How often should you service your lawn mower?

There isn’t a standard answer to this question. A lawnmower that has a small patch of grass to maintain isn’t going to work as hard as a mower which has half an acre to keep in check. This is why it’s best to measure servicing requirements in hours rather than months or years.

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Whatever engine type or size of mower you have we recommend servicing your lawn mower at least every 12 months, if you are a contractor then more often. At the end of the grass growing season (late October-November) is a perfect time to thoroughly clean and service your lawnmower. 

A petrol mower is always going to need more maintenance than an electric one, but the blades on both should be sharpened after 25-30 hours of cutting. All moving parts on any mower should be greased every 50 hours. Petrol engines will require a regular oil change, we would advise that you do this after 30 hours of mowing, but don’t hit 50 hours plus without refreshing the oil. Do not use car engine oil in your mower, small engines run a lot hotter than cars and require oil that performs at a higher temperature. Spark plugs should be cleaned after 25 hours of use. See our blog on WinterMaintenance Tips for Petrol Lawnmowers


Electric and cordless lawnmowers still require a seasonal overhaul. Cleaning the mower and making sure all vents are clear will ensure the motor does not overheat. In our workshops we remove and clean the motors and drive assemblies. Both electric and cordless machines have movable parts that can loosen with vibration, these need to be tightened or replaced where needed. Checking the electric cord is complete and safe to use is an important safety check.

Manufacturer’s warranties require a machine to have an annual service at an authorised dealer every 12 months to validate the warranty. If your machine is out of warranty you will still need to maintain it to keep it working at its optimum. Whether you’ve had a recent service or not, if you notice your lawnmower is not starting, cutting or running as well as it should, then it’s time to check it over. 

If you are in need of some further help and expert advice: 
Please call us on: 01452 61 61 69 

Or email us at: [email protected] | [email protected]

From Della