Noise Pollution

[Pjontheway]

We really like The Villages. Coming here for many, many years.
We have lived here for over 3 years now. The noise, during the day is sometimes crazy! (Loud) powerful lawnmowers in neighborhoods and throughout public areas, powerwashing of houses, remodels, new roofs - just to name a few. Yes! Homes & throughout The Villages need maintenance but never lived in such noise.
Not being negative. I like it here. Wondering if less noisy tools could be used? Or something?

[Babubhat]

Seriously doubt Florida will become California and mandate electric

[Stu from NYC]

Sorry do not see how this will change. Enjoy the quiet during winter season when grass is pretty much dormant.

[Altavia]

We really like The Villages. Coming here for many, many years.
We have lived here for over 3 years now. The noise, during the day is sometimes crazy! (Loud) powerful lawnmowers in neighborhoods and throughout public areas, powerwashing of houses, remodels, new roofs - just to name a few. Yes! Homes & throughout The Villages need maintenance but never lived in such noise.
Not being negative. I like it here. Wondering if less noisy tools could be used? Or something?

Plus the Billy Bob's in their beater pick up trucks with the exhaust cut out.

People talk about the Turmpike but there are no quiet places daytime in The Villages.

[John-US]

Don't forget yesteryear golf carts that are as LOUD as yester years!

I'd love an old style cart with a lithium power

Add Club Cadet to the list of slow moving and stinky & loud things.

[Mortal1]

Yes...to be honest you are being negative. Still I'm from Maine and lived in a city of 16k....100x noisier than here....24 hours a day noisier.

Be thankful as most of the noise you refer to is done by sundown.

[Mortal1]

Yes...to be honest you are being negative. Still I'm from Maine and lived in a city of 16k....100x noisier than here....24 hours a day noisier.

Be thankful as most of the noise you refer to is done by sundown.

[GpaVader]

My office is directly below a weight room at a local Gym. I didn't know what noise was until I started working here. If it's noisy outside, close the doors and windows and turn up the TV or Stereo....

[jdulej]

Seriously doubt Florida will become California and mandate electric
I am guessing that in 5 years the electric version of various landscaping tools will be so much better than the gas ones that most will use them without a mandate of any kind. The California mandate will push companies to put all (most) R&D into electric.

[MartinSE]

The riding mowers to cut a postage stamp sized yard is about the only complaint I have. But, the good news is it is not every day and it usually only last a few minutes. Everything else so out weights that problem for me that I am very happy here.

[BigSteph]

I brought down from the mid-Atlantic a gas mower and trimmer. I still work and thought I would cut the grass on weekends, but the summer is so hot that the only time to do it is late in the evening or very early in the morning. As a result, I purchased a battery-operated mower, trimmer, edger attachment, and blower.

I did this to give myself the option to do yard work when others are still getting up or just sitting down for the evening. I didn't want to be "that person" running gas equipment during those hours.

I understand your concern about noise -- it bothers me, but there is little to do about it. I'm trying to do my part, though.




I am guessing that in 5 years the electric version of various landscaping tools will be so much better than the gas ones that most will use them without a mandate of any kind. The California mandate will push companies to put all (most) R&D into electric.

[Michael G.]

I started a post such as this some time ago and got my head taken off.
My post included motorcycles and old cars but apparently everyone is deaf at our age.

Remember There's water pollution, air pollution, and noise pollution which everyone is good at ignoring.

[4Paws4Me]

You're kidding right? ....."Wondering if less noisy tool could be used? or something? " This is a post in jest, isn't it? There is no way you can make me believe that someone actually wrote this and really meant what they wrote.

Does this mean, I have to tell my contractor to put a sponge on the end of his hammer, so he doesn't make any noise?

[billethkid]

The sounds of life!!!
Not unique to TV....mega rich neighborhoods have same "needs" fulfilled.

[thevillages2013]

Waaaahmbulance ?

[Laker14]

We really like The Villages. Coming here for many, many years.
We have lived here for over 3 years now. The noise, during the day is sometimes crazy! (Loud) powerful lawnmowers in neighborhoods and throughout public areas, powerwashing of houses, remodels, new roofs - just to name a few. Yes! Homes & throughout The Villages need maintenance but never lived in such noise.
Not being negative. I like it here. Wondering if less noisy tools could be used? Or something?

I call it "The Villages Symphony"...golf carts, power washers, mowers, gas hedge trimmers, gas air blowers..." hey, if I needed quiet I would have moved to the country.
It is what it is. If it's really bad I close the doors and the lanai and put on some tunes... part of the price to pay for living in an immaculately groomed community. Often, the noise is coming from my house because I have grass and plantings that need to be maintained.
Burn one and chill.

[Boffin]

Yet another Villages first world problem. Life is good.

[Topspinmo]

You're kidding right? ....."Wondering if less noisy tool could be used? or something? " This is a post in jest, isn't it? There is no way you can make me believe that someone actually wrote this and really meant what they wrote.

Does this mean, I have to tell my contractor to put a sponge on the end of his hammer, so he doesn't make any noise?

Or hire bunch of goats to cut lawn, but they will have to well train and go baaaa.

[Topspinmo]

I call it "The Villages Symphony"...golf carts, power washers, mowers, gas hedge trimmers, gas air blowers..." hey, if I needed quiet I would have moved to the country.
It is what it is. If it's really bad I close the doors and the lanai and put on some tunes... part of the price to pay for living in an immaculately groomed community. Often, the noise is coming from my house because I have grass and plantings that need to be maintained.
Burn one and chill.

There little country left in Florida :) now plenty of swamps still left for awhile.:shocked:

[Topspinmo]

The noise that bothers me is the low pitch rumble at night from A/C units and pool pumps when packed in like sardines.even with only one ear I can here it. On good note I just roll over and instant silence.:MOJE_whot:

[davem4616]

aww come on

just take out your hearing aids

[tophcfa]

Noise pollution comes from the miserable people whining about the sweet noise of power equipment keeping the place we live in looking so wonderful.

[Woodbear]

The noise that bothers me is the low pitch rumble at night from A/C units and pool pumps when packed in like sardines.even with only one ear I can here it. On good note I just roll over and instant silence.:MOJE_whot:

I resemble that remark. But when I roll over the ringing in my ear can get louder LOL

[ithos]

We really like The Villages. Coming here for many, many years.
We have lived here for over 3 years now. The noise, during the day is sometimes crazy! (Loud) powerful lawnmowers in neighborhoods and throughout public areas, powerwashing of houses, remodels, new roofs - just to name a few. Yes! Homes & throughout The Villages need maintenance but never lived in such noise.
Not being negative. I like it here. Wondering if less noisy tools could be used? Or something?

Unless you live near a major road, The Villages is one of the most quiet places you can live. No kids screaming and very few wild parties, or noisy neighbors.

Would you rather have people not maintain their homes and landscape?

[skippy05]

Why are you so afraid of 'being negative'? Just balance it with also sometimes being positive. The noise does get crazy at times. Vent a little about it. Then have go for a long walk and everything is fine again. People are so stupid to pretend to never have negative thoughts or the need to vent them from time to time.

[GRACEALLEMAN]

you're kidding right? ....."wondering if less noisy tool could be used? Or something? " this is a post in jest, isn't it? There is no way you can make me believe that someone actually wrote this and really meant what they wrote.

Does this mean, i have to tell my contractor to put a sponge on the end of his hammer, so he doesn't make any noise?

lmao

[BigSteph]

Nope. The OP is fine to have an opinion. I agree with the sentiment of the OP, but it is what it is. I bought near the turnpike and during the trips to visit the prospective house and area in March, the road noise was low. It is higher now, but I have to live with it. I don't have to like it. I can also post about it if I want. Others are entitled to say "Waaaahmbulance." It is all good in the village neighborhood.


Waaaahmbulance ?

[rjn5656]

Doesn't bother me. Great to see community taking care to not fall in disrepair.

[Number 10 GI]

Be glad you don't live in Ukraine, it is really noisy there.

[MDLNB]

The riding mowers to cut a postage stamp sized yard is about the only complaint I have. But, the good news is it is not every day and it usually only last a few minutes. Everything else so out weights that problem for me that I am very happy here.


Riding lawnmowers reduce the "noise" time to one tenth of what you would hear if they used push mowers. They are in and out in no time.

There is no rule about noise during the day. If you need to sleep during the day, use some ear plugs.

[MDLNB]

Be glad you don't live in Ukraine, it is really noisy there.




:BigApplause::BigApplause::BigApplause:

Oooops, sorry about the LOUD applause. :clap2:

[frank1975]

Have you tried living in the wilderness?????

[frank1975]

Your Baaaa’s are too loud!!!

[barbnick]

So happy to have such “fancy problems “ here for n The Villages.
No where else I’d rather be!

[Black Beauty]

We live up by Mulberry quite quiet. (The frogs call this part of TV as the country) Most of the 'free' roofs are now done. (we paid for that too)...we can be out of the 'bubble' in 30 seconds!

[barbnick]

Fancy problems!!!

[sallyg]

Agree with you. Some communities only allow lawn care certain days of the week, which would help cut down on some of the racket. Wish we could do that here. Some days
The noise starts at 7:30 am and doesn't stop til afternoon. One service finishes and another starts.

[G.R.I.T.S.]

Plus the Billy Bob's in their beater pick up trucks with the exhaust cut out.

People talk about the Turmpike but there are no quiet places daytime in The Villages.

Hey! Billy Bob is my people!😂

[MDLNB]

Think of it this way: The noise is instrumental in waking the dead, and the Villages has a lot of folks that seem to want to practice being dead prematurely. Noise is good! It lets you know that you are still alive. The only reason for complaining would be if the noise continued into the dark hours. It doesn't, as the "sidewalks" are rolled up by 9pm, which is way earlier than I go to bed.
I do have a complaint about noisy/loud birds in the morning. Can someone please tell them to keep it down until AFTER 7:30am?

[PurePeach]

We really like The Villages. Coming here for many, many years.
We have lived here for over 3 years now. The noise, during the day is sometimes crazy! (Loud) powerful lawnmowers in neighborhoods and throughout public areas, powerwashing of houses, remodels, new roofs - just to name a few. Yes! Homes & throughout The Villages need maintenance but never lived in such noise.
Not being negative. I like it here. Wondering if less noisy tools could be used? Or something?

Ear plugs!:rolleyes:

[Number 10 GI]

Or hire bunch of goats to cut lawn, but they will have to well train and go baaaa.

Then we would have goat poop threads in addition to dog poop complaints.

[MDLNB]

Then we would have goat poop threads in addition to dog poop complaints.


Seems to me that the Villages already has plenty of "old goats." :1rotfl:

[MrFlorida]

The same services are performed every day all over the country. I suggest ear plugs.

[mrf0151]

We really like The Villages. Coming here for many, many years.
We have lived here for over 3 years now. The noise, during the day is sometimes crazy! (Loud) powerful lawnmowers in neighborhoods and throughout public areas, powerwashing of houses, remodels, new roofs - just to name a few. Yes! Homes & throughout The Villages need maintenance but never lived in such noise.
Not being negative. I like it here. Wondering if less noisy tools could be used? Or something?
Sorry to hear that this is messing with your afternoon nap time.

[JMintzer]

"I like the noise... It drowns out the voices in my head!"


- Lewis Black

[OhioBuckeye]

We’ll don’t want to sound mean but you better move to the country where there’s no homes where there’s no mowers, power washers tractors working in fields for miles. Seriously what did you think a town or city with 120,000+ people would do to maintenance their homes.TV isn’t hillbilly heaven! Sorry but your in the wrong place for a quite place to live!

[DaleDivine]

We really like The Villages. Coming here for many, many years.
We have lived here for over 3 years now. The noise, during the day is sometimes crazy! (Loud) powerful lawnmowers in neighborhoods and throughout public areas, powerwashing of houses, remodels, new roofs - just to name a few. Yes! Homes & throughout The Villages need maintenance but never lived in such noise.
Not being negative. I like it here. Wondering if less noisy tools could be used? Or something?

We moved here from Hampton Roads area of Virginia. We were directly under the flight path of Langley AFB. About 2 miles away. Jets flew over us day and night during training missions. The Villages is super quiet compared to that. Can't hardly hear any noises while in the house with doors and windows closed.
:):)

[DaleDivine]

Plus the Billy Bob's in their beater pick up trucks with the exhaust cut out.

People talk about the Turmpike but there are no quiet places daytime in The Villages.

That's funny. Our neighbor across the street is Billy and he has a pretty Ford pickup with loud pipes. I like the sound of it. After having muscle cars most of my life with loud pipes.
:clap2::clap2:

[LG999]

I am in a suburb of NYC when I am not in my Villages home.
During the warm weather the maintenance noise you mention is here too.
I feel there has been a general increase in noise everywhere I go inside & outside, FL, NY, in-between.
I bought a pair of Bose noise cancelation headphones & they help enormously. Don't remember the price but they were not expensive.

[DaleDivine]

Waaaahmbulance ?

I really thought moving to TV with lots of older people (like myself) I would be hearing ambulance sirens all the time, but rarely hear. And you can almost see the fire dept from our house.
:pray::pray:

[DaleDivine]

There little country left in Florida :) now plenty of swamps still left for awhile.:shocked:

Do a Google Maps and you will see there are thousands of acres of undeveloped land in Florida and not all swamps.

:blahblahblah::blahblahblah::blahblahblah:

[Quent]

I hope not. Just saying

[newyorkmaya]

Not only is the landscaping and auto noise unceasing during the day, there is still noise pollution at night,

I live in Silver Lake. This is over a mile from the square, When I sit outside in the evenings, I deal with the noise from the banks at the square. If I could hear them clearly, it would be great. However, it is just the bass and yelling crowd noise to make an annoying background.

Oh, how I miss silence!

[ex34449]

I remember as a kid walking the area that is now the villages. You should have heard how quiet it was then. /

[Madelaine Amee]

I really thought moving to TV with lots of older people (like myself) I would be hearing ambulance sirens all the time, but rarely hear. And you can almost see the fire dept from our house.
:pray::pray:

I believe I am correct in saying that the emergency vehicles do not use their sirens, they use their lights. I have been woken at night by ambulance lights, never the sirens. I have never yet heard a fire engine siren either, just lights.

[MDLNB]

I find the noise of everyday activity to be refreshing. As long as I can hear the noise, I know that I have not yet lost my hearing. I have never been woken up by noise. Since I sleep at night, I don't see any noise either.

[irishwonone]

We really like The Villages. Coming here for many, many years.
We have lived here for over 3 years now. The noise, during the day is sometimes crazy! (Loud) powerful lawnmowers in neighborhoods and throughout public areas, powerwashing of houses, remodels, new roofs - just to name a few. Yes! Homes & throughout The Villages need maintenance but never lived in such noise.
Not being negative. I like it here. Wondering if less noisy tools could be used? Or something?
Yes very true. I imagine, over time, much will change with electric and battery technology. Even nail guns used for roofing use gas canisters & some are cordless that do away with compressor noise. I’m just not sure I’ll still be living when that happens. Their is some benefit to those who have hearing issues. Yet I would never slight them just jokingly mentioned it.

[DrBrutyle109]

Easy solution
MOVE

[MDLNB]

Easy solution
MOVE


Best suggestion! :thumbup:

[meboyle]

It would be nice if they waited til 8am..these jarring noises at 7 are a little much. There are measurements for noise pollution..but how to enforce this..well that seems impossible.

[jimjamuser]

We really like The Villages. Coming here for many, many years.
We have lived here for over 3 years now. The noise, during the day is sometimes crazy! (Loud) powerful lawnmowers in neighborhoods and throughout public areas, powerwashing of houses, remodels, new roofs - just to name a few. Yes! Homes & throughout The Villages need maintenance but never lived in such noise.
Not being negative. I like it here. Wondering if less noisy tools could be used? Or something?
I agree. I have said that for years. One simple step that could be taken is to require leaf blowers to be battery-powered, not gas engine powered. I would think that it would even be better to require the grass-cutting professionals to sweep their grass clippings from the residential roads and their customers' driveways. This would cut down on noise greatly.
.......It would be difficult to cut down trees and branches without gasoline-powered chainsaws. But, there may be chainsaw models with large batteries? Loud cars, trucks, and motorcycles are less often around than the professional grass-cutters and would be hard to stop legally. So, we are stuck with them.
.......Many Villages will NEVER care about loud noise because they don't hear well enough to be bothered by it. But, I consider this to be a good thread to make people aware of the problem. And it has gotten 4 pages of interest so far. But, it will NOT change anything in our lifetimes. Maybe some future generation will be smarter and appreciate the deterioration of hearing that loud noise produces. And it causes anxiety that is real, but often not even felt at the conscious level. It has ruined the careers of some musicians and rock and roll artists.
.......In the meantime keep some earplugs available in your pocket.

[Two Bills]

I'm stone deaf without my ear trumpets.
Would love to hear noise again!

[jimjamuser]

Sorry do not see how this will change. Enjoy the quiet during winter season when grass is pretty much dormant.
In my neighborhood, the professional noisemakers cut throughout the winter and edge noisily. I think that they are just pretending that the lawn needs cutting, just to keep making a buck throughout the year. And think of the WASTED gasoline, pollution, and extra traffic caused by the PRETEND, confidence game that they are running. And talk about obnoxious, speeding, and reckless drivers! They even park badly in the middle of our narrow residential roads. The only GOOD thing that I can say about them is that maybe one or two of them drive normally sometimes. And then there is the possibility that they may scout out Villagers to see who has expensive tools or other valuables that they can tell their friends about and get a cut. I am sorry, but I have learned to be very negative about the professional grass manipulators.

[jimjamuser]

I am guessing that in 5 years the electric version of various landscaping tools will be so much better than the gas ones that most will use them without a mandate of any kind. The California mandate will push companies to put all (most) R&D into electric.
Finally, a post that I can relate to.

[jimjamuser]

The riding mowers to cut a postage stamp sized yard is about the only complaint I have. But, the good news is it is not every day and it usually only last a few minutes. Everything else so out weights that problem for me that I am very happy here.
If the same people cut 2 or 3 homes near you then it takes about an hour listening to loud noise.

[MrFlorida]

WOW, 3rd post and already complaining.....

[jimjamuser]

I brought down from the mid-Atlantic a gas mower and trimmer. I still work and thought I would cut the grass on weekends, but the summer is so hot that the only time to do it is late in the evening or very early in the morning. As a result, I purchased a battery-operated mower, trimmer, edger attachment, and blower.

I did this to give myself the option to do yard work when others are still getting up or just sitting down for the evening. I didn't want to be "that person" running gas equipment during those hours.

I understand your concern about noise -- it bothers me, but there is little to do about it. I'm trying to do my part, though.
That is very empathetic and if universally followed, would be the solution to this problem. Some people won't be able to cut their own grass, but if all the "professionals" adopted your methods, TV Land would be a better and happier and SAFER place.

[jimjamuser]

Unless you live near a major road, The Villages is one of the most quiet places you can live. No kids screaming and very few wild parties, or noisy neighbors.

Would you rather have people not maintain their homes and landscape?
If people planted the same grass as used on the golf greens, then they could cut their own grass with a push lawnmower. Up north that's what my father and myself used to cut our small lot with soft grass. The Florida grass varieties planted on most lawns like St. Augustine grow fast, tall, and are too rough and sharp to sit on or use much even if there were no fire ants. Most are useless and most Villagers NEVER really use their lawns except to look at them and IMAGINE that they are still up north - and for that they pay through the nose for lawn maintenance. You can't REALLY bring the better parts of "up north" with you. And you can't REALLY live in a perfect bubble. But, you CAN pay a lot of money to pretend!

[jimjamuser]

Riding lawnmowers reduce the "noise" time to one tenth of what you would hear if they used push mowers. They are in and out in no time.

There is no rule about noise during the day. If you need to sleep during the day, use some ear plugs.
That is balanced out by the riding mowers being 10 times as loud. And electric push mowers would be barely audible. Doing a yard requires weed eaters, edgers, and leaf blowers - ALL noisemakers. So, set a watch - it takes more than a few minutes. If you don't hear the noise for some reason, it SEEMS it takes only a few minutes. But, if you are bothered by it then it SEEMS very long. People have varying degrees of resistance to noise, but scientists say that everyone is affected negatively by noise. No one really LIKES noise. That is why it is used as a method of torture! I hope no one disagrees with that.

[Number 10 GI]

"I like the noise... It drowns out the voices in my head!"


- Lewis Black

I know what you mean, 8 out of 10 voices in my head say "don't shoot".

[jimjamuser]

Easy solution
MOVE
That is the sort of black and white personally-derogatory comment just drives POLITE posters away from TOTV. Then the forum will be left with only IMPOLITE posters spouting out VENOM in 3 and 4 word sentences treating NOBODY with respect and opening up no one's minds to anything like understanding. Many disagree with the opinion of the thread starter. But, there is NO reason to slam them for stating an opinion. Sharing opinions in a RESPECTFUL manner is the reason to have a forum in the first place. It is not a place to practice lashing out with close-minded intolerance toward others' opinions. There is ZERO glory in having the most venom!
.......Judging by the number of pages, this is a subject that needed to be talked about. So, the thread-starter did everyone a favor and they legitimately wanted to talk about solutions and see if others were bothered.

[jimjamuser]

It would be nice if they waited til 8am..these jarring noises at 7 are a little much. There are measurements for noise pollution..but how to enforce this..well that seems impossible.
Most things are possible. The purpose of government is to solve problems, big and small.

[Michael G.]

Loud cars, trucks, and motorcycles are less often around than the professional grass-cutters and would be hard to stop legally. So, we are stuck with them.


Loud pipes and modified exhaust on any vehicle are against the law period.
If society would insist to play by the rules/laws, we wouldn't be stuck with them
and have peace and quiet..

[thevillages2013]

Waaaahmbulance ?

Want some cheese with that whine?

[Boston-Sean]

We moved here from Hampton Roads area of Virginia. We were directly under the flight path of Langley AFB. About 2 miles away. Jets flew over us day and night during training missions. The Villages is super quiet compared to that. Can't hardly hear any noises while in the house with doors and windows closed.
:):)


Ahhh, the sound of freedom.

I was stationed at Langley back in the 80's. I was living in the barracks on base when we had a Concorde land/takeoff for a G7 type meeting in the area. Now that was loud.

[MDLNB]

Darn! That fifteen minutes of noise from hard working folks in the neighborhood really bothers me. I am going to complain about how they can make it quieter for me by using less efficient and less noisy battery powered equipment. Perhaps we can get some illegals to hand pull the grass to make it cemetery quiet. Because I want it as quiet as it will be at the cemetery when I am buried. After all, don't we ALL require extra sleep, so we must sleep during the daylight hours? How dare those folks expect to earn a living by providing a service for elitist retirees !!! Wait, I think I can hear an 18 wheeler out on Rt441 in transit to provide products to restock Publix. I wonder if I complain to Publix, if they can just be a bit quieter when having delivery trucks arrive. Maybe they can resurface their parking lots and loading areas with a rubber surface material. After all, my daylight naps are very important to me and everyone needs to recognize this fact and be extra quiet, regardless of how it effects their activities. Oh my, is that a Pickleball game going on? Don't they understand that some of us need our 20 hours of sleep per day so that we are extra alert when playing Mahjong?

[John Mayes]

Darn! That fifteen minutes of noise from hard working folks in the neighborhood really bothers me. I am going to complain about how they can make it quieter for me by using less efficient and less noisy battery powered equipment. Perhaps we can get some illegals to hand pull the grass to make it cemetery quiet. Because I want it as quiet as it will be at the cemetery when I am buried. After all, don't we ALL require extra sleep, so we must sleep during the daylight hours? How dare those folks expect to earn a living by providing a service for elitist retirees !!! Wait, I think I can hear an 18 wheeler out on Rt441 in transit to provide products to restock Publix. I wonder if I complain to Publix, if they can just be a bit quieter when having delivery trucks arrive. Maybe they can resurface their parking lots and loading areas with a rubber surface material. After all, my daylight naps are very important to me and everyone needs to recognize this fact and be extra quiet, regardless of how it effects their activities. Oh my, is that a Pickleball game going on? Don't they understand that some of us need our 20 hours of sleep per day so that we are extra alert when playing Mahjong?

LOL……excellent!!!

[Love2Swim]

I agree. I have said that for years. One simple step that could be taken is to require leaf blowers to be battery-powered, not gas engine powered. I would think that it would even be better to require the grass-cutting professionals to sweep their grass clippings from the residential roads and their customers' driveways. This would cut down on noise greatly.
.......It would be difficult to cut down trees and branches without gasoline-powered chainsaws. But, there may be chainsaw models with large batteries? Loud cars, trucks, and motorcycles are less often around than the professional grass-cutters and would be hard to stop legally. So, we are stuck with them.
.......Many Villages will NEVER care about loud noise because they don't hear well enough to be bothered by it. But, I consider this to be a good thread to make people aware of the problem. And it has gotten 4 pages of interest so far. But, it will NOT change anything in our lifetimes. Maybe some future generation will be smarter and appreciate the deterioration of hearing that loud noise produces. And it causes anxiety that is real, but often not even felt at the conscious level. It has ruined the careers of some musicians and rock and roll artists.
.......In the meantime keep some earplugs available in your pocket.

Good answer. Other communities ban the use of gas powered leaf blowers, or they have one company that takes care of a whole neighborhood, so you only have the noise once a week. Not in The Villages obviously. It seems like each homeowner has their own service, so you hear the people behind you, next to you and across the street, basically every day. I wonder if the noise is less in a villa neighborhood. Many of the courtyard villas don't have grass, so you won't get the constant mowing and leaf blowers. Of course you probably get more barking dogs.

[Love2Swim]

Easy solution, MOVE

That is the sort of black and white personally-derogatory comment just drives POLITE posters away from TOTV. Then the forum will be left with only IMPOLITE posters spouting out VENOM in 3 and 4 word sentences treating NOBODY with respect and opening up no one's minds to anything like understanding. Many disagree with the opinion of the thread starter. But, there is NO reason to slam them for stating an opinion. Sharing opinions in a RESPECTFUL manner is the reason to have a forum in the first place. It is not a place to practice lashing out with close-minded intolerance toward others' opinions. There is ZERO glory in having the most venom!
.......Judging by the number of pages, this is a subject that needed to be talked about. So, the thread-starter did everyone a favor and they legitimately wanted to talk about solutions and see if others were bothered.

:bigbow: Agree. Some people are disrespectful and rude.

[MDLNB]

I only have one REAL complaint regarding "noise." All the elitist complaining and bellyaching on here by folks that should be celebrating retired life. Instead of complaining about 15 minutes of a bit of disturbed quiet, you should be shouting for joy at how you beat death for so many years and can now enjoy a few years of relaxation and stress free lifestyle. If this noise is so unbearable, install some noise buffers. Don't blame others for wishing to make enough money to provide for their families. Some folks are just plain SELFISH. Install double or triple pane windows and you won't notice what's going on around your neighborhood. There are three of us neighbors, grouped together that use either battery or electric lawn equipment and they can still be heard inside our homes. Do we complain? H*ll no! Everyone's lawns are just about perfect and landscaping is neat and trim. I guess there are a few of us that still remember more difficult times when everything was not perfect.
LIFE IS GREAT! And where else can you live where there is always someone nearby that are not off to work or school and will be there if you have an emergency? Where else can you live where neighbors are REAL neighborly and will lend a helping hand when you need it and won't ask? Where else do you have volunteer neighbors that are so numerous that they are just short of insulted if you choose someone else for a lift when you need car work done? We must-MUST live in a perfect community, if the best we can come up with when bored, is a 15-20 minute noise interruption complaint. The world is going to h*ll in a hand basket and folks around here are complaining about an interruption in their nap time. Go to bed LATE and get up before sunrise and enjoy life to the fullest.
It's your right to complain, but don't let your complaints define you. Are you healthy?
A twist on a common saying: I complained about loud lawn services until I met a neighbor that had no hearing.

[Bogie Shooter]

Good answer. Other communities ban the use of gas powered leaf blowers, or they have one company that takes care of a whole neighborhood, so you only have the noise once a week. Not in The Villages obviously. It seems like each homeowner has their own service, so you hear the people behind you, next to you and across the street, basically every day. I wonder if the noise is less in a villa neighborhood. Many of the courtyard villas don't have grass, so you won't get the constant mowing and leaf blowers. Of course you probably get more barking dogs.

One company, one day a week? 32 square miles……how will that work?

[MDLNB]

One company, one day a week? 32 square miles……how will that work?
I wonder how many times they would be changing out their batteries...:)
I guess they could use TWO lawn mowers if they had to do 32 square miles...:)

[joelfmi]

We really like The Villages. Coming here for many, many years.
We have lived here for over 3 years now. The noise, during the day is sometimes crazy! (Loud) powerful lawnmowers in neighborhoods and throughout public areas, powerwashing of houses, remodels, new roofs - just to name a few. Yes! Homes & throughout The Villages need maintenance but never lived in such noise.
Not being negative. I like it here. Wondering if less noisy tools could be used? Or something?
That is why transparences and Due Diligence is very Important before you buy.

[dougawhite]

Me and several of my neighbors got together and hired the same landscaper to mow our lawns. That way all of us are done at once and there is less noise and traffic overall in the neighborhood.

[Happydaz]

Noise levels have increased over the past few years to a much higher level. We have been here for close to nine years and the quality of life has been impacted by the large increase in traffic, construction, and lawn mowing services. I moved from the woods of New Hampshire to Danville, California in 1987 and the noise level was oppressive out there. You could hear the highway at all times of day and the lawn workers with their blowers really reduced the quality of life in this very upscale area. When I returned to NH in 1989 I made sure I couldn’t hear a highway where I wanted to move to and I drove by the prospective new home at all times of day and night to make sure it was quiet. Moving to the Villages you think it is going to be laid back and sedate, but as your area gets built up the noise level definitely increases. It has gotten more stressful to live here, in my opinion, as more and more people move here. The new roads, new stores, new apartments are, of course, necessary for a fast growing population, but it was not what I expected nor what I thought I had signed up for. (I moved into the famous, final build out area ) Yes, I could move, but I love the clubs, the people, and many other features of The Villages and as we all know you can never duplicate what we have here anywhere else, but it is getting noisier, no doubt.

[Ken Nelson]

Thank God the dogs peeing in someones yard is quiet!

[Bogie Shooter]

I think all this whining @bout noise is a bunch of BS.
i could go on and on as to why I think this way…….but nobody’s mind will change.

[BlueStarAirlines]

Why are you so afraid of 'being negative'? Just balance it with also sometimes being positive.

I have to laugh! We call that a sh!t sandwich! Something positive...the negative...more positive...

[Michael G.]

Noise?
OK here's a question.

What that must be like in Daytona, Sturges, and Leesburg hearing loud cycles for weeks on end?
Now they would have a real reason to bitch about noise and it wouldn't be coming from grooming someone's lawn.

Then again some say it helps the economy.

[BigSteph]

Afternoon naps are delightful.

Sorry to hear that this is messing with your afternoon nap time.

[MDLNB]

Since reading so many disgruntled codgers on here complaining about a little noise, I decided to investigate my area to see if there is a possibility that these are legitimate complaints. I started early, before dark since I am an early riser (hate to waste more time sleeping than I need). I sat outside in anticipation of "noise." I waited, and waited. The delivery person for the paper drove by and I definitely heard the irritating noise of the morning news hitting the driveways as he drove through the neighborhood. Shortly after, I saw some headlights on the golf course and shortly after, heard a vehicle moving about the golf course(grass cutting?). I went inside the house, but couldn't hear the noisy work going on at the golf course. Then a huge racket occurred. The sun was coming up and several birds started their irritating singing. That shouldn't be allowed. Don't they understand that some folks need their 14 hrs of sleep? Shortly after that, I heard one of my neighbors in their GAS powered golf carts leaving to make his/her T time or meet with others for an early breakfast. We HAVE to demand that everyone use battery powered golf carts, as those gas ones are way too noisy. At about 8:30am (only on Mondays) my next door neighbor's lawn service arrived and spent at least 20 mins mowing and trimming their property. Don't they understand that Mondays are great days for folks to sleep in? Then, on Tues at around 11am my other neighbor's landscaper arrived and spent about 15mins. doing their property. I like an early lunch so that bothered me on Tues, as I could faintly hear him when I tried. I also noticed that every day one of my neighbors leaves early in the morning for a job in their noisy car. More birds chirping! How are we supposed to have a quiet and peaceful community if the environment just won't cooperate? I have to listen to lawn work done in the afternoon too, if I don't have my TV on and I listen intently. Don't folks understand that when we move into the Villages that we are practicing for residency at our next move to the cemetery? And everyone knows it's quiet at the cemetery......except when they do that irritating lawn work in the mornings to tidy it up for visitors.
Hold on, I think I hear one of the lizard thingies making noise outside. Please, make it stop!

[coffeebean]

Think of it this way: The noise is instrumental in waking the dead, and the Villages has a lot of folks that seem to want to practice being dead prematurely. Noise is good! It lets you know that you are still alive. The only reason for complaining would be if the noise continued into the dark hours. It doesn't, as the "sidewalks" are rolled up by 9pm, which is way earlier than I go to bed.
I do have a complaint about noisy/loud birds in the morning. Can someone please tell them to keep it down until AFTER 7:30am?

I love to hear the birds in the morning. Great to be alive to listen to them sing. Now that rooster that I heard early this morning..........................

[coffeebean]

There are three of us neighbors, grouped together that use either battery or electric lawn equipment and they can still be heard inside our homes.

Not that I'm advocating for electric landscape equipment but......what does electric lawn equipment sound like?

[coffeebean]

Thank God the dogs peeing in someones yard is quiet!

Now that is funny!

[Number 10 GI]

Not that I'm advocating for electric landscape equipment but......what does electric lawn equipment sound like?

Sounds similar to a very large electric fan. A neighbor has one and it is definitely not quiet, not as noisy as a gas mower but it is still quite noticeable. At our previous home I had a 110 current electric blower, I had to wear ear muffs due to the noise it produced.

[MartinSE]

One company, one day a week? 32 square miles……how will that work?

Lots of employees, which in that industry would equate to lots of churn, which equates to lower quality work. And Bean counters get hired and drive the business to improved billable hours, which drives quality down and prices up.

Competition is good. All of the issues I have had since moving here have been with larger companies - Massy, et al. I prefer to use self employed worker.

[MartinSE]

Not that I'm advocating for electric landscape equipment but......what does electric lawn equipment sound like?

Not silent, but quieter than some ICE lawn care equipment. Also, some people take the mufflers off their ride around mowers, blowers and edgers which makes them even louder.

But, as I said before, I would prefer electric only for lawn care (that is what I use), but it is only a couple days a week and only a few minutes each time - it is certainly not TEOTWAEKI.

[Bogie Shooter]

Lots of employees, which in that industry would equate to lots of churn, which equates to lower quality work. And Bean counters get hired and drive the business to improved billable hours, which drives quality down and prices up.

Competition is good. All of the issues I have had since moving here have been with larger companies - Massy, et al. I prefer to use self employed worker.

Wow you are implying one day a week would be possible?:loco:

[ElDiabloJoe]

Plus the Billy Bob's in their beater pick up trucks with the exhaust cut out.

People talk about the Turmpike but there are no quiet places daytime in The Villages.

What a derogatory thing to say. Do you look down on what you are inferring is a blue-collared, less-educated than you simpleton? These are the people that keep this country running with their own sweat, bad backs, and dirty hands so your manicured self can sit in your A/C'd office or home and look down your long nose at them.

Entitled elitist much?

[coffeebean]

Since reading so many disgruntled codgers on here complaining about a little noise, I decided to investigate my area to see if there is a possibility that these are legitimate complaints. I started early, before dark since I am an early riser (hate to waste more time sleeping than I need). I sat outside in anticipation of "noise." I waited, and waited. The delivery person for the paper drove by and I definitely heard the irritating noise of the morning news hitting the driveways as he drove through the neighborhood. Shortly after, I saw some headlights on the golf course and shortly after, heard a vehicle moving about the golf course(grass cutting?). I went inside the house, but couldn't hear the noisy work going on at the golf course. Then a huge racket occurred. The sun was coming up and several birds started their irritating singing. That shouldn't be allowed. Don't they understand that some folks need their 14 hrs of sleep? Shortly after that, I heard one of my neighbors in their GAS powered golf carts leaving to make his/her T time or meet with others for an early breakfast. We HAVE to demand that everyone use battery powered golf carts, as those gas ones are way too noisy. At about 8:30am (only on Mondays) my next door neighbor's lawn service arrived and spent at least 20 mins mowing and trimming their property. Don't they understand that Mondays are great days for folks to sleep in? Then, on Tues at around 11am my other neighbor's landscaper arrived and spent about 15mins. doing their property. I like an early lunch so that bothered me on Tues, as I could faintly hear him when I tried. I also noticed that every day one of my neighbors leaves early in the morning for a job in their noisy car. More birds chirping! How are we supposed to have a quiet and peaceful community if the environment just won't cooperate? I have to listen to lawn work done in the afternoon too, if I don't have my TV on and I listen intently. Don't folks understand that when we move into the Villages that we are practicing for residency at our next move to the cemetery? And everyone knows it's quiet at the cemetery......except when they do that irritating lawn work in the mornings to tidy it up for visitors.
Hold on, I think I hear one of the lizard thingies making noise outside. Please, make it stop!

Great sense of humor. Especially loved the bit about the lizard thingies. LOL.

[coffeebean]

Sounds similar to a very large electric fan. A neighbor has one and it is definitely not quiet, not as noisy as a gas mower but it is still quite noticeable. At our previous home I had a 110 current electric blower, I had to wear ear muffs due to the noise it produced.

Thanks for the explanation. I never would have known electric equipment would produce any noise at all. I'm thinking of how quiet electric cars are. I have en electric golf cart and it is quiet.......except for the noise the tires produce on the asphalt. Funny, I don't hear tire noise from electric cars around The Villages streets though. Maybe I should listen more carefully. I would imagine electric vehicles's tires make more noise when they are on high speed roads such as the Turnpike.

[coffeebean]

Not silent, but quieter than some ICE lawn care equipment. Also, some people take the mufflers off their ride around mowers, blowers and edgers which makes them even louder.

But, as I said before, I would prefer electric only for lawn care (that is what I use), but it is only a couple days a week and only a few minutes each time - it is certainly not TEOTWAEKI.

Why remove the mufflers on the ride around mowers, blowers and edgers? Sort of defeats the purpose of noise abatement. Does removing the mufflers make the equipment more fuel efficient?

[davem4616]

When I lived up north in a rural area, and the houses were all on two acre lots...the noise was just as loud, between the snow blowers, the lawn mowers, the power washers, kids having a good time, dirt bikes, etc, etc.....

have you ever been woken up on the 37th floor in a NYC hotel by the police and fire sirens?

it's hot down here...they guys that mow the lawns and replace the roofs need to start early....or risk heat stroke

you might consider picking up a 'white noise' machine if it bothers you a lot

a few years from now, you'll be able to just take out your hearing aids

it's all good....it reminds us that we're alive

[MartinSE]

Wow you are implying one day a week would be possible?:loco:

Not implying, it is certainly possible, but may not be legal or marketable. Basically, I think it would have to be part of the amenities so everyone had to use it. The crews that take care of the road and other public areas could be expanded to do the houses too.

I just don't think it would go well, I think it would stop some people from buying here if they were forced to use a certain company, etc...

Possible yes, practical - desirable - maintainable - no.

[MartinSE]

Why remove the mufflers on the ride around mowers, blowers and edgers? Sort of defeats the purpose of noise abatement. Does removing the mufflers make the equipment more fuel efficient?

It might slightly, but I doubt it is significant. I expect it is more for the same reason some motorcycle riders drill out their mufflers, or some cars/truck are removed or replaced with glass packs. Some people like noise.

[MartinSE]

When I lived up north in a rural area, and the houses were all on two acre lots...the noise was just as loud, between the snow blowers, the lawn mowers, the power washers, kids having a good time, dirt bikes, etc, etc.....

have you ever been woken up on the 37th floor in a NYC hotel by the police and fire sirens?

it's hot down here...they guys that mow the lawns and replace the roofs need to start early....or risk heat stroke

you might consider picking up a 'white noise' machine if it bothers you a lot

a few years from now, you'll be able to just take out your hearing aids

it's all good....it reminds us that we're alive

I am a native Floridian and as a kid I make spending money mowing lawns with push mowers (no motor). Heat stroke was not a problem. Drink plenty of water and they are fine. It is "uncomfortable" and you do sweat a lot, but it is not dangerous here.

I am fairly certain they start early to pack more lawns into a day.

[JMintzer]

Not implying, it is certainly possible, but may not be legal or marketable. Basically, I think it would have to be part of the amenities so everyone had to use it. The crews that take care of the road and other public areas could be expanded to do the houses too.

I just don't think it would go well, I think it would stop some people from buying here if they were forced to use a certain company, etc...

Possible yes, practical - desirable - maintainable - no.

I used to live in a neighborhood that had an HOA that included lawn care. There is no way on God's green earth they can do it in one day. On my cul-de-sac of 20 something homes, they spent several hours in the morning mowing, edging, trimming shrubs, etc, etc, etc... Then they mulched 2 Xs /year, did the leaves several times in the Fall...

My neighborhood was the size of one of the villages (500-600 homes) and the lawn people were there 5 days a week... Granted, the lawns were a bit bigger, but they all used riding equipment...

[Michael G.]

Not that I'm advocating for electric landscape equipment but......what does electric lawn equipment sound like?

About half the decibels of gas equipment.

[Speedie]

Blowers with no mufflers are the worst. Dean

[Michael G.]

Sounds similar to a very large electric fan. A neighbor has one and it is definitely not quiet, not as noisy as a gas mower but it is still quite noticeable. At our previous home I had a 110 current electric blower, I had to wear ear muffs due to the noise it produced.

And Cailfornia thinks their going to gain a lot with noise pollution by going all electric.

[Two Bills]

I have a gas Honda grass mower, and the sound level is not as bad as my neighbors battery powered mower.
It has a high decibel whine/screech.
I take my hearing aids out when that thing is working, but I am quite comfortable wearing them with the gas engine sound.

[John Mayes]

Noise?
OK here's a question.

What that must be like in Daytona, Sturges, and Leesburg hearing loud cycles for weeks on end?
Now they would have a real reason to bitch about noise and it wouldn't be coming from grooming someone's lawn.

Then again some say it helps the economy.

For Sturgis and Daytona, no one really has a right to bitch since each rally has been going on for 80+ years. Sort of like buying next to an airport and complaining about the noise.

[John Mayes]

I agree. I have said that for years. One simple step that could be taken is to require leaf blowers to be battery-powered, not gas engine powered. I would think that it would even be better to require the grass-cutting professionals to sweep their grass clippings from the residential roads and their customers' driveways. This would cut down on noise greatly.
.......It would be difficult to cut down trees and branches without gasoline-powered chainsaws. But, there may be chainsaw models with large batteries? Loud cars, trucks, and motorcycles are less often around than the professional grass-cutters and would be hard to stop legally. So, we are stuck with them.
.......Many Villages will NEVER care about loud noise because they don't hear well enough to be bothered by it. But, I consider this to be a good thread to make people aware of the problem. And it has gotten 4 pages of interest so far. But, it will NOT change anything in our lifetimes. Maybe some future generation will be smarter and appreciate the deterioration of hearing that loud noise produces. And it causes anxiety that is real, but often not even felt at the conscious level. It has ruined the careers of some musicians and rock and roll artists.
.......In the meantime keep some earplugs available in your pocket.

Do you perform your own lawn maintenance, and if so, do you use only electric devices? If you don’t do your own lawn care, do you insist that anyone you hire use only electric equipment?

[Number 10 GI]

Thanks for the explanation. I never would have known electric equipment would produce any noise at all. I'm thinking of how quiet electric cars are. I have en electric golf cart and it is quiet.......except for the noise the tires produce on the asphalt. Funny, I don't hear tire noise from electric cars around The Villages streets though. Maybe I should listen more carefully. I would imagine electric vehicles's tires make more noise when they are on high speed roads such as the Turnpike.

The electric motors on lawn mowers and blowers operate at very high RPM's that creates a loud whining sound. The blade on the mower is turning at a high RPM that generates a loud electric fan noise. The same with a leaf blower, the turbine is turning at high RPM and generates a loud whining noise. The electric motors on an automobile operate at much lower RPM's so the noise level is much reduced and I would imagine they are better insulated for noise control.

[Number 10 GI]

As far as lawn care companies removing mufflers, I seriously doubt it. The mufflers on the equipment aren't as capable of reducing noise as a motor vehicle muffler. A muffler large enough to be effective would be impractical on the equipment due to the larger size. After a while a muffler will burn out on the mowers and blowers creating even more noise and I would bet they aren't replaced. Most of the lawn care equipment is commercial grade equipment with larger engines that produce more noise than the smaller home use type.

[jdulej]

And Cailfornia thinks their going to gain a lot with noise pollution by going all electric.

Keep in mind that most electric lawn tools (especially blowers) on the market today were designed and built to be cheap, not quiet. They are basically made in China junk. If you look at your blower choices at Home Depot (or wherever) the electric stuff is the bottom of the pile. Even at that, they are mostly quieter than the gas stuff.
The California mandate will change all that. I said in a way earlier post that in 5 years you'll have a hard time finding gas powered lawn tools, and I stand by that. Plus, most in places like the Villages will insist on those being used.

[Bogie Shooter]

I am a native Floridian and as a kid I make spending money mowing lawns with push mowers (no motor). Heat stroke was not a problem. Drink plenty of water and they are fine. It is "uncomfortable" and you do sweat a lot, but it is not dangerous here.

I am fairly certain they start early to pack more lawns into a day.

Should that read “as a kid I made spending money”? Or are you still a kid?

[coffeebean]

The electric motors on lawn mowers and blowers operate at very high RPM's that creates a loud whining sound. The blade on the mower is turning at a high RPM that generates a loud electric fan noise. The same with a leaf blower, the turbine is turning at high RPM and generates a loud whining noise. The electric motors on an automobile operate at much lower RPM's so the noise level is much reduced and I would imagine they are better insulated for noise control.

Thanks for all the information. It is so true .......you learn something every day.

[Dennys37Packard]

It could also be where you’re coming from, not every home your old area is kept up with as much maintenance that people do here or have their yards cut and trimmed as much.

[Engine12]

We really like The Villages. Coming here for many, many years.
We have lived here for over 3 years now. The noise, during the day is sometimes crazy! (Loud) powerful lawnmowers in neighborhoods and throughout public areas, powerwashing of houses, remodels, new roofs - just to name a few. Yes! Homes & throughout The Villages need maintenance but never lived in such noise.
Not being negative. I like it here. Wondering if less noisy tools could be used? Or something?

Just wondering, do you cut your own grass with an electric or battery mower, or ever have your house washed to remove dirt, mold, etc ?