Before we dive into “how many decibels is a chainsaw”, it’s important for you to know what basically a decibel is, just in case you do not know already. The sound intensity or electrical power level is measured with this unit called “decibel”. And so, the intensity of sound produced by a chainsaw is measured in decibels.
By measuring decibels, you can identify the level of noise that is considered safe based on the length of time it is exposed to you. When decibel levels reach high levels, it can cause damage to your middle and inner ear, making it difficult for you to hear clearly for a short or long period of time.
Wondering how loud is a chainsaw? Well, on average, typical chainsaws are 106 to 120 Decibels.
Including a bit of biology is necessary here, just to understand the working of our ears. We receive sounds from our outer ear via our eardrum, ossicles, and cochlea. Sound is then identified by electrical signals transmitted from the cochlea to the brain through the hearing nerve.
In a matter of seconds, all this happens, and we perceive sound accordingly. This process is not a one-size-fits-all solution -because complicated sounds have limitations.
In this way, human ears are evolved to cope with a certain volume of decibels. In the case of sounds below 0 dB, for instance, we are unable to hear them. It follows that humans can tolerate some levels of sound. All other sounds out of that range could either not be heard or are extremely damaging to the ears and brain.
Human Ear’s Sound Tolerance Level
Although the human sound system is made very complex and is capable of hearing the lowest and the highest intensity sounds still, there does exist a limit.
Those under 0 dB and those at certain frequencies are inaudible to humans. Hearing damage can also occur when we are exposed to sounds above 80-90 decibels. But hearing loss is permanently caused by noises that are above 120 decibels and when you’ve been hearing them for a long.
| Decibels Range | Human Sounds Perception |
| 0 dB | No Hearing |
| 10 -70 dB | Acceptable and Safe |
| 80 – 90 dB | Acceptable but damaging |
| 100 – 110 | Not acceptable and damaging |
| 120 and above | Extremely harmful |
| Above 140 dB | Instant hearing loss |
How Many Decibels is a Chainsaw?
As mentioned above, most chainsaws are 106 to 120 decibels of sound. The modern chainsaws these days come mostly with 106 dB sound intensity, which is quite a lot loud sound level yet a lot less than what your ears won’t be able to bear for long.
If compared to the normal standard sound level which is just 60 dB, this 106 dB is 16 times more than that.
The loudest and heaviest noise that you’ll hear from a chainsaw would be 120 dB. Although this much sound intensity isn’t found in many chainsaws, still, it is there in some and this could be very dangerous for the users. There could be temporary or even permanent hearing loss when such a noise is being heard for a long.
How to Prevent Your Chainsaw from Being Too Loud or Noisy?
If you’re a chainsaw user, you must know the methods you may opt-in in order to avoid an extremely loud chainsaw.
- Make sure your chainsaw has the right amount of oil flow and chain tension.
- Keep the air filter clean by preventing dust from collecting on it. It is a good idea to change the air filter after the end of each cutting season or before the beginning of a new one.
- Test your engine’s performance during the cutting process by tuning it. A carburetor job is required if it only works at increased RPMs (Revolutions per Minute).
- Ensure that the baffle is in good condition so that fuel can flow consistently to the chainsaw chain and bar. A rusted or holed baffle will produce more noise.
- Check the muffler for holes, rust, or splits, and fix or bolt it firmly to the engine block.
Noise Control Tips for Your Chainsaw!
From our experience of working with chainsaws, here are some tips we’ve learned, and we’d like to share with our readers.
- It might be better to use electric chainsaws as they are much quieter and give similar cutting experiences.
- Pruning your trees and logs can also be done with handsaws, shears, and reciprocating saws.
- Keep your chainsaw at a safe rev range and do not overuse it.
- You can keep your chainsaw cool and efficient by switching it off after specific intervals. This results in less noise.
Some Safety Precautions to Protect Your Ears
Protecting your ears while working with chainsaws is extremely important and it should not be overlooked at any cost. Hearing is great health and wealth, and you should not be risking it anyway.
Here are some safety precautions to take as you work with chainsaws.
- Always wear ear protection. You can use ear plugs which are of two types: single-use and reusable plugs or you may use earmuffs. Whatever you want to use is totally up to you.
- Do not work continuously for long hours in a loud noise. Sometimes, your ears might need a break but just to get your work finished, you might not want to consider a break and that could be a great frustration afterward. Take short breaks in between your work so that your ears and mind could relax.
- Save yourself from experiencing consistent high noises during the cutting process by avoiding contacting other co-workers.
SOME CHAINSAW-RELATED READS
How Many Decibels is a Chainsaw – FAQs
Conclusion
Chainsaw noise is something you simply cannot get rid of but developing an understanding of how important it is to have your ears protected against this noise is essential. Also, it’s better to consider chainsaw equipment that has reduced vibration and noise levels.
