As winter approaches, you may be uncertain what to do with your electric lawnmower during the colder months.
You can do a few things to ensure your lawn mower continues functioning optimally and has the longest life possible. So read on to learn more about electric lawn mower winter storage.
Preparing for Winter
Before storing your lawn mower for the winter, you should take the time to prepare your lawn mower for storage. To do so, begin by thoroughly cleaning your lawn mower.
To get a proper clean, try to remove all parts you can, and give them a good cleaning. In addition, you can use any car wash to clean your electric lawn mower and its parts.
Finally, remove the battery and key, ensuring your electric lawnmower is safe and locked up for the winter. This prevents any damage to your battery and protects your lawn mower from theft over the many months you store it.
After cleaning your lawn mower, allow it to dry completely before reattaching parts to ensure no water collects or remains anywhere on your mower, which could lead to rust. Do not reattach your battery as you will want to store this separately (more below).
Where To Store your Electric Lawn Mower
Once your lawn mower is clean and reassembled, you are ready to move it into storage. For the winter months, a shed or garage is an ideal storage space.
This protects your electric lawn mower from the elements like snow and ice that are so problematic in the winter. If you do not have a shed or garage, bring your electric lawnmower indoors. You can keep it in a basement or, if small enough, in a storage closet inside your home.
If you cannot store your electric lawnmower in a shed, garage, or home, you will need to leave it outside. The best way to store your electric lawn mower outside is to cover it with a thick cloth or tarp.
Ensure your lawn mower is entirely covered with the tarp or cloth from top to bottom to protect it from the elements. Secure the tarp or cloth with bungee cords, so it does not blow off or away from your electric lawn mower.
If you live in a climate with heavy winter winds, you might also consider tying your lawn mower to your house or a heavy object to keep it from tipping over. Tip-overs can cause the tarp or cloth to become loosened or allow dirt, debris, or small animals to get into the underside of your mower.
Do I Need To Hang My Electric Lawn Mower?
You may have heard that some people hang their electric lawnmowers during winter. This is an excellent space-saving technique in small sheds or overly full garages.
However, you are not required to hang your mower for storage. While this technique saves space, it does nothing to extend the life or functioning of your mower.
If you choose to hang your mower, it is important to hang it upside down, not vertically. When hung vertically, lawn mowers can drip oil into their engines, which can potentially cause damage or ruin your lawn mower.
What Do I Do With the Battery?
The best practice with electric lawn mower batteries over the winter is to store them inside and separate them from your lawn mower. Most electric lawnmowers use lithium-ion batteries. This type of battery prefers to be at temperatures between 32 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you live in a temperate climate that doesn’t go above or below these extremes, you can keep your battery in a shed or garage with your mower. However, you do not want to ever store batteries outside because of the risk of moisture or dirt entering over the winter months, which will destroy your battery.
Store your battery with a partial charge of approximately 60-70%. Some batteries feature a storage mode that will discharge or charge your battery to the proper amount for winter storage.
Wrap Up
To get the most out of your lawnmower, protect it over the winter months. By following these tips for electric lawn mower winter storage, you will ensure the best functioning and longest life for your mower. Some people store their lawnmowers outside without a shed, but it’s much better to provide protection against the elements.