Get matched with top lawn tool repair specialists in Stone Harbor, NJ

Lawnmowers require seasonal maintenance to continue working correctly. With routine maintenance, you can extend its life to the fullest, which is around 10 years for push mowers and 5-8 years for riding mowers. To keep your lawn mower working correctly, you’ll want to take the following steps at least once a year:

• Replace the spark plug

• Change the oil

• Drain the fuel tank

• Clean the mowing deck (ideally, after every mow)

• Replace the air filter

• Check the carburetor

• Sharpen the blades

• Fog the engine

• Check the tires

A standard home lawn mower with sharp blades can handle a thin layer of leaves without issue. You may need to make a couple of passes within several days to mulch leaves down, but your mower shouldn’t struggle. If your mower comes with a mulching kit, like an attachment to blow leaves out the side, that’s a good sign it’s ready for fall leaves. Set your mower to the highest or near-highest height for this project so it focuses on the leaves rather than the grass below.

You need to change your spark plugs regularly. It is recommended that your spark plugs should be checked and changed after every 25 hours of use.

In many cases, it might be cheaper to repair your lawn mower than to replace it, depending on what needs to be repaired. The cost to replace a lawn mower dramatically varies, from $60 for basic models to over $15,000 for the top-of-the line models. 

Small repairs like a spark plug replacement can be as little as $20, so replacing the whole lawn mower wouldn’t make much sense. However, repairing a crankshaft could be much more expensive at $500 to $900, so depending on the age of your mower, it might be best to replace it. It’s best to speak with your lawn mower repair technician to determine which option is best for you.