Usually, gas-powered lawn mowers are louder because of internal combustion in their small engines. In addition, the lack of a robust muffler means engines can’t dampen the noise.
Keep reading if you are looking for an answer to “why is my electric lawn mower so loud?”
Another reason is the fast spinning of the blades of the lawn mower that creates noise. And if you are wondering how you can make your quieter, here’s a solution.
Why is My Electric Lawn Mower so Loud?
There is no surprise that lawn mowers are so loud. But if you want to keep them quiet, you need to know what makes them very go noisy.
The Muffler
The muffler is used to dampen the sound that an engine creates. You can find them in most cars today that don’t create much sound when running.
However, those provided in lawn mowers are not very effective. That could be because manufacturers value power above noise reduction or trying to keep costs low.
The Engine
The major culprit that makes lawn mowers go loud is the engine. But that’s what powers them and you can’t get rid of it. Do you?
An engine becomes noisier the bigger it gets. So, a big riding mower usually creates more noise than a push mower.
However, the engine needs the blades to run at a specific minimum speed to cut the grass effectively. And to achieve this, it needs a good power source.
Spinning Blades
The spinning blades generate noise as a by-product when they rotate through the air.
To cut the grass effectively, lawn blades should spin at 3000 revolutions per minute at least. And this speed is enough to create some noise.
Loose Parts
If your mower has loose parts, it’s likely to produce a lot of noise. You should thoroughly inspect attachment points and seams on the mower to make sure everything is in good shape.
Adding a thread locker, if required, can protect the bolts from withdrawing and causing more noise.
How Loud is an Electric Lawn Mower?
The sound output of an electric mower can go up to 75 decibels. However, those powered by gas are generally louder with up to 95 decibels of sound.
This can be problematic as prolonged exposure to sound above 70 decibels can cause hearing loss. And sound above 80 decibels can cause permanent loss after 2 hours of exposure.
So, you should be careful when using a mower and use hearing protection when mowing.
How Can I Make my Lawn Mower Quieter?
The above points have answered the question “why is my electric lawn mower so loud?”
But if you want to reduce the noise, here are some ways you can follow to achieve that.
Regular Mower Maintenance
Maintenance is essential for all machines including lawn mowers. Lack of daily maintenance can cause problems with it running correctly.
And this improper working of the lawn mower makes it go louder.
Fresh Gasoline
If you are using a gas-powered mower, using fresh gasoline is essential for operating a small engine effectively.
So, if you are not feeding good fuel to your engine, it will not work right. And hence, it will generate more noise. Thus, you should always use fresh gasoline to mow quietly.
Change Oil
Besides fuel, good oil is essential for the health of an engine. It lubricates and cools the components of engines.
That’s why it is essential to change the engine oil regularly as per the manufacturer’s guidelines. Doing this maintains the best working condition of your mower’s engine.
Fuel Treatment
Fresh fuel might not be available at all times. In any such case, a fuel treatment is a great option.
You can enhance the gasoline shelf life with proper treatment. In addition, cleaning the internals of the engine can also help reduce the noise.
Replace Air Filter
This part is responsible for providing clean and fresh air to the mower engine.
Throughout use, the filter can get clogged with debris and dirt. This will make the engine work harder and louder to perform the job.
Thus, keeping an eye on the filter is required and you should replace it when it no longer functions well.
The Spark Plug
This plug ignites the fuel when it enters the combustion chamber. And, similar to other components, it also experiences wear and tear.
If this plug goes faulty, it can lead to a misfire costing you the engine’s efficiency. And, replacing it can make the engine work smoothly and quietly.
Tighten the Blades
As you already know, loose blades can also cause a huge amount of noise. Keeping a check on your mower’s blades to ensure they stay in good shape also helps.
Switch to Electric
Well, these points have answered, “how can I make my lawn mower quieter?” But most of them are suitable for gas-powered mowers.
Electric mowers are comparatively less noisy. So, you should replace your gas-powered mower with the one powered by an electric engine.
How Much are Electric Lawn Mowers Quieter?
You have been reading that throughout the article. Gas-powered engines are generally noisier than those powered by electricity.
On average, an electric lawn mower is roughly 10 to 20 decibels quieter than its gas-powered counterpart.
However, that’s still well above the 70-decibel threshold and can cause hearing loss with prolonged exposure.
Wrap Up – Why is My Electric Lawn Mower so Loud?
The above article provides some of the top reasons for “why is my electric lawn mower so loud?”
You can also find a quick comparison of the loudness of electric and gas mowers.
While using an electric engine is an obvious choice to reduce the noise, other tips can help further reduce the decibels.
Regular maintenance, changing the oil regularly and keeping a check on the spark plug help keep the mower working quietly.
FAQs
Are electric lawn mowers loud?
Yes, electric lawn mowers are loud. They produce sound as high as 75 decibels.
Listening to sounds above 70 decibels for a long period can cause hearing loss. Thus, you should use hearing protection when mowing.
Are electric lawn mowers quieter than gas?
Comparatively, electric mowers are 15-20 decibels quieter than gas-powered mowers.
Since electric mowers produce sound as high as 75 decibels, gas mowers can go up to 95 decibels.
How loud is an ego mower?
Ego electric lawn mowers that usually go up to 75 decibels. However, some reports suggest the maximum sound of Ego’s mowers at 81 decibels.