Readers took a break from battling autumn's never-ending leaf pile to sound off about noisy, smelly gas leaf blowers in this installment of Patch's exclusive etiquette column Block Talk.
For many, it's one area of their lives that they want bigger, not smaller, government. They want local officials to step in, and there's plenty of precedent: More than 200 local governments have restricted gas-powered blowers or offered incentives to switch to quieter, less-polluting electric alternatives.
Greater Alexandria (Virginia) Patch reader Sam said a new citywide noise ordinance banning gas-powered leaf blowers and vacuums starting Tuesday is a welcome change.
"It is important, given the small size of lots in Alexandria," Sam said. "Gas leaf blowers are too loud to be used in our congested city. Their low-frequency, high-decibel noise significantly disturbs the peace, making it very hard for residents to be in the homes, schools or offices for work, learning or rest."
Several respondents want the government to stay off their lawn, while another good-sized group said there's no point in heaping on more regulations when current restrictions aren't enforced.
South Brunswick (New Jersey) Patch reader Elizabeth said there are so many gas-powered leaf blowers in her neighborhood that the period from April to November is "unbearable."
"The environmental damage is awful, and we should take every step available to protect our environment and health," Elizabeth said.
Loan and rebate programs should be offered to help professional landscaping companies transition to electric or alternative-powered equipment, just as tax breaks and incentives are provided to large corporations, she said.
"They're a scourge on life," said Across America Patch reader Sam. "Fifteen hours a day they scream. Each homeowner has a different landscaper. My next-door neighbor likes to use his four or five hours at a time — no exaggeration."
Sam continued, "I don't think these users know what a rake and shovel are. They blow it to one place and never pick it up. It eventually goes on their neighbors' property. Time is long overdue to stop this ruination of the peace of the neighborhoods."
Sam thinks sessions with the gas leaf blower should be limited to 15 minutes at a time. And fines. Sam wants the township to rake in the money.
Deer Park-North Babylon (New York) Patch reader Miguel, who favors a ban on gas-powered blowers, said they are "one of the most obnoxious things about suburbia."
"A large and growing number of people are working later and waking up later. There's no good reason to have that amount of noise at any given time." Miguel said.
He's not sure a ban would do any good, though.
"The police already don't enforce laws on fireworks, so during any given time of day you could hear a bomb go off," Miguel said. "Now landscaping will boom for three hours a day, three days a week on my block. It's complete insanity. Most days, I am sleep-deprived."
Dee, a Concord (New Hampshire) Patch reader, doesn't mind so much when a neighbor uses a blower to clear a walkway, but said "professional landscapers need to be reined in when it comes to these atrocious machines."
"Our landscaper always parks their numerous and huge trucks on the street that backs up to my bedroom window. For some reason, they feel they need to run and accelerate the truck to decibels unheard of — worse than the loudest fleet of motorcycles!" Dee said.
"If I'm still sleeping, the noise is so horrendous I am shocked out of bed, and I certainly can't get back to sleep after I've been woken up so suddenly. Then the leaf blowers start. My heavens above! They are so loud the operators have to wear ear covers. They are protected, but the residents are not," she said.
And then there's the exhaust. It seeps through every crack and Dee can smell it in the wall and windows.
"It gets worse every year," she said.
Other respondents were less impassioned but firm in their arguments to make the emissions-belching blowers a thing of the past.
"All gas-powered lawn equipment should be banned," Radnor (Pennsylvania) Patch reader Will said. "Electric equipment technology is good enough at this point and will only get better."
Temecula (California) Patch reader Linda is "fed up with the noise and pollution."
"An easy solution here, especially for guys who use this equipment to earn a living, would be to simply have the homeowners who hire them provide them with electrical equipment at the job site," Linda said. "That way, the mow and blow guys don't have to continue to haul their aging equipment from house to house ever again."
Ellenmelon doesn't think it's worth getting worked up over.
"I look at it as temporary," the Across America Patch reader said. "All of it is noisy. Lawn mowers, weed whips, screaming kids, barking dogs — it's all noisy. But it's temporary. Night falls or winter comes, and the peace comes with it."
And the way Ellenmelon sees it, the more powerful gas blowers can get the task one more quickly than her cordless blower.
"My noise, although quieter, would last longer," Ellenmelon said.
"Government should stay out of people's business when they are making a living," said West Haven (Connecticut) Patch reader Mom. "Just because some miserable people are not happy or don't like this, that or other thing doesn't mean the world needs to cater to them. Tell them to get a life and close the window."
Homer Glen-Lockport (Illinois) Patch reader Harry said battery-powered lawn equipment with enough oomph to do the same job as a gas-powered implement is a big investment.
"Then, when your battery needs to be replaced, these prices are ridiculously high as well," Harry said. "Also, if you have a large area to cover, you need additional batteries just to get your work done. And finally, when you try to recycle the dead batteries, no one will take them."
Burlington (Massachusetts) Patch reader Ms. Maple agreed that restrictive bans punish home and business owners.
"I'm not bothered by my neighbor's gas-powered leaf blower," Ms. Maple said, adding, "This whole thing is being blown out of proportion!"
"When electric blowers do the same work, in the same amount of time, for the same price, we can have a conversation. Until then, stop the nonsense," said Salem (Massachusetts) Patch reader Eddie. "Follow the noise ordinance, and that's it. Stop regulating!"
Waterbury (Connecticut) Patch AM reader Chuck said that even if his town officials passed restrictions, he would flout them.
"There shall be no restrictions on what type of equipment I decide to purchase or use. Period. Hard stop," he said. "I will not comply with any government telling me what type of power equipment I can purchase or use."
Steve, a Larkspur-Corte Madera (California) Patch reader, said a leaf blower ban sets a concerning precedent.
"Next will be chainsaws and other gas-powered equipment," Steve said. "People who don't have to use these tools are the ones complaining about them. They should mind their own business and stop trying to force people to use the electric-powered ones."
He added, "If the noise is so loud, they should close their doors and windows and get earplugs!"
East Norristown (Pennsylvania) Patch reader Gloria reframed the discussion.
"Let's fight together against the current mindset of thinking a pristine turfgrass lawn is beautiful, and toward a more natural-looking being beautiful in our neighborhoods," Gloria said.
"It is a mindset change," she said. "I'm working on mine a little at a time. This year is the first year I will not use a leaf blower at all. I'm using my leaves to mulch my native perennial beds in the hopes of seeing more fireflies next summer."
JC considers cleaning up the lawn part of her fall workout routine.
"I do not blow, only rake," the Falls Church (Virginia) Patch reader said. "My raking effort has resulted in stronger core muscles and a healthier heart. I don't waste money on gym fees or landscapers.
"So at 75 years with an inherited cardiac issue, a trainer at my exercise program commented, 'Well, we don't need to work on your core strength. You truly are surprisingly strong for a 98-pound elderly woman. All from enjoyable yard work!"
Block Talk is an exclusive Patch series on neighborhood etiquette — and readers provide the answers. If you have a topic you'd like us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com with "Block Talk" as the subject line.
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