How many decibels is a lawnmower? A lawn mower is an invaluable tool for lawn care. Most people have to regularly use it to keep their lawns neatly trimmed. But the unbearably loud noise that comes from it is a big downside, which is immediately obvious to anyone in the neighborhood.
Just how loud is a lawn mower? What can be done to avoid causing damage to your hearing? Those are valid concerns that can help you use your lawn mower safely. Read this article to find out.
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How Do You Measure Sound?
A Decibel is the measurement unit we use to assess the noise levels. It works on a logarithmic scale, which means a difference in 10 decibels is a sound ten times more or less intense.
The 0 on this scale works as a sort of starting point, being the quietest noise a human ear is capable of hearing.
The range of human hearing on this scale is from 0 to 140 dB.
What Is The Optimal Noise Level In Decibels?
There is no reason for you to aim for a 0-decibel scale reading. We usually face at least some amount of background noise at all times. You will hardly ever get to experience a 0 dB environment throughout your life. It is highly unnatural for humans to live in a completely soundless environment.
Experts say that anything at or below 70 dB is perfectly safe for our hearing. That is the sound of a normal conversation, your AC, etc.
When Does It Get Too Loud?
Long exposure to loud noises above the 75 dB threshold is when it starts getting dangerous for your hearing. Prolonged stay in such environments without hearing protection will inevitably lead to some degree of hearing loss.
Loud noise above the mark of 120 dB causes immediate harm to your ears.
How Do I Tell When The Sound Intensity Is Bad For My Ears?
Of course, simply relying on the signals of your body is a pretty good way of telling whether the sound falls into the acceptable noise level.
However, the experts claim you can vaguely assess how many decibels of noise you are exposed to by checking if you can have a normal conversation without raising your voice. If you need to be more loud than usual, it is a good sign that you should go to a quieter place, if possible.
How Many Decibels Is Lawnmower Noise?
The lawn mower noise ranges from 70 to 90 dB. Several factors make lawn mowers louder or quieter, but the model of your lawn mower probably has the biggest effect on how many decibels your lawn equipment will produce.
In general, it is recommended to always use ear protection while working with lawn mowers to avoid noise-induced hearing loss.
Types Of Lawnmowers
- Gas lawn mowers
- Electric lawn mowers
- Push lawn mowers
- Riding lawn mowers
How loud is a lawn mower of each type? Let’s find out.
Gas Lawn Mowers
These mowers are a popular option due to their relatively low upfront costs, long run time, and good cutting performance.
However, the cons of a gas lawn mower include a need for constant gas refills and a higher average noise rating.
It’s hard to find any lawn mowers louder: some sources claim that a gas lawn mower averages 95 dB while being in use. This is why some areas prohibit the use of gas mowers entirely.
These decibel ratings go above the safe human hearing threshold, so you should wear hearing protection while working with gas-powered mowers to avoid hearing loss.
Electric Mowers
Unlike the previously discussed gas lawnmowers, an electric lawn mower boasts a simpler maintenance routine and the ability to stay within the acceptable noise threshold. The average electric lawn mower decibels count is somewhere about 75 dB.
Such noise levels for a running lawn mower are much safer for your hearing. While wearing ear protection is not as urgent in this case, you should still do it to avoid harm to your health from loud noises.
Push Mowers
You probably also wonder whether how many decibels the lawn mower produces is based on the difference in operating them.
Push lawn mowers typically generate less noise than riding mowers. The noise level tends to correspond to the lower numbers of the range for a gas or an electric mower.
Riding Lawn Mowers
As a more powerful model, the riding mower has louder engine noise and requires you to wear ear protection to avoid hearing loss. This is the loudest mower model, the noise level reaches to 96.4 dB. If you are an owner of such lawn equipment, you should also own a pair of good ear muffs.
Can I Make The Lawn Mower Quieter?
Luckily, there are ways to reduce lawn mower noise. While this won’t make a running lawn mower safe to use without hearing protection, this will surely help reduce the loud noises of the people around you.
Loose Bolts And Screws
Proper, regular maintenance is a sure way to keep your lawn mower decibels down.
These little guys are one of the main culprits for the unbearably loud noise the lawnmowers are infamous for.
Keeping them screwed tight will ensure the mower is generally quieter.
Worn-Out Blades
A dull blade has a hard time cutting grass. In turn, this means your engine has to work overtime, leading to excessive noise from your device. Not to mention that it worsens the performance in general.
To reduce mower noise, sharpen your blades regularly.
Malfunctioning Muffler
Leaks or cracks in your muffler will inevitably lead to an increase in the sound profile. Whatever the source of the problem is, be it age or external influence, you should replace the device in due time.
Check your muffler every once in a while to ensure it is in good working condition.
Age Of Your Lawnmower
The machines are not immune to aging. Even if you are taking good care of your equipment and following every instruction in the manual, the age of your device will eventually make itself known.
Constant use wears out the mechanism of your mower, and some parts are not easy to replace. Exposure to air and dust is also not beneficial.
Sometimes the only way to reduce the noise is to buy a new lawn mower.
What Kind Of Hearing Protection To Wear
Wearing hearing protection is a basic safety requirement while using loud equipment to avoid hearing loss. There are a few design choices you can pick from.
Ear Plugs
Ear plugs can be expandable or pre-molded.
Reusable earplugs are the most common kind. They are compact and cheap, easy to find and to use. But it may take you a few tries to find the right pre-molded earplugs for your ears. Some people need different sizes of plugs for each ear.
For people who struggle to find a pre-molded ear plug in their size, there is always the option to use plugs made from expandable foam. For example, this is a good option for many women.
All you need to do is roll the material into a plug with just the right size. Of course, that requires some sort of sanitary condition to avoid infections in your ear canals. Unfortunately, many places where you use hearing protection do not meet these conditions.
Ear Muffs
Ear muffs come in a variety of models to fit all head sizes. They block the sound waves by completely covering your outer ear. They can include electric components that aid in communication or noise canceling.
They provide the best hearing protection.
However, they might get in the way of other safety equipment, such as goggles. People with beards might also find wearing them uncomfortable.
Canal Caps
Canal caps are similar to ear plugs, but they come attached to a flexible band. The band can be put under your chin, or anywhere around your head and neck. They are small and convenient, like earplugs, but easier to keep together or quickly take out of your ears in case you continuously go in and out of loud environments.
Obviously, same as pre-made ear plugs, they lack the customization abilities of foam earplugs.
FAQ
How many decibels is a grass trimmer?
A grass trimmer has an average noise level of 90 dB, the same as some gas-powered mowers. The sound of a trimmer can even reach 103 dB, so prolonged exposure to it without protection for your ears is dangerous.
Is the sound when mowing the lawn over 100 decibels?
No, lawnmowers, even a riding mower, do not reach 100 dB. Their noise levels go up to 95 dB on average. The sound intensity decreases with distance: at 10 feet away, you can expect the noise to be around 80 dB.
You should wear hearing protection if you spend more than 2 hours next to working lawnmowers.
How many dB is a vacuum cleaner?
Vacuum cleaners are pretty different. Louder ones can range from 71-75 dB, while a quieter model works on the scale from 61-70 dB.
How loud is 70 decibels?
70 dB is about as loud as a running dishwasher or a washing machine, which is still a fairly safe amount of noise. Some electric lawnmowers can also have such a noise profile.
To Sum Up
The knowledge of how loud is a lawn mower is quite important to ensure you do not put your health or the health of others at risk.
If you follow the manual from the manufacturer, use the lawn mower during approved hours, and wear ear protection to avoid loud noises, you can trim your lawn without any concerns for the future of your hearing.
