There’s just less work to do on a battery-powered tool to maintain it. But even then you will deal with fuel costs and repair headaches, which leads us to the next benefit… Lower Maintenance You can reduce a lot of those headaches by using ethanol-free fuel. From mowers to trimmers and everything in between, EGO offers gasoline alternative solutions for homeowners. Savings on a corded electric option were even higher but beyond the scope of this article.ĮGO is staking its claim in the battery-powered yard tool market with its Power+ series of high powered yard tools. In the end, their calculations showed that the owner of a battery-powered mower would save more than $200 over the life of the tool compared to a gas mower during the 10-year run ( source). They accounted for initial investment, operating and maintenance costs, and summed up total costs assuming 10-year ownership. The folks over at Wisebread took the time to do the math between a gas-powered mower and an electric alternative. This one is interesting and has really gotten me to thinking about initial costs vs return on investment. No matter how you cut it, battery-powered is quieter. The low-frequency noise from gas blowers was heard more loudly in homes than the battery blowers.Low-frequency noise travels further and was audible up to 800 ft away.Gas blowers produce more low-frequency noise. The study concluded with the following findings: The study involved a mixture of both gas and battery blowers. In 2018, a comprehensive study was conducted as part of the Leaf Blower Regulation Amendment Act of 2017. But there is a distinct difference in the noise levels and type of noise between them. Featured in this video is the ECHO Quiet Leaf Blower.īut at the end of the day, even a “quiet” gas-powered yard tool is still going to be louder than battery-powered. Manufacturers are taking notice and working to create quieter gas-powered solutions.īelow is a video outlining the concerns and innovative technologies that are being used to reduce the noise levels of gas-powered yard tools. But you can further reduce your risk by choosing battery-powered yard tools.Ĭonsumer and city concerns over noise have increased in recent years with many city ordinances being introduced to limit or even ban gas-powered yard tools ( source). I use inexpensive noise-canceling headphones anytime I’m mowing or doing tractor work. If you are using gas-powered yard tools, it is recommended that you always wear hearing protection. In fact, the World Health Organization cites an increased risk of hearing loss with noise decibels exceeding 75 dba but a blower with a rating of 75 can actually reach up to 100 decibels for the user who is right next to the engine ( source). This is especially true of professional landscapers who are exposed daily. Repeated exposure to gas-powered engine noise puts you at a higher risk of hearing loss. Battery-Powered Yard Tools Produce Less Noise And we even tipped the scales by adding the battery. Let’s compare the entry-level gas trimmer against the entry-level battery model from the same company: Stihl Gas vs Battery Trimmer Weight Comparision ModelĮven in this faceoff, the battery model comes in significantly lighter than a combustion engine comparison. This isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison”.įair enough. With a full 3 pounds of difference between them, there is no question that the battery-powered model is going to result in less back strain and discomfort during prolonged use.īut maybe your thinking “you’re just cherry-picking. Here’s another example, this time pitting an entry-level Stihl gas trimmer against Worx 56v battery model. Still, the battery-powered blower comes in at over two pounds less. Greenworks makes a lighter, 40v model but I selected the heavier 80v model for this comparison. I chose the entry-level homeowner model for Stihl. Note that I intentionally tipped the scale in favor of gas for this comparison. For electric, the dry weight indicates no battery attached. For gas engines, this means the weight without any fuel in the tank. Here’s an example of the weight difference between two popular blowers, one fueled by gas and the other by a battery. I’ve looked at this extensively as I’ve aged and more and more, I’m finding compelling reasons to choose lighter weight yard tools. If you have a larger yard, an extra hefting an extra pound or two can add up to some tired muscles. Weight matters, especially when using tools for prolonged periods. Using powered yard tools can really play havoc on your back and legs. Check out the DynaTrap Mosquito & Flying Insect Trap – Kills Mosquitoes, Flies, Wasps, Gnats, & Other Flying Insects – Protects up to 1/2 Acre (link to Amazon).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |