Silver Spring Residents Vent over Leaf Blowers Use
County regulations cover not only the decibel levels permitted by leaf blowers but hours too.
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Leaf blowers are the mosquitoes of the autumn season. Driving local Silver Spring residents crazy and forcing many indoors when they would like to enjoy their own yards.
“I really do not like the high-pitched noise they make,” Lorraine Van Buren of Dale Drive said. “It must bother some folks more than others, but I hate it.”
Many residents are unaware that there are local regulations that cover not only the decibel levels permitted by leaf blowers, but also their hours of operation. The Montgomery County noise ordinance spells out that leaf blowers are prohibited before 7 a.m. on regular weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends and holidays. On any day, they cannot continue past 9 pm.
Nearby in the town of Chevy Chase, the citizens decided to limit the hours even further to have any yard power equipment operate only between the hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.
In neighboring Takoma Park, the city council wrangled over a ban on leaf blowers several times before legislation was passed this year. It now bans city employees from using gas-powered leaf blowers, but does not limit others’ use of them.
In Silver Spring, some residents are entertaining the idea of banning the leaf blowers and other lawn equipment during the weekend when they would like to relax in their own gardens. Others would like the ban to cover weekday hours after 5 p.m. to ensure quiet evenings at home.
Aside from the noise, leaf blowers are a nuisance in many other ways. The gas-powered blowers two-stroke engines pollute the air. According to the California Air Resources Board, 30 minutes of leaf blower carbon monoxide emissions is equivalent to about 110 miles of automobile travel at 30 miles-per-hour average speed.
They also blow dust, mold, and other particulates into the air. Asthma and allergy sufferers are greatly impacted. Animal feces, heavy metals like lead, and pesticides are also blown about by these power tools and have been tied to serious illness in lawn work crews.
Are leaf blowers really necessary? Vicki King Taitano on Queen Annes Drive notes, “I hate the noise too. Maybe I have over sensitive ears. In my opinion, our yards are small enough that rakes are really sufficient.”
Tim Abrahams lives on Sheffield Street and operates Abrahams Lawn Service. He concedes that leaf blowers are very noisy and burn a lot of fuel.
“But they are a necessary part of the business if you want to stay competitive during leaf season in this area,” Abrahams explained. “I myself really don't like to use them and prefer raking, but customers would not want to pay for the extra man hours that takes. (Three guys with nice blowers can clean out a yard and gutters in half the time as using rakes.)”
Kathy Jentz is editor of Washington Gardener magazine and is a long-time DC area gardening enthusiast. Washington Gardener is all about gardening where you live. She can be reached at www.washingtongardener.com and welcomes your gardening questions.
Kim
12:53 pm on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
My opinion, they are a necessary evil. It is unfair to ban them given that most people are already crunched for time and now we would be required to spend an entire weekend (make that two weekends with the county leaf pick up) raking our lawn. What about the elderly who can’t rake anymore? I know my 90 year old neighbor wouldn’t be out there. It makes me head spin and hand calluses form thinking about this.
James J. Kaufmann
4:17 pm on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
We need to value our environment, of which our soundscape is an important part. If there is not enough time to rake every leaf, let some leaves be. Leaves are natural, and I think, beautiful. But even if one doesn't think so, getting rid of every leaf is clearly not worth the havoc leaf-blowers wreck on the environment.
Susan R
11:55 pm on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
In Los Angeles gas leaf blowers are illegal to use within 500 feet of a residence. You are still allowed to use plug in ones and battery powered leaf blowers.
But there still needs to be laws on the books for quiet leaf blowers. And, there are plenty of quiet ones sold on the market. Lowes is one of the best hardware stores that sells "quiet leaf blowers".
Mike Jones
7:21 am on Thursday, December 1, 2011
We are becoming such a sensitive, cry-baby society. People are fussing over the sound of leaf blowers????
Steve Davies
2:44 pm on Tuesday, December 6, 2011
There are ways to minimize leaf-blowing and raking. Mowing your leaves and lawn with a mulching mower allows leaves to break down naturally and enrich your lawn.
From observing the use of blowers, it's clear to me that they are not time-savers. Operators often end up chasing individual leaves around. Using a tarp or two and raking leaves onto the tarp takes less time.
Also, the industry's own trade group, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, advises operators in its own pamphlet to "make sure bystanders, including other operators, are at least 50 feet away. Stop blowing if you are approached." And, "Do not operate while standing on a ladder, rooftop, tree or other unstable surface. Use nozzle attachments to reach high places."
These two "best practices" are often not observed.
The laws are quite weak. Takoma Park's noise ordinance of 65 dB does not apply to leaf blowers, which are allowed to operate at 70 dB. It also allows the use of blowers on a property (there is no limit on the number) for up to 2 hours over a 24-hour period, which gives the lie to the notion that they are labor-saving devices. Who needs to use one or more blowers for two hours?
The contribution by leaf blowers and other lawn care equipment to health-damaging high ozone levels is significant. More information is available here, at a web page I created in conjunction with my membership on Takoma Park's Task Force on Environmental Action: http://www.eswr.com/docs/tfea/