Didn’t Winterize Your Lawn Mower? Consequences and Fixes


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The seasons can sneak up on you and present problems when caring for your lawn and the tools that help keep it looking nice. If you forget to winterize your lawn mower, you might face some challenges you didn’t anticipate. So what are the consequences of not winterizing your lawn mower, and how can you fix it?

Failure to winterize your lawn mower can lead to numerous issues when looking to use it later. Besides old grass freezing and sticking inside the mower, dirt and debris can collect (and freeze), your filter can block, and your battery can die due to the extreme temperatures. 

Do you want to hear more about why you should winterize your lawn mower and what happens if you don’t? Read on to discover the problems you might face from not winterizing and how you can fix them.

What Happens if You Don’t Winterize a Lawn Mower? 

To have your lawn mower running correctly year-round, one crucial thing that you’ll want to do every year is to winterize it accordingly. But what happens if you don’t?

If you don’t winterize your lawn mower, you’ll have to contend with issues such as stuck dirt and debris, rusty filters, and even a blocked filter. Winterizing is even more critical in the coldest climates, but it’s also best to do so in climates with significant weather changes. 

While some people get away with not winterizing their lawn mowers, more often than not, you’ll have some ill effects from skipping this crucial step. Knowing some of the significant things that can go wrong when you don’t winterize your lawn mower is essential.

Common Problems From Not Winterizing Your Lawn Mower

The effects of not winterizing your lawn mower can vary from subtle to significant. To prevent major issues, you’ll want to make sure you winterize your lawn mower. 

Learning when to winterize your lawn mower is crucial and should correspond with when you winterize your lawn. Refer to this article to learn more about the best practices for winterizing lawns.  

Let’s take a closer look at some of the consequences of not winterizing your lawn mower. 

Dirt and Debris Can Collect in Your Lawn Mower

If you leave fuel in your lawn mower, especially fuel that has been used for weeks or months already, you are increasing the chance that particles will sit in your machine and cause damage to essential components. 

Dirt and debris build-up can have significant effects on your gas tank and oil reservoir. If this dirt goes into your carburetor, it can block the jets and affect your device’s overall performance.  

Your Gas Will No Longer Be Usable

If you leave gas in a machine for extended periods, it can go bad. Much like you wouldn’t consume fluids that had been left out for an entire season, your lawn mower won’t work its best when it runs on old gas. 

Old Grass Freezes and Sticks Inside Your Machine

If you don’t properly clean your lawnmower before storing it for the winter, you increase the chance that old grass will get caked on, which can be a big mess when you use it later. Not only can this become a mess on your machine, but it can lead to your blade rusting if you ignore the problem for too long.

Your Filter Can Become Blocked by Built-Up Particles 

If you skip the step of replacing your filter, you may encounter some build-up that can prevent the proper flow of fluids through the machine. This can lead to numerous functionality problems with your lawn mower.

Your Battery Died From Cold Temperatures

Keeping a battery-operated lawn mower in the garage or outside during cold temperatures can lead to the gradual loss of power. If possible, you’ll want to take the battery out and store it in a warmer place or move your lawn mower into a less cold storage area. Doing this will reduce the chances of freezing temperatures diminishing your battery’s power and performance.  

How To Fix a Lawnmower That You Didn’t Winterize

Winter has ended, and you’re ready to take care of your yard again. If you try turning on your lawn mower and realize that it won’t start or isn’t performing at a peak level because you didn’t winterize it, you’ll need to troubleshoot the issues to decide how to fix them. 

While numerous problems may occur as a result of skipping the crucial steps of winterizing your lawn mower, you can still troubleshoot the issues and have your lawnmower up and running. 

Below are ways to fix a lawnmower that you failed to winterize. 

Remove the Old Gas From Your Lawn Mower

If you notice that your machine isn’t working correctly and is making weird noises or doesn’t run with the same amount of power, the issue may be the gas. Luckily, this is a relatively simple solution if it hasn’t moved to other areas of the machine. 

This video from Donyboy73 shows how you can fix a machine with bad gas: 

Check for Rusty Components and Replace Them

If you leave your machine dirty, there’s a chance the debris, such as grass, will freeze and increase the chances of rust. If you notice rust on your lawnmower, it’s best to act quickly and remove any that you can before it’s too late

You’ll want to replace the blade if it’s rusty or any other parts of the lawn mower affected by rust. Early replacement is crucial if you don’t want other parts of your lawnmower affected by rust. 

Clean the Filter if It Is Dirty

If you notice small or large pieces of dirt or grass build-ups in your filter, it’s highly advisable to clean or replace it. You can gently clean the filter using a towel or an air compressor to remove anything obstructing the flow of essential fluids. 

Replace the Battery if Dead

Leaving your battery inside the lawn mower all winter might lead to permanent damage. If you take your lawnmower for a spin and realize the battery is no longer working, it might be time to get a new one.

Final Thoughts

Winterizing your lawn mower is one of the more fundamental ways to keep it in top shape, especially when not in use during the winter. It’s even more important to winterize your lawnmower if you live in an area with harsh winters. 

Failure to winterize your lawn mower can cause the fluids to go bad or make the battery run out of power. Unnecessary build-up inside and outside can also lead to a host of permanence-related issues. 

As a good rule, you should assess your lawnmower to determine and fix the problematic areas at the earliest possible opportunity.

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Lars

I am always happy to share all my knowledge about how to keep your garden in good condition and make it special.

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