Poll: Rude to snowblow early in the AM?

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Snowblowing in the early morning. Rude?

  • Yes

  • No

Results are only viewable after voting.
N

NetWareHead

THAT guy
Aug 10, 2002
5,847
154
106
Had a convo with a buddy who said he got into a heated argument early in the morning in his driveway with a neighbor. My buddy was snowblowing early in the morning so he could leave for work. Obviously running a machine like that is going to be audible to everybody. His neighbor came out in his pajamas and yelled at my friend for making noise.

Which now has me thinking. We are due for about a foot of snow tomorrow morning. I have a driveway that can fit 10 cars in it. I have a tenant upstairs so I have to clear the driveway for him. I'm not going to shovel the driveway by hand when a perfectly working snowblower is parked behind the house. I'm going on a ski trip tomorrrow morning and before I leave for the mountain, I need to clean off the driveway. I'll probably be up and snowblowing at 4 AM which is the only time I'll be able to do it.

I don't really want to make enemies where I live but I'm not going to bust my ass either shoveling by hand!
 
Jimzz

Jimzz

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2012
4,399
190
106
Check local law, many times they have hours for loud noises in residential areas. As long as those are not broken and there is no HOA then blow away.
 
Crusty

Crusty

Lifer
Sep 30, 2001
12,684
2
81
That's against the city ordinances here.

No 2-stroke engines after 10PM or before 7AM.
 
J

jaedaliu

Platinum Member
Feb 25, 2005
2,670
1
81
7 am to 9 pm are generally when you're supposed to be quiet. Different for every town.

But you gotta get to work.

If you feel bad about it, apologize to your neighbors tonight. It's getting done at 4AM, and you're sorry if it disturbs their sleep.
 
N

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
if you're doing it at 4 am because that just happens to be the only convenient time, it's a pretty dick move.

if a guy has to get out of the house because he needs to go to work at an odd hour or something, it's understandable if annoying.
 
N

NetWareHead

THAT guy
Aug 10, 2002
5,847
154
106
loki8481 said:
if you're doing it at 4 am because that just happens to be the only convenient time, it's a pretty dick move.

if a guy has to get out of the house because he needs to go to work at an odd hour or something, it's understandable if annoying.
Click to expand...

Well if I had to do it because I was going to work and not a ski trip, it would roughly be around the same time as well. In any scenario, I don't think my neighbors are going to know my reasons for snowblowing the driveway at that time.
 
rudeguy

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
are they (stupid neighbor) going to shovel your driveway so you don't have to run the blower?

No?

Ok then. Deal with it.
 
feralkid

feralkid

Lifer
Jan 28, 2002
16,795
4,887
136
NetWareHead said:
Well if I had to do it because I was going to work and not a ski trip, it would roughly be around the same time as well. In any scenario, I don't think my neighbors are going to know my reasons for snowblowing the driveway at that time.
Click to expand...


But you will; and it will make you feel like a dick.

If it doesn't, then...you really ARE a dick.


Look at it this way: These are your neighbors. You may have to live near them for a long time. Better make the situation the best it can be.
 
Last edited:
Mixolydian

Mixolydian

Lifer
Nov 7, 2011
14,566
91
86
gilramirez.net
I recently got an electric snowblower which is actually pretty quiet. I wouldn't hesitate to use it in the early am when I have to go to work.

Now, I certainly wouldn't use it in the early morning on a weekend, regardless of how loud it is.
 
N

NetWareHead

THAT guy
Aug 10, 2002
5,847
154
106
Crusty said:
Does it a have a muffler? I think that's what the distinction is in the law.
Click to expand...

Yes it has a muffler, but regardless it is still loud.

I guess my question really is, regardless of the law, would something like this bother you? I live in NH and snow is a reality here. Its not like mowing your lawn. You dont need to mow your lawn at 3 AM but if you can't get out of your house, well you need to snowblow whatever time that is. Plus with all of the snowplows and salt/sand spreaders going up and down the streets, there is alot of noise anyway.
 
SandEagle

SandEagle

Lifer
Aug 4, 2007
16,809
13
0
rudeguy said:
are they (stupid neighbor) going to shovel your driveway so you don't have to run the blower?

No?

Ok then. Deal with it.
Click to expand...

why can't OP just shovel enough to get out? this will minimize noise and disruption to neighbors who are trying to sleep.
 
K

Keeper

Senior member
Mar 9, 2005
905
0
71
Poll fail. Early is too vague. And this is situational.
If you got to be at work by 6 AM. Or you got a road trip scheduled and you ARE going (Read not canceling) Shit yeah. Snow Blow Away.

My neighbors used to bitch during Sandy when I was running my generator.
I killed it every night before 11:00 PMUsually by 10.
And it was started pre 6 AM.
I figured out how to wire up my boiler/hot water heater. So hot showers for me and my family.
 
Markbnj

Markbnj

Elite Member <br>Moderator Emeritus
Moderator
Sep 16, 2005
15,682
14
81
www.markbetz.net
I think your friend's neighbor is a dick. If he was running his weedwhacker at 4 AM I'd be pissed, but a snowblower? The guy has got to get to work. My wife's a nurse, and she leaves at 4:30. If she has to go in and I have to run the blower early to clear the drive so she can, if my neighbors don't like it they can suck it.
 
J

jaedaliu

Platinum Member
Feb 25, 2005
2,670
1
81
SandEagle said:
why can't OP just shovel enough to get out? this will minimize noise and disruption to neighbors who are trying to sleep.
Click to expand...

because it's 80 feet (10 cars) of snow to remove. He bought a snow blower to use, not so that has to use his shovel and back.

OP is in NH. I'm sure he's allowed to run the blower.

And if the neighbors complain, they can shovel your driveway for you.
 
T

torpid

Lifer
Sep 14, 2003
11,631
11
76
7am, maybe 6am = not rude. Before that, and I wouldn't even call it "early morning" so much as "really late at night" and I would consider it inappropriate. In many cities it would violate noise ordinances.
 
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