Power Equipment Tips and Upkeep

Spring is on its way and we are all ready to take some moments outside in the garden and yard, we know we are ready too. You want your outdoor power equipment to be prepared and tuned-up before it needs to get out and do some work.

Before using any gas power equipment this coming season, come into Dye Home Improvement in Monticello and Monon so our pros can aid you in getting all the up-to-date information to get your power equipment equipped for the long haul.

Tips to Aid You:

• First – Get going with the owner’s manual for the power equipment you are using. 

Note: You should always keep the instructions from when you buy the equipment or tool, but if you don’t, sometimes it is accessible on-line, just google it!

• Next – Look at the manufacturer’s guidelines on equipment operation and requirements from the instructions. Make sure you have read what kind of cautions to take when using your equipment, you might have forgotten over the winter.

Consistently inspect your equipment. Here are some easy steps:

• 1^st – Check for loose belts and any missing plugs that could have been chewed through because of animals trying to get warm in the winter.
• Second – Examine all of the safety features that were provided with your equipment and double-check that they are all still safe.
• Vital upkeep is crucial for working equipment that you use regularly.

• 1^st – Drain and replace all of the old oil in the equipment. Also, be sure to get rid of the oil, in the right way, safely. Restore the plug and fill it up with the recommended oil.
• 2^nd – Check to see if the gas in your lawn equipment is on empty because starting it with old gas in the equipment might possibly break it. Nearly all gas contains some sort of ethanol, which this specific kind of gas can separate over time. Note – Remember to never leave fuel that is more than 30 days old in outdoor power equipment.
• Diminish the tank and fill it up with brand-new fuel that has 10 percent or less ethanol. Some gas stations may offer E15 or other types of fuel, but this higher-ethanol gas is unsafe for eating by animals and is also banned.
• Finally - Start your lawn equipment up and let it warm up and listen, to be sure it is sounding flawless and there are not any leaks.

Some more things to check up on:

• When starting to use your power equipment again you might want to separate the spark plugs and also check the undercarriage and be sure there is not any debris. Grass and weeds can affix on there, and might have been there all winter, so make sure to check and clean the equipment out. Even still, after all of the preservation steps are complete, it’s a wise idea to replace the air filter(s) in the equipment. Equipment runs much better with new oil, gas, and especially new air filters, even the paper air filters need to be replaced, some equipment may have a foam filter and those may be able to be used again, just check the owner’s manuel.
• After, double-check that the blade is sharp enough for use again. Confirming the blade is sharpened is important because it could shred the grass in the improper way. Sharper blades mean lawns will be healthier and also smoother to operate the equipment.

Note - Before mowing, try to pick up the yard and get bigger rocks or anything that may damage the blade out of the grass. The power equipment might strike something and ruin or damage the blade, so any support to preventing this will be better preservation for your blade.

You should always get a regular power equipment checkup by an experienced and competent person or business.

• Tune-ups/checkups should be done yearly. Your equipment will stay up-to-date with parts that need to be interchanged. Tune-ups can also help your equipment to produce fewer emissions. A tune-up can further help your equipment last longer and run more smoothly, therefore preserving and saving you money in the long run. 

Preservation, as a whole, involves all of the things necessary to keep your equipment alive; maybe it will last longer if you provide approved preservation to your equipment. To conclude; You might just want to include an annual check of your equipment by lubricating the moving parts, sharpening the blades, replacing any wires that look old or damaged, as well as, the spark plugs, filters, oil, and gas. If you don’t know how to do any of this.. connect with a local professional or stop into our store and ask away.

Need a part? See us at Dye Home Improvement in Monticello and Monon and let our power equipment associate help you finish the care of your lawn equipment stuff.