’ve provided no information about how many bookings the City requires to break even, without the taxpayers having to subsidize events to which the residents are not invited.
No place to sit – anywhere.
A good place for a read – if you happen to be a horse.
https://cdn.archpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/WP-Library_Dror-Baldinger-1-scaled.jpg
Once the City Commission has approved a project, the graduate school and museum without providing a definite plan for parking.
With all of the development in the past five years, the one place I see a change in the roads is the new right-hand turn lane to be added at the corner of Denning and Fairbanks.
The continued approval of new buildings with a mere mention of the city infrasture, electrical, and roads, shows a severe lack of responsibility by city leaders.
I cannot believe this is the biggest problem the commission has time to waste on! Seriously when all our landscapers refuse to do our yards I hope they start with the idiots that approved this insane ordinance. We live in a beautiful city due in great part to the level of attention and detail that residents take in maintaining their yards. This is complete overreach snd excessive control. When will everyone realize there is not enough electricity and batteries to power everything! It won’t work. Maybe a better way to handle it would be to offer some sort of financial incentive to landscapers to make the switch? At the end of the day it should be a decision made by the homeowner and their landscaper. Another example of too much government control!. Maybe this should have been put on a ballot for residents to vote on?