Leaf blowers are overrated and over-used.

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   cat on a soapboxposted 9 years ago

   Leaf blowers are inefficient, cause both air and noise pollution, and ruin the topsoil. There are movements to ban them. What do YOU think??

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      eugbugposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, BAN THEM , I Say!
      Leaf blowers are only for couch potatoes who are too lazy to get up off their asses (arses for non US readers) and use a rake!!!
      Rant over!!
      I do have an electric one though which comes in useful for sucking up fragments of remaining leaves, after using a hand rake!

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         cat on a soapboxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         I agree that electric ones are great for removing the little bits left behind after raking. Good for quick clean up on walkways/driveways before guest arrival too.

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            eugbugposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            The problem with gas leaf blowers (and also chainsaws, hedge cutters, string trimmers etc) is that they use 2 stroke engines. So unlike the engine on your mower which is 4 stroke (generally), oil must be mixed with the gas for lubrication purposes. Unfortunately people often use too much oil in the mix and/or don't swirl it around after mixing, either of which results in an over oily mixture and excessive smoke from the engine.
            I find a 4 prong lifting fork, used upside down is great for raking leaves. Because the prongs are long, they don't get clogged as quick and large quantities of leaves can be dragged around the place before the fork is flipped over and used to lift the pile into a barrow.

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               cat on a soapboxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               Thank you. You are right about the 2-stroke engine and air pollution. The Los Angeles chapter of the American Lung Association has produced research to illustrate how leaf blowers generate as much pollution in one hour as a car driven for 100 miles produces.  This is why  gas-powered leaf blowers should be either banned or required to meet the same emissions standards as cars and industry.

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      Teddletonmrposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      By what matrix are Leaf blowers inefficient, electric, gas powered or do you mean both?

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         cat on a soapboxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Leaf blowers do get the leaves off but not as efficiently as a rake or broom. I take several things into consideration with my statement. First of all, a gardener has to corral the leaves which takes unnecessary time. Let's hope too that during the process a car doesn't drive by and blow the heap all over the street again. Second, the gardener next door just blew all the neighbor's junk in my yard which I spent hours cleaning up.  There is also the issue of the extra dust that was deposited on the windowsill I just cleaned.  Lastly, blowers ruin the topsoil by turning it to silt. This requires more time amending garden beds and laying down fresh mulch. All of this AND the noise whether electric or gas. Air pollution is kept down by not using the gas type, but we still have the air-born particulates and allergens. One gets a better workout w/ a rake and broom which adds to the time well-spent in the outdoors.

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      J - R - Fr13m9nposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I do agree with you that they are noisy and they spread the soot all over resulting in a situation where a person would want to place his/her hand covering his/her mouth and nose. Landscapers seem to love them probably because it saves them time.

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      Writer Foxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      In my country, their use is only allowed during certain times of the day and only on certain days because of the noise.

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   Stacie Lposted 9 years ago

   I use leaf blowers in the fall to moved large piles of leaves.
   If I didn't, I would have to spend days raking them into piles onto a tarp and dragging them to a compost.
   I do,however think that landscapers use them too much. A rake would be more efficient for a small mess.
   Some town have outlawed them due to noise pollution.

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      cat on a soapboxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      In areas where Fall leaf drop is significant and properties are larger, I can see how a leaf blower would be a welcomed tool in addition to a rake. My complaint is the overuse of blowers in urban neighborhoods where the leaf litter would barely fill half of a trash can. It's not uncommon to have 3 gardeners running them all at the same time!

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   clairewaitposted 9 years ago

   Hah. We use our leaf blower for so much more than leaves. A ban?! It'll never pass.

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      cat on a soapboxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I doubt there will ever be a complete ban on leaf blowers as a whole; however, many communities have already banned gas blowers, and there are many advocating for stricter controls. I think they should be subject to pollutant emissions regulations and also be required to have mufflers. Curious to know what other uses you have for your leaf blower.

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         wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         I don't know - I'd a lot rather hear a leaf blower for a few hours per year than the dog behind my house that barks for hours each and every day of the year.
         
         Think we could ban all dogs?

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            cat on a soapboxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            I agree that there are worse disturbance scenarios than leaf blowers including incessant barking, and I also feel I have more control over handling them.  My husband is usually the first to mention to neighbors that their dog is barking for hours on end., and it usually comes as a total surprise to the dog owner who is likely not there when the dog is yapping.  Once we complain, the problem usually goes away. If not, the next step is a repeat visit, and then Animal Control.   I have no recourse w/ leaf blowers where their daily use is the norm.
            Why is it that consideration of others' peace and quiet is losing importance?  I don't care if it's noisy equipment, loud music, or incessant barking. One is just as inconsiderate as the other, and we've often NO idea who may work the night-shift, who is ill, etc.

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   Sparkleaposted 9 years ago

   There are two, no three things I cannot stand in the summer: lawn mowers, tree murderers, and LEAF BLOWERS!
   I am thrilled to see others who share my view.  I thought I was probably the only one on the planet who loathed what I consider to be one of the worst inventions EVER.
   I consider them to be useless and the noise drives me crazy.
   I spend many days at Barnes & Noble during the summer because of the noise of this machinery.
   I often look out the window and think, "get a rake for heaven's sake, what a waste of electricity, money and energy."  Even lifting them has to be a burden, especially anyone who may have arthritis.
   These annoying pieces of machinery blow the leave to the curb.  The next day along comes the wind and the leave are back on the lawn.
   I guess I just cannot stand chaos, which is one reason I actually love winter...Because it is a quiet season with none of the racket that will be coming soon.  Great question!

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      cat on a soapboxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Sorry to hear that you are being driven from your home to read in peace, Sparklea. I agree that leaf blowers have ruined many peaceful  hours! There is one gardener who starts at 7:30 each Monday morning and runs the thing for 45 min. between 3 different houses. I wear ear plugs!  Another shows up next door at 4:30 on Sat. afternoon and blows all the debris into my yard through the spaces in the wood fence. This includes small rocks which I fear will  fly up and crack my windows. He'll be a sorry neighbor if THAT ever happens!

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   Ada Udehposted 9 years ago

   intresting

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   LongTimeMotherposted 9 years ago

   I've only occasionally seen people using leaf blowers, and none near my house so I've not paid much attention.
   
   What drives me crazy is when I see people blasting leaves from their driveway using a hose. What a waste of water. Particularly during droughts.

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   erorantesposted 9 years ago

   I do not have one of those blowers, but I see some people use them a lot in the areas were there are a  few trees. Some gardeners said that some of their elderly customers like them.  People  use them in private areas,  but in public areas is rare  seeing a person using the blowers.

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   rebekahELLEposted 9 years ago

   The noise is terrible.  Leaf raking is not my favorite activity, but using a leaf blower would make it unbearable.  I once watched a man use one in his front yard.  He blew every leaf onto the street and if he missed one he moved to blow it away.  Ridiculous.

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