How Often Should A Lawn Mower Be Serviced? With Maintenance Tips

Hello my friends,

Maintaining your lawn mower is the best way to keep it at its peak condition. However, this task may be more complex than it sounds. 

How often should lawn mowers be serviced? What do you need for the maintenance? So let’s follow our guide to find the answers! 

How Often Should A Lawn Mower Be Serviced? 

It would be best to perform a service on your lawn mower when the mowing season ends or after about 25 hours of use. 

The maintenance frequency depends on several factors, such as how often you mow your lawn and the type of grass you work on. The make of your mower also plays a role. 

For instance, someone with an electric mower which only works once a month to mow a small lawn might need annual maintenance at the end of the season. 

However, if you use a petrol lawn mower to professionally cut grass and perform this task several times a week, you will need to service the machine at the beginning, middle, and end of the season.

Read more: [Top 5] Best Grit For Sharpening Lawn Mower Blades

Try to maintain the mower regularly

Why Do I Need To Perform Lawn Mower Maintenance?

Nothing is worse for your lawn mower than neglecting it. You will pay more to buy a new machine or for pricey repairs. Consider these reasons, and you won’t want to skip this maintenance task:

  • Regular service helps the lawn mower remain in good condition. It means that it can cut grass efficiently over years of use. 
  • The well-maintained blade will have clean cuts. Lawn mowers will appreciate how beautiful their lawns look after the treatment. 
  • Lawn mowers work outdoors, suffering from various external damage. Only when you check them regularly can you detect any problem. Then, your machine can last longer.

Read more: Black+Decker BEMW472BH Lawn Mower review

Regular maintenance will benefit your lawn and the machine

What Maintenance Does A Lawn Mower Need? 

When we talk about maintenance, we are referring to the tasks below. Please check and perform them regularly on your machine. 

Spark plug replacement

The spark plug degrades rapidly while it’s crucial for the engine’s performance. Luckily, it’s cheap and easy to change. 

To replace the plug, use a wrench to remove it and install a new one. But remember that over-tightening it will result in further problems. 

Oil changing

Regular oil changing is a good habit, especially when the mower has any signs of contamination. 

It’s necessary to change the oil at the end of every mowing season and before winterizing the machine. 

Deck cleaning

Try to clean the mowing deck after every use. Debris, dirt, and grass may get trapped there and degrade your machine over time. 

Moreover, those tiny particles will trap heat, causing the engine to get heated. They will also block the chute as a result. 

Air filter checking

The air filter affects the efficiency of the mower. Hence, clean it if you have a permanent filter or change it if you use a removable one. 

At least perform those basic steps

Lawn Mower Maintenance Checklist 

Your lawn mower can run effectively and last longer if you do maintenance on it every year. Regular maintenance checks include:

  • Changing the air filter
  • Checking the spark plug
  • Testing all moving components
  • Checking (and replacing) the blade 
  • Changing the fuel filter
  • Cleaning the machine 
  • Checking (and replacing) the wheel and belt 

If you are not confident about mechanical skills, we recommend having experts tune up the machine for you. They will ensure that the mower is ready for the upcoming season and will prolong its lifespan.

Tips For Lawn Mower Maintenance 

Maintaining your lawn mower helps it last longer and ensures that it cuts the grass efficiently. Here’re some more maintenance tips to include in your routine:

  • If the blade has scratches or cracks, replace it. Trying to sharpen it will just make your lawn worse.
  • Every time you cut the grass, keep the area free of pebbles and other objects, such as little toys or pet supplies. They will damage the machine. 
  • Only mow the lawn when it’s dry after rain or watering. Otherwise, the moist grass will get clogged in the machine. 
  • Use the right oil to fuel your mower
  • If you use an electric lawn mower, ensure the battery and cord are in good condition. 
  • If you have a riding lawn mower, pay attention to the tires for their inflation. Replacing the fuel filter will also help. 
  • Learn how to winterize your lawn mower properly so it won’t break down because of the harsh weather.

Learn extra tips to get the best result

How Much Does It Cost To Tune Up A Lawn Mower?

How much to pay to tune up your lawn mower depends significantly on the type of lawn mower. But in general, you need to pay for these costs:

  • New spark plug: $5 to $20
  • Oil: $5 to $10
  • New air filter: $10 to $15

Besides, if there is any damage to the machine, the maintenance cost will rise as you include the repair cost. So it would be best to service the machine regularly to avoid further problems. 

A new mower costs up to $3,000. Thus, it’s a good idea to maintain your equipment to save costs in the long term. 

Conclusion

You can extend the lifetime of your lawn mower by about 10 to 15 years by performing frequent maintenance. It would be ideal to have it serviced every 25 hours of running or at the end of the mowing season. 

Hopefully, this article has helped you understand more about lawn mowers and how to treat them well. If you need further information, don’t hesitate to contact us. We are always ready to give you a hand. 

Thank you for reading!

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