Leaf Blower Noise

 

 

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Leaf Blower Noise! What Noise?

Are leaf blowers really that noisy? Oh, I know what you're thinking. Of course they are. Right?

Well, not really. Sure, there are still some older blowers in service that are quite noisy, but today's new blowers are very different. All are quieter than they used to be. Many are as much as 75% quieter than blowers manufactured a decade ago.

As Vice President of Engineering and new to the lawn care industry in 1994, I was made aware of the leaf blower noise issue developing around the country.  I was asked by ECHO’s marketing and sales department to look into the possibility of reducing leaf blower sound levels in response to this complaint.  An alternative had to be created for those irritated by noisy blowers while continuing to provide a professional grade tool essential to the proper care and grooming of personal property as well as public parks, golf courses, parking lots and other commercial spaces.   

Because I advocate the use of "Quiet" leaf blowers in lieu of an outright blower ban, I am considered by some to be the enemy.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  ECHO Inc. has spent millions of dollars and I personally have worked tirelessly to create quiet leaf blowers and make their availability known for more than 15 years.  We have deliberately and continuously addressed the issue of leaf blower noise on all our products in order to satisfy the needs of those on both sides of the issue.   My goal is to solve the noise problem and I can report now that success is being achieved.  A total solution is on the horizon.  Cities all over the country are realizing that banning all leaf blowers will not work and that banning only the loud blowers will.

I make this point because there are still those that want to ban all gasoline powered leaf blowers.   I believe this is because these people do not have the up-to-date information they need to realize that modern leaf blowers are no longer overly noisy.  My goal here is to explain why this is true.  I do so in a straight forward way with links to supporting documentation from credible sources.

 

 

 

 

 

Leaf Blower vs. Broom

 

Several people have asked how much time can be saved using a leaf blower over a broom.  The following two videos document the time difference for removing leaves from the same yard using a broom and an ECHO PB-760LNT.  Both videos are shown at four times normal speed. 

 

The indicator in the lower left hand corner displays the actual time in minutes that it took to do a 210 foot long driveway and a relatively large courtyard for a total footage of 5540 sq. ft.  The broom took 57 minutes while it only took the blower 6.5 minutes.  The broom took more than eight times longer. (57 / 6.5) = 8.77

 

----

 

As you can see from the picture below, the PB-760LNT has the power and performance necessary to remove wet leaves.

 

Removing wet leaves with a quite leaf blower

 

 

What are the Issues Regarding Leaf Blowers?

 

 

The following addresses all the leaf blower issues with links to test results and other supporting documentation:

 

Contents

Leaf Blower vs. Broom

What has changed?

Are electric blowers better?

What then is the big complaint?

Can leaf blowers be regulated locally to reduce emissions?

Are automobiles cleaner?

What about global warming?

Are leaf blowers hazardous to your health?

Greenwich Department of Health

Dr. Steel's Report to California Legislature

Excessive Dust

Dust study and comparison.

What do Doctors say?

What must be done.

Education

Leaf Blower vs. Broom

What can you do to prevent a ban?

What must the Activist understand?

Will a ban work?

What will work?

Links to manuals, reports and presentations.

For more information.

About the author.

News Articles

 

What has changed?

 

E CHO Inc. has been the leader in the effort to provide environmentally friendly leaf blowers.  Today, Echo's "Quiet 1" is the benchmark to which all other manufacturers compare their new leaf blowers.  It was the very first quiet leaf blower at 65 dB(A)1, which has been on the market since 1995.  The design contains sound absorbing materials that have eliminated the whine typical of older blowers.  A new concept muffler was introduced to lessen exhaust sounds and a patented sound attenuator was added to the air intake system.  Even special plastics were employed to deaden any rattle that might be caused by engine vibration.  The air impeller (fan) and cowling were redesigned to reduce airflow sound while maintaining top efficiency and performance. 

1 = Per the ANSI Standard B.175.2

To purchase a copy click ANSI B 175.2 Standard.

Click to learn more about Measuring Sound

 

Are electric blowers better? 

Electric blowers do not have the same performance as gasoline powered leaf blowers.  The limitation comes in the available power.  Electric blowers rely on 120 volts and 20 amps from a household outlet or portable generator.  Mathematically, there is no way they can obtain the wattage necessary to move the amount of air that can be blown from a gasoline powered unit.  For this reason, the professional landscaper will not use electric.  Another limitation is in the length of power cord.  As the cord becomes longer, the electrical resistance increases and therefore the voltage drops.  This reduces the power even more.  If the voltage drops too far, damage will occur in the motor.

You might think that Electric blowers are very quiet because they have no engine.  It seems logical, but electric blowers generate a very high pitched scream, similar to a shop vacuum.  The reason is that the motor must turn a multi-bladed fan very fast to move any reasonable amount of air and therefore it generates a siren type sound, which is very irritating.  Quiet gasoline powered blowers have a unique fan configuration that prevents this type of sound.   Very low performance battery powered electric blowers may not scream, but most alternating current electric blowers do.

Click on the following link to see test results comparing a quiet gasoline powered leaf blower to electric blowers:  Blower Comparison

Are electric leaf blowers quieter than gas? Click here

 

What then is the big complaint?

A nti-leaf blower activists tend to argue that sound is not the only thing they do not like about blowers.  Some say that leaf blowers are bad for the environment.  Not any more.  This argument is unfounded.  The EPA has mandated that all small engines, similar in size to leaf blowers, must meet strict exhaust emission requirements.  For some engines, hydrocarbon emissions have been reduced by 90%.  Many designs have changed so radically that completely new engine concepts have been introduced.
 

To see emissions reduction graph, click:

EPA Exhaust Requirements for small engines.

 

Can leaf blowers be regulated locally to reduce emissions?

 

O nly the EPA has the authority to regulate exhaust emissions from small engines in the United States.  The State of California has its own Emission Standard, but it has been submitted to and approved by the EPA as a replacement to the Federal Standard in California.  All other States or subdivisions thereof are preempted from controlling emissions, including through the means of banning.  See the section 209 of the Federal Clean Air Act to read the restriction.

 

A statement by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) to Solana Beach, CA concerning compliance is available at the following site:  OPEI letter to Solana Beach

 

It is possible, however, for a local government to require leaf blowers to meet the lowest applicable level of the phase-in period for exhaust emissions (built after January 2005).  See EPA Exhaust Requirements for phase in levels and effective year.

 

 

 

Are automobiles cleaner?


T hose who use EPA limits to justify that leaf blowers are much worse for the environment than are automobiles are just plain wrong.  Automobiles cannot be compared directly to leaf blowers using published emission limits without first converting to like units. 

 

The EPA measures emissions by "hydrocarbons per mile" for the automobile and "hydrocarbons per horsepower-hour" for small off road engines.  Comparisons must be calculated after converting hydrocarbon emissions to "Total Kilograms per week", for example.  To put this in perspective, think in terms of households. 

 

The most common use for a leaf blower is to remove debris from a sidewalk and driveway after mowing the lawn and trimming the hedges.  Most people work in their yard once a week and they use handheld equipment for about 1/2 hour.  Of that, about 10 minutes is spent blowing grass clippings.  The same household most likely has a car which is driven to work five days a week.  A typical number of miles per week is 245 miles.

 

Using this method, a week's worth of automobile driving for a typical homeowner vs. a week's worth of leaf blower use is 30 times worse for the environment.  An SUV is 45 times worse than a leaf blower.  You can easily calculate what happens if two people in the household drive to work separately. 

 

Well, what about the contractor that services 10 or 15 yards per day or 75 households per week?  Clearly, 75 households will likely have 75 automobiles and the comparison remains valid.

 

What about during the leaf season.  Okay, this lasts for a month or two in the fall.  The blower may be used for an hour, maybe three times over a two month period.  Average the extra usage over the entire year and the overall impact is minimal.

 

To see a detailed comparison of Automobiles to Small Engines prepared by Rob Stegall, Sr. Director Design Engineering, Echo Inc., click the following link: Comparison, Cars vs. Blowers .  Mr. Stegall's chart includes string trimmers, hedge clippers and leaf blowers.

 

Mr. Stegall is a respected industry expert when it comes to understanding Emission Standards with over 25 years experience working with handheld engines.  From 1990 to the present, Rob has worked closely with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Environment Canada and the European Union during the development of Small Off Road Engine Emission Standards.

 

 

Consider greenhouse gasses (Global Warming)

 

A t one time hydrocarbons, or unburned fuel in the exhaust, were considered the evil source of environmental catastrophe.  It caused smog, sometimes called “ozone”.  Automobile manufacturers have done a lot over the years to reduce this constituent of exhaust gasses.  The leaf blower engine has also been improved.  Hydrocarbon emission has been reduced by 90%.  See "Graph, certified Emission Levels".

 

Diesel engines run clean with respect to unburned hydrocarbons because these engines run on excess air.  Unburned hydrocarbons are uncommon, unless the engine is malfunctioning.  You can tell when they are because they will emit a black smoke from the exhaust. 

 

In terms of hydrocarbons, we all know that automobiles are running cleaner than they used to by magnitudes, but what about greenhouse gasses?  What about CO2?

 

Have you ever given any thought to what happens to the fuel that is burned in an automobile, a diesel semi-truck, or a leaf blower?  It oxidizes.  That means oxygen combines with the two elements found in fuel, namely hydrogen and carbon.  The reason fuel is called a hydrocarbon is because it consists of hydrogen and carbon.  Every ounce of it turns into an airborne gas.  Hydrogen combines with oxygen to form water (H2O) and carbon oxidizes to form carbon dioxide (CO2 ).  CO2 is the greenhouse gas everyone is talking about. 

 

Aspen, Colorado wanted to know what was causing greenhouse gasses in their community.  Where is the CO2 coming from?  They found that 555,660 tons of CO2 were emitted from the transportation sector.  That represents 66% of all the CO2 emissions in Aspen in 2004.  The other major contributor is the power generation sector.

 

Those arguing that leaf blowers are worse than automobiles when it comes to Greenhouse Gasses (CO2 ), are totally incorrect.  How many cars in your household are used to drive to work?  How many gallons of gasoline do you burn in a week, one tank full (18 gallons)?  Two tanks (36 gallons)?  How much do you burn in a leaf blower in a week, 10 ounces?  20 ounces?  A gallon, by the way, is 128 ounces.  The average automobile is 230 times worse than a leaf blower when it comes to the emission of greenhouse gasses. 

 

To say that leaf blowers pollute more than automobiles is an irresponsible, uninformed and absurd statement.  Ten ounces of fuel through a leaf blower generates about the same amount of  CO2 as that found in a couple cases of beer.

 

To learn more about the greenhouse gasses, see the following web sites:

Aspen, CO Greenhouse Gas Sources

http://www.fueleconomy.gov

http://www.homebrew.com/articles/article12018101.shtml

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on Picture to enlarge

Harvester

Street Sweeper

Leaf Blower

Are leaf blowers hazardous to your health?

S ome people feel that one's health might be at risk because of the leaf blower.  Since they move air at high velocity, doesn't it stand to reason that they would also generate a lot of dust? 

The issue of health risk is often misrepresented as it relates to the leaf blower.   According to the EPA, the particulate matter that is potentially harmful to someone’s health is known as PM-10 and PM-2.5.  These numbers represent the particle size, which is 10 microns and 2.5 microns respectively.  A micron is a meter divided by one million (1/1,000,000 meter).  PM-10 has a diameter of 0.00001 meter (0.0004 inches or one-seventh the width of a human hair).  They are similar in size to the dust you see in a ray of sun light, right within your own living room.  For the most part, PM-10 is otherwise invisible.  Leaf blowers deal with a much larger sized particle, one that falls back to the earth within a few feet of the nozzle. 

PM-10 particles originate from a variety of mobile and stationary sources (diesel trucks, woodstoves, power plants, etc.), their chemical and physical compositions vary widely. Particulate matter can be directly emitted or can be formed in the atmosphere when gaseous pollutants such as SO2 and NOx react to form fine particles.  Gasoline powered leaf blower engines do not produce these chemicals, however, diesel engines do. 

As for leaf blowers raising this particle into the air, PM-10 is already in the air.  Because it is so small and lightweight, the wind keeps these particles suspended.  The brown haze you see over a city is comprised of these particles.  

You can learn more about PM-10 at the following sites:

http://www.epa.gov/air/airtrends/aqtrnd95/pm10.html

http://www.epa.gov/air/particlepollution/health.html

Greenwich Department of Health Statement

Taken from Greenwich Patch

by Patrick Barnard, June 29, 2022

The Board of Health, which drafted the town’s (Greenwich's) current noise ordinance in 1984, and amended it in 2004 and 2006 to address the use of leaf blowers, has the power to amend it again and present it to the RTM for approval. However, that seems unlikely since the board’s Leaf Blower Research Subcommittee recently concluded that leaf blower noise, although annoying, “does not pose a threat to public health,” said Caroline Baisley, Greenwich director of Public Health.

Baisley said the subcommittee, comprised of three doctors, found “there’s no conclusive, well-grounded scientific data providing medical evidence of the health risks associated specifically with leaf blower use — and therefore recommended that no changes be made to the ordinance.”

BOH Statement to Greenwich Representative Town Meeting

Email Statement

Email Response

 

Dr. Nancy Steele, of the California Air Resources Board

 

Dr. Steele conducted a yearlong study of leaf blowers for the California legislature.  Click to see Report to California Legislature on Leaf Blowers.  She and her staff concluded that there is no scientific evidence that leaf blowers are any more detrimental to the environmental than the alternatives.  Under certain conditions, brooms are likely to lift more dust than leaf blowers.  They can dislodge caked dirt and generate dust that leaf blowers would normally leave behind.

 

Excessive dust

Excessive dust can be generated if the blower is misused, but to prevent this from happening, Echo has created a training manual that explains what to avoid when using a leaf blower.  Under normal conditions, very little dust is raised, especially when used to move leaves or grass clippings from a yard or driveway.

Mr. Patrick Cunningham of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) agrees that leaf blowers should not be used on "unstable ground".  A state wide law has been developed that will disallow the use of leaf blowers on any surface that has been disturbed from its naturally compacted condition and has not been stabilized by some form of landscaping, such as pavement, decorative rock, chemical stabilizer or grass.  Click to see Arizona Bill SB 1552.  Click to see Arizona informational flier.

This law will also require any persons operating leaf blowers for remuneration to successfully complete, at least once every three years, training on how to operate a leaf blower in a manner designed to minimize the generation of fugitive dust emissions.

 

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District

Dust study and comparison

 

T he San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District commissioned Dennis Fitz of the University of California at Riverside to study the potential for leaf blowers to generate dust.  His results show that the amount they generate is insignificant.  Comparing data compiled in the San Joaquin Valley, daily driving of automobiles generates 100 times more dust than leaf blowers.  He also proved that brooms in fact do generate more dust as was suggested above.

 

Daily amounts of dust entrained in the air within San Joaquin Valley per a Modesto Bee Article:

 

(Tons per day)

Agriculture       91.33

Paved roads    62.66

Construction    14.09

Leaf Blower 0.52

 

Click to see

University of California, Riverside Report, Leaf Blower Dust

and Fresno Bee Dust Article for comparison to automobiles.

 

What do Doctors say?

D octors have opinions too.  They usually live in exclusive communities and in some cases have joined forces with anti-leaf blower activists to lend their title to the cause.  It is a powerful tactic.

Understand, however, that they are only offering their personal opinion.  It is not a medical opinion.  They have no proof that their health claims are true.  There are no tests, reports or scientific documents to back up their opinion.

One activist tells that her doctor friend claims that leaf blowers cause asthma attacks.  Asthma attacks are caused by allergies, irritants and stress.  According to Children's Hospital Boston, asthma causing irritants include such things as cigarette smoke, chemicals, weather conditions, colds and other respiratory illnesses.  Pollen can be a primary trigger and one can’t hide from pollen.  Nowhere can you find a reputable medical document that blames asthma on leaf blowers.

Any material that is lifted into the air by a leaf blower is localized and will not impact anyone at a reasonable distance away.  Air velocity dissipates rapidly with distance.  You can blow a piece of lint or a mosquito off your hand, but I doubt if you can blow one off your big toe. 

Click asthma triggers to read the statement published by the Mayo Clinic.

 

What must be done?

 

W hat can be done to impact the perception that leaf blowers are hazardous for people or the environment?  Clearly, people need to be educated and they need to take action.

 

 

Education

O perators must realize that improper use of a leaf blower is no longer acceptable or tolerated.  If they are not courteous and thoughtful, someone may try to take away this useful tool.  Some operators are inconsiderate, but more likely, they are unaware that they are misusing the leaf blower. 

 

Horticulturists would likely not use a leaf blower, choosing instead to gather lawn and garden refuse by hand to create compost for fertilizing plants.  To these artists, time may not be as important as is the care and treatment of delicate plants.  But generally leaf blower operators and landscape contractors are interested mostly in making money.  Leaf blower operators are not usually horticulturists or gardeners, rather they are laborers.  These well meaning, hard working people are more interested in pleasing the boss and that means doing a clean and professional job quickly.    

 

The solution to this is education.  Leaf blower operators need training in the proper way to use a leaf blower.  Both ECHO Inc. and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute in Alexandria, VA have developed bilingual pamphlets that outline how leaf blowers should be used. They tell how not to generate dust through proper nozzle positioning and throttle control.  They point out that it is irresponsible to use blowers on loose dirt, gravel drives and dust covered surfaces.  Guidelines are given concerning the operation of leaf blowers in residential areas or when bystanders are present.  It recommends acceptable hours of use.  And, it offers suggestions as to when and why older blowers should be replaced by new quieter versions. Some cities license operators and require training in order to qualify. 

One interesting fact is that the leaf blower is very easy to use.  Some even have a super friendly spring assist starting system.  One no longer must be a he-man in order to jerk the engine over during the starting sequence.  As a result, anyone and everyone with a need to move leaves or debris efficiently can pick one up and instantly feel like a seasoned leaf blower operator.

Unfortunately, not everyone is aware that there is a right way and a wrong way to use leaf blowers.  The industry is well aware of this lack of understanding among some operators and has a Standard (B175.2-2012), which guides manufacturers on how to inform operators of the proper way to use them.

Taken directly from the ANSI Standard are the following guidelines:

13.3 Additional Operating Recommendations for Blowers and Blower-Vacuums

13.3.1 Operate power equipment only at reasonable hours--not early in the morning or late at night when people might be disturbed. Comply with times listed in local ordinances.

13.3.2 To reduce sound levels, limit the number of pieces of equipment used at any one time.

13.3.3 Operate blowers at the lowest possible engine speed to do the job.

13.3.4 Use rakes and brooms to loosen debris before blowing.

13.3.5 In dusty conditions, slightly dampen surfaces or use mister attachment when water is available.

 13.3.6 Conserve water by using blowers instead of hoses for many lawn and garden applications, including areas such as gutters, screens, patios, grills, porches, and gardens.

13.3.7 Avoid blowing debris towards people, pets, open windows, or cars when using unit.

13.3.8 Use the full blower nozzle extension when blowing.

13.3.9 After using blowers and other equipment, CLEAN UP! Dispose of debris in trash receptacles.

 

ECHO Leaf Blower Training Manual (English) (PDF)

ECHO Manual De Capacition Soplador

OPEI Leaf Blower Manual

OPEI Flash Presentation

 

What can you do to prevent a leaf blower ban?

I f you would like to help prevent a leaf blower ban in your city, you need to familiarize yourself with the issues and then take the initiative to organize a group of stakeholders that will present a united front and give written and oral testimony before your City Council.

For guidelines as to how to do this and where you can get help, click:  Have a Hand in Halting Outdoor Power Equipment Regulations.

 

What must the Activist understand?

A ctivists that work to eliminate the leaf blower from the landscape contractor's trailer should make eliminating the irritating noise his or her goal, not the leaf blower or its use.  Leaf blowers have changed in recent years and new designs are no longer noisy. 

 

Current emission standards have eliminated the pollution problem that was once associated with two stroke engines. 

 

Finally, entrained dust particles can be minimized with proper use techniques. They are explained in the training manuals made available by Echo Inc. and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute.

 

Will a ban work?
 

Nothing so needs reforming

as other people’s habits.

 

Fanatics will never learn that,

though it be written in letters of gold

across the sky.

 

It is the prohibition

that makes anything precious.

 

Mark Twain

(Samuel Langhorne Clemens)

S everal communities have tried to control leaf blowers with some kind of ordinance.  Some have even tried to ban them.  This doesn't work!

If an ordinance is written, most communities expect the police to issue citations to violators.  Police argue that they have more important things to do.  Click to see Santa Monica Daily Press article.  What do you think would take precedence for a policeman, a domestic disturbance or a person using a leaf blower?  Do you really think they would chase down a leaf blower operator before they would respond to a traffic accident or a break-in or even a dog barking at children.  All these blower operators are doing is earning money to feed their families.  Besides, violators of leaf blower bans are hard to catch.  After receiving a complaint, the operator is likely to be long gone before the police arrive.

For 20 years, Santa Monica has struggled with no success enforcing a leaf blower ban.  In October 2010, the responsibility of enforcement transferred from the police to the Office of Sustainability and the Environment (OSE).  You can read for yourself their report of March, 2011 where it states that 1173 violations were reported over a six month period ending April 2011.  No citations were issued, only warning letters. 

They say that 500 violations were resolved without issuing a citation because these people agreed to stop using the leaf blower.  Faced with the possibility of receiving a citation resulting in a $250 fine, what would you say? 

Six months later, Stephanie McNeal of the SantaMonicaPatch reported that residents have seen no measurable improvement in the number of leaf blowers being used.  Do you suppose some of the 500 agreeable violators mentioned above are still using leaf blowers?  During the six months preceding October 2011, according to Ms. McNeal, only four citations were issued.  I wouldn’t want to be a city council member in Santa Monica if 1173 citations were handed out. 

The time and money Santa Monica is spending to control an unenforceable ban is unbelievable at a time like this, in a desperate economy.  Does the City Council not care that they are imposing a financial hardship on their constituents?  Landscape contractors that abide by the ban have had to raise their prices by 15%.

Contractors honoring a ban find that they can no longer service yards profitably.  Alternatives are too slow and often force them to go out of business.  Some are willing to pay the fine if caught using a blower since it is less expensive than using a broom or rake. 

 

The Department of Public Services for the City of Coronado, CA conducted a test comparing brooms to leaf blowers.  Click to see Report to Coronado City Council.  To clean the perimeter sidewalk of a downtown park with a broom took 80 minutes where it took only 6 minutes to clean it with a blower.  If you had a blower and broom on your trailer, regardless of the local ordinance, what would you use if you were expected to clean up behind yourself after cutting the grass.

 

Menlo Park, CA has rescinded their leaf blower ban after years of homeowner complaints, police frustration and enforcement expense.  Present code allows the use of blowers that are 65 dB(A) or less. 

 

See Title 8, Chapter 8.07 of the Menlo Park municipal code: MENLO PARK MUNICIPAL CODE

 

Manhattan Beach has taken it to a new extreme. 

They have made using a leaf blower a criminal offence, I suspect because contractors and homeowners are ignoring their ban.  The City Council approved having the police issue Misdemeanors upon first encounters.  That means they can be fined $1000 and be put in jail for six months.  Does that sound reasonable to you?  See Manhattan Beach Misdemeanor

 

What will work?

I f the issue is sound, and it usually is, why single out the leaf blower as the bad boy on the block.  Do not lawn mowers, string trimmers, power sweepers and hedge clippers also disturb your tranquility?  A more effective choice over a leaf blower ban would be to reduce the number of hours in a day during which all lawn care products may be used.  This should be your first choice toward eliminating noise concerns.

But if more is required, keep in mind that the operator or landscape contractor will voluntarily comply with whatever action is taken to control leaf blowers, except for a ban.  Do what Burlingame, CA has done.  Work directly with leaf blower users to determine what a workable alternative is.  You can read about their program by clicking here. 

What has worked in the past is where they are required to use only leaf blowers that measure 65 dB(A)1 or less.  New blowers are now marked with their sound level, eliminating the need for enforcement officers to do any sound testing. Click to see a Sound Label.  They only need to approach a contractor's trailer when they see one and check their leaf blowers for compliance.  Operators will buy quiet blowers and will use them voluntarily to avoid a citation under these conditions.  Leaf blower noise in cities mandating quiet blowers has been reduced to where it is no longer an irritation. 

It is also a good idea to require that operators have some form of training to alert them to leaf blower issues and the impact of improper use.  Some cities have gone so far as to require operators to be certified.

The EPA and CARB mandated that hydrocarbon exhaust emission from small hand held engines must be reduced by as much as 90%.  A good approach to legally reducing exhaust pollution is to require that all leaf blowers used be manufactured after January 1, 2005.  Click to see EPA Exhaust Requirements.  This is the date when exhaust emission has reached its lowest allowable level per a phase in period.  An EPA required label on the engine will tell you if it complies.  Click to see EPA emission label.

Allowing quiet, state-of-the-art leaf blowers will satisfy the concerns and needs of both the noise sensitive resident and the cost conscious landscaper.  Click to see Model Ordinance

1 = Per the ANSI Standard B.175.2

 

 

 

 

 

Links to Manuals, Reports, Presentations, Articles and Labels

 

OPEI Leaf Blower Manual

OPEI Flash Presentation

OPEI Contractor Training Videos

ECHO Leaf Blower Training Manual (English) (PDF)

ECHO Manual De Capacition Soplador

Quiet leaf blower history

Report to California Legislature on Leaf Blowers

Report to Coronado City Council

►Arizona Leaf Blower Bill SB 1552

Arizona Informational flier

Model Ordinance

Measuring Sound

10 dB(A) change in sound level

Quiet Blower vs. Electric Blowers

Sound Comparison Graph

How Loud is Too Loud

►Info-graphic

Six Quiet Leaf Blowers

Menlo Park, CA Municipal Code

Sound Label

Percent difference in sound pressure

DC Products

EPA emission label

EPA emission label requirements

Section 209 of the Federal Clean Air Act 

Adding sound from multiple sources

►ANSI B 175.2 Standard

B 175.2 Annex A

University of California, Riverside Report, Leaf Blower Dust

Fresno Bee Dust Article

►Asthma Triggers, Children's Hospital Boston

Taken From the Federal Clean Air Act

OPEI letter to Solana Beach

Contributors to Green House Gasses

Graph Certified Emission Levels

Comparison, Cars vs. Blowers

News Articles

 

 

Click for Free Adobe Acrobat Reader

 

 

For More Information

Contact:  Larry Will

E-mail address:  [email protected]

 

Telephone and Fax:  (479) 256-0282

 

About the Author

M r. Larry N. Will was Vice President of Engineering at Echo Inc., Lake Zurich, IL from 1994 until his retirement in 2002.  In this capacity, he oversaw the development of the first "Quiet" leaf blower that reduced leaf blower sound by 75%.  As a member of the Hand Held Products Committee for the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), he was instrumental in creating the Flash presentation and pamphlet that was published by OPEI, entitled "Leaf Blowers, A Guide to Safe and Courteous Use". 

For more than 14 years following retirement, Mr. Will has addressed leaf blower concerns throughout the United States and Canada as a Consultant to more than 180 city and state legislative bodies.  He shares his expertise and experience wherever consideration is being given to legislate leaf blower controls.  His intent is to provide reliable information about products presently being manufactured so an informed decision can be made.   

As a leaf blower expert in design, manufacture, application and use, he is in a unique position to supply up-to-date and accurate data and facts. In recognition of his expertise he has be interviewed by several leading news organizations including The Atlantic, The New Yorker, The Guardian and on camera for CBS News Sunday Morning. He was also called upon to make a presentation before the National Academy of Engineering in Washington DC. He knows emission and other compliance requirements and the results from any and all pertinent studies that have been conducted.  In addition to the OPEI manual, Mr. Will wrote the Echo Inc leaf blower training manual and can help others do the same when local conditions require it.   

Mr. Will is always available at no charge to answer questions by phone or email. 

Larry Will Last updated 01/13/2019                    
  DC

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WASHINGTON DC MAYOR BOWSER 2018

 

WASHINGTON DC  MAYOR BOWSER 2016

 

MIKE FARWELL RADIO INTERVIEW

mp3

 

LETTERS TO CITY COUNCILS

 

ORIGIN OF THE LEAF BLOWER

 

LAWN CARE PROVIDER ARTICLE

 

LETTER TO BEACONSFIELD LAWN CARE PROVIDERS

 

D.C. BLOWER BAN FAILURE

 

NEWTON BLOWER BAN ISSUES

 

ENFORCEMENT PLACES STRAIN ON NEWTON

 

THE LEAF BLOWER SECRET

 

RESPONSE TO DR JUBANYIC NEW HAVEN, CT

 

SANTA MONICA'S ENFORCEMENT PROBLEMS

 

EXCERPTS TAKEN FROM MIAMI HERALD ARTICLE

 

MIAMI HERALD LETTER TO EDITOR KRIS KISER

 

 

James Nathenson Comments, Maplewood, NJ

 

people and their leaf blower issues

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, VAN STEWART

 

MY VIEW: ANDY LEVIN

 

COMMENTARY: JON SNEIDER

 

NEWTON, MA ARTICLE FAITH MICHAELS

 

LEAF BLOWER PERFORMANCE COMPARISON

 

BOARD OF HEALTH STATEMENT GREENWICH, CT

 

BROOKLINE, MA POTENTIAL BLOWER BAN 

 

THE WRONG TARGET

 

FROM CHRISTIE DUSTMAN

 

ECHO HOME PAGE

 

ARLINGTON, MA

LEAF BLOWER BAN

 

REVISED PROPOSAL ARLINGTON, MA

 

LEAF BLOWER NEWS

 

CONTACT AUTHOR

 

REPORTS & DATA

 

QUIET LEAF BLOWER HISTORY

 

ANSI B175.2 STD

 

NEWS TEMPLATE

 

LEAF BLOWER FACTS

 

EDMONDS TEST

 

Burlingame, CA Ordinance Change

 

SAN MATEO LEAF BLOWER WORKSHOP

 

WILTON, CT SOUND WORKSHOP

 

PALO ALTO LEGAL ACTION

 

LIST OF CITIES CONTACTED

 

CARB STATEMENT

 

Are you

USING OR LOSING

 

No one shows up for leaf blower presentation

 

THE QUIET REVOLUTION

MP4 Presentation

 

Download the 24 minutes PowerPoint presentation here

 

How many times louder is 100 over 50 dB(A)