Leaf blowers aren't just noisy — they're also huge climate polluters. Gas-powered lawn equipment like leaf blowers and lawn mowers pollute a lot more than you might think. They pump out millions of tons of carbon dioxide each year, the primary driver of climate change.
Leaf blowers circulate allergens, toxins, pollutants like herbicides and pesticides, and pathogens into the air, along with dust. Leaf mold can also make asthma worse. The American Lung Association recommends that everyone avoid leaf blowers due to the toxic dust they create.
In fact, according to the California Air Resources Board, a single operator using a gas leaf blower for one hour generates the same smog-forming emissions as one car driving 1,100 miles. These small devices also leak formaldehyde and benzene, both of which are known carcinogens.
Overall, raking and sweeping leaves is a more efficient way to clean sidewalks and streets than using a leaf blower because it eliminates the need for fuel consumption and noise pollution.
Leaf blowers circulate allergens, toxins, pollutants like herbicides and pesticides, and pathogens into the air, along with dust. Leaf mold can also make asthma worse. The American Lung Association recommends that everyone avoid leaf blowers due to the toxic dust they create.
Leaf blowers aren't just noisy — they're also huge climate polluters. Gas-powered lawn equipment like leaf blowers and lawn mowers pollute a lot more than you might think.
They fail to work in humid conditions and the high speed of fan is not comfortable. An air blower sometimes fails to work in poor ventilation. Air blowers are not as efficient and powerful as Air Conditioner Units. They are noisy and generally not recommended for the people suffering from Asthma.
Most of the time, however, you'll be doing your garden more harm than good by exceeding recommended speeds: rocks and dirt flying everywhere, destroyed grass and tears of dread. Treat leaf blowing the same way you would any other garden job. Take your time and do it right; Your lawn will appreciate the effort.
10-20% coverage of your lawn might be okay, but I certainly would make sure the leaves aren't covering any more than that. Excessive leaf matter on your lawn going into winter is bad for several reasons. First, it will smother the grass and if not removed very soon in the spring it will inhibit growth.
The second train of thought is that mowing should be done last, after trimming and blowing. This method ensures that all the clippings/dirt that is tossed onto roads/sidewalks are picked up in the grass catcher of the mower and not laid out on the lawn.
Ordinance Overview and Enforcement
No agent or person is permitted to use a gas-powered leaf blower. Property owners and homeowners are held responsible for compliance and will receive citations for violations, even if they are not the person using a gas-powered leaf blower on their property.
Distilling the above results, the four-stroke Ryobi leaf blower kicked out 6.8 times more NOx, 13.5 times more CO and more than 36 times more NMHC than the Raptor. The two-stroke leaf blower was worse still, generating 23 times the CO and nearly 300 times more NMHC than the crew cab pickup.
As you engage your leaf blower, small particles of debris and dust will start to move around. These can easily make their way into your eye, which can be quite painful! Be sure to wear safety goggles to keep these irritants out. Next, wear a face mask.
Leaf blowers can save enormous amounts of time. When developing bids or price quotes, most landscape industry estimators work on the assumption that it takes four to five times as long to clean a typical landscape site with a broom and rake than it does with a power leaf blower.
How Long Should a Leaf Blower Last? When maintained properly, leaf blowers can last for 10 years or more. Typically, electric leaf blowers last longer than their gas counterparts, but you can enjoy many years of use for both types of leaf blowers.
They're really loud: Blower operators have recorded decibel levels as high as 100 dBA, and 83 dBA for passersby within 50 feet. (Upon landing, noise levels in an airplane cabin are ~75-80 dBA.)
However, there's good news. A study done at Michigan State University shows that you can forget about raking, blowing, and bagging leaves. Instead, just mulch them with your lawn mower and feed your lawn with a nitrogen-rich lawn fertilizer like Scotts® Turf Builder® Winterguard® Fall Lawn Food.
Here are just some of the potential implications if you don't rake the leaves on your lawn: Create a fungal disease on your lawn. Block oxygen and sunlight from your lawn. Cause a slip hazard.
Thatch, a layer of dead grass and root matter, can impede water, nutrients, and air from reaching the soil if too thick. Regular raking breaks apart and thins the thatch layer, which allows for enhanced grass root health and overall lawn vitality.
The blowers disturb and displace beneficial insects and critters important to healthy gardens and ecosystems. Many birds, for example, depend on the insects found in the leaf litter layer to feed their young.
Lawn and landscaping expert Gene Caballero summed it up succinctly: 'Leaf blowers are great for clearing large areas quickly. ' If you have a huge lawn or driveway, a rake won't cut it. You need a leaf blower to efficiently move a large number of leaves.
Cordless leaf blowers are a great option for cleaning gutters, blowing away freshly fallen snow and cleaning up leaves and dirt. If you don't mind a little less power and a shorter run time, opt for a battery-powered model over one with a gas engine.
According to experts, the heat produced in an abnormal manner can be damaging to the heart, lungs, and skin. As a result of its use, numerous patients reach hospitals with skin and respiratory issues. Doctors said that several patients who are complaining of dry skin are significantly increasing in the midst of winter.
In terms of usability, blowers are more portable and suitable for smaller spaces or specific areas that require quick heating. Their compact design makes them easy to move from room to room. However, they tend to be noisier and less suitable for long-term use due to their higher energy consumption.