Before getting your lawn equipment up and running in the spring, it’s a good idea to check it over and make sure everything is in working order. Lawn mowers, trimmers and other yard-care equipment have a longer life-span and are less likely to break down if you keep-up with seasonal maintenance.

Check Fuel

Before starting any lawn equipment in the spring, check the fuel. If you drained the fuel last fall there shouldn’t be any problem simply re-filling the tank and starting the engine. If fuel has been sitting in the tank all winter the fuel will mostly likely be stale, and should be drained and replaced with fresh fuel.

Make sure the fuel you use contains no more than 10% ethanol. Some gas stations sell E15 fuel, which must be avoided for lawn equipment. Use only E10 fuel, or fuel without ethanol that is specifically designed for small engines. If the fuel will be sitting for more than 30 days, use a fuel stabilizer to keep it from going bad.

Clean and Sharpen

Even if you cleaned your equipment before storing, dust and other things like dead leaves might have gotten into it depending on where it was stored. Make sure mowers and other lawn equipment are clean, especially around the engine area, before starting.

Sharpen mower and brushcutter blades, and replace the cutting lines on string-line trimmers. Sharp cutting equipment cuts more easily, with less stress on your equipment and on your lawn. If you did this before storing in the fall, then there’s no need to worry about it in the spring.

Inspect Parts

When you get your lawn equipment out in the spring, check for damaged or loose parts. Replace or clean spark plugs and air filters if you didn’t already do this in the fall. As a general rule, spark plugs should be replaced once a year. Replace paper air filters, and clean foam filters if they are dirty instead of damaged. Check your owners manual for any other recommended maintenance tasks.

Service Help

If you have trouble starting your equipment, need parts, or want help with spring maintenance, Richardson Saw & Lawnmower can service every piece of equipment we sell. Our service department is certified by Stihl, Honda, Toro, Kawasaki, Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, Echo, and Scag for providing outstanding service on their equipment. Highly qualified technicians can help you locate the right replacement part if you’re servicing your own equipment, or perform maintenance and repairs for you.