User manual ECHO LEAF BLOWER

[. . . ] LEAF BLOWER A Training Manual in the Proper Use of Leaf Blowers Echo, Inc. 400 Oakwood Road Lake Zurich, IL 60047 August 30, 2006 By: Larry Will Page 2 Table of contents Introduction The origin of the leaf blower Leaf blower use How serious is the leaf blower problem Leaf blower concerns Leaf blower ordinances Leaf blower improvements Guidelines for proper leaf blower use Guideline #1. . . Be considerate Guideline #2. . . Observe noise ordinances Guideline #3. . . Run at part throttle Guideline #4. . . Use only one blower at a time Guideline #5. . . Minimize dust Guideline #6. . . Never deliberately blow dust Guideline #7. . . Replace your old leaf blower Summary Page 3 4 4 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 10 11 12 12 12 Page 3 Introduction: A great deal is being said about leaf blowers these days and much of it is negative. That is, a vocal few have done everything they can to control and in some cases ban the leaf blower. Landscapers respond that they would not be able to remain in the lawn care business without a leaf blower, because it would take too long to do their final cleanup. [. . . ] Intuitively, after listening to their argument, people tend to believe that blowers might be hazardous to your health, which helps their case. Of course, this has no foundation in fact, as the CARB report and others have indicated. Exhaust emission was a problem many years ago, but not any more. Emissions have been reduced up to 90% to meet new stringent government Standards. Comparing actual emissions from a car to a leaf blower over the course of time, automobiles are considerably worse than leaf blowers. Most households with one automobile run a tank of gasoline per week through a car (18 gallons on average) while a leaf blower's fuel consumption is measured in ounces per week, per household. Test results show that dust is insignificant compared to other common sources as was proven by the University of California study for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District mentioned earlier in this pamphlet. There have been many efforts to place a "black cloud" over leaf blowers. Supporters of this view are truly disturbed by the seemingly loud; mostly irritating sounds generated by blowers and they feel compelled to do something about it. In their zeal, they are using every argument possible to paint the blower as an evil and unnecessary landscaping tool. Often they find someone that said something unflattering about the blower and then they quote this person as if what he said was fact. Although their argument is mostly anecdotal and unsubstantiated, this type of propaganda serves to reinforce those that are considering banning leaf blowers in other communities. You can find comments such as these on several web pages compiled and financed by dedicated and determined anti-leaf blower activists. Leaf Blower Ordinances: It should be pointed out that there really is no reason to create an ordinance to control blowers since by attrition; excessively noisy blowers will eventually disappear. However, since this argument is often not accepted, one should consider the ramifications of introducing a leaf blower noise ordinance. To begin with, the police will be expected to enforce this unenforceable law. The truth is, landscapers do not want to give up their leaf blower. In fact, where there is a ban such as in Los Angeles, many would rather risk paying the fine than have to use a time consuming and labor intensive broom or rake. In most cities, an ordinance banning blowers has changed law-abiding citizens into clever violators. Most important, banning is not the answer! Page 7 If the ordinance is volume or sound magnitude limiting, sound meter readings turn out to be unreliable when taken by an untrained individual, which leads to disputes. Catching violators usually depends on receiving complaints and by the time the police arrive, the violator is nowhere to be found. Should the police respond to a noise complaint or a domestic disturbance?What if there is a traffic accident, one with injury? [. . . ] You may think that dust is very light and easily lifted into the air. In reality, it is very heavy per unit volume. One cubic yard of concrete is 1000 pounds heavier than one cubic yard of sand, yet because the particles of cement are very fine, a leaf blower can lift them if enough air movement is applied. A leaf, a blade of grass or a paper cup, on the other hand, has a weight or density hundreds of times lower than dust. [. . . ]