As the grass-growing season comes to an end, lawn mower owners and lawn equipment rental companies across the United States are getting ready to put their mowers into storage. However, there are a few things to consider and steps you’ll need to take when preparing your lawn equipment for winter storage—especially motorized mowers. Lawn care professionals cannot express enough the importance of properly winterizing your lawn mower. The right care ensures it’s good to go come spring, and just a little time, effort and money can save you from expensive repairs or a complete replacement later on.
Make plans to clean and protect your lawn equipment before the cold, wet and snowy weather arrives. Here are six tips for winter lawn mower maintenance in Monroe, LA:
- Read the owner’s manual: Either retrieve the owner’s manual or download it from the internet. Flip to the chapter on lawn mower maintenance, winterizing and storage. The maintenance instructions should be well organized. Give it a quick scan, then go back to the top and get to work.
- Drain the fuel: Never store your lawn mower with fuel still in the tank. The ethanol in the fuel will ruin or stiffen rubber or plastic parts, as well as attract moisture that can rust the tank. Gasoline first becomes stale. This gums up the fuel system and carburetor, then it thickens. The mower might not start up in the spring. To avoid problems, either drain the tank or run the tank dry.
- Change the oil: Gas-powered four-stroke engine mowers require oil, which means they need oil changes. Check the owner’s manual to find out the type of oil to use and how much it requires. Put old oil in a container, seal it up and dispose of it like you would your vehicle oil. In two-stroke mower engines, the oil is mixed with the gas, so these don’t need an oil change.
- Inspect the undercarriage: The underside of the lawn mower is probably clogged with grass clippings. Before cleaning under the mower deck, remove the spark plugs for safety reasons. Most mowers can be tipped on their sides for cleaning, but check your manual for directions. Removing grass buildup helps prevent corrosion. Take a wire brush or putty knife and scrape away caked-on grass, dirt and other debris. Wipe off remaining residue with the brush or a gloved hand.
- Sharpen the blade: Cutting grass all season long can take a toll on mower blades. Not only does the blade cut the grass, but it also makes contact with rocks, roots, sticks and other stuff hidden in the lawn. A dull or damaged blade is not good for your grass or your mower. Sharpen the blade a couple times a year, or at least before winter so it’s ready to go come spring.
- Store it right: Before putting it into storage, check the condition of the spark plugs, air filters and battery. Store the mower in a safe, dry place over the winter.
Maintaining a lawn mower in Monroe, LA is extremely simple when you rent it from Ram Rent-All, Inc. Rent it, use it, drop it off and we’ll do the rest. Call us today for more information!