How often should you service your lawn mower? A practical guide

This is one of the most common questions we get asked, and the answer is simpler than you might think. How often you should service your lawn mower depends on how much you use it, what type of mower you have, and how hard it works.

Here is a straightforward guide to help you work out what your mower needs.

The general rule: once a year

For most homeowners with a standard petrol lawn mower, an annual service is enough. If you mow a typical suburban lawn once a week during the growing season, your mower is probably doing around 25 to 30 hours of work a year. That is well within the range where one service will keep it running smoothly.

When to book it: Late winter or early spring, before the mowing season starts. This way your mower is ready to go when the grass starts growing, and you avoid the April rush when everyone suddenly remembers they need their mower serviced.

If you use your mower heavily: twice a year

If you have a large garden, mow more than once a week, or use your mower commercially (for example, if you are a gardener or groundskeeper), your mower is working harder and will need servicing more often.

When to book it: Once in early spring and once in late summer or early autumn. This keeps the engine running cleanly through the busy season and makes sure everything is in good shape before you put it away for winter.

Ride-on mowers: at least once a year, possibly more

Ride-on mowers do more work than push mowers, and they have more moving parts. Even if you only use yours for an hour or two a week, it is still covering a lot of ground and putting strain on the engine, blades, belts, and deck.

When to book it: Once a year minimum, ideally before the season starts. If you use it heavily or commercially, consider a mid-season check-up as well.

Professional groundcare equipment: follow the manual

If you are running professional kit for sports grounds, cricket clubs, or commercial landscaping, your machinery is working hard and needs more frequent attention. Most manufacturers recommend servicing every 50 to 100 hours of use, or at least twice a year.

When to book it: At the start of the season and mid-season, or whenever you hit the recommended service interval in your manual.

What happens during a service?

A proper service is more than just an oil change. Here is what we do as standard:

• Change the engine oil

• Replace or clean the air filter

• Replace the spark plug

• Sharpen or replace the cutting blades

• Check and adjust the drive belts (if applicable)

• Lubricate moving parts

• Check the fuel system for leaks or blockages

• Inspect the safety features (blade brake, dead man's handle, etc.)

• Clean the underside of the deck

• Check tyre pressures (for ride-ons)

• Run the mower to make sure everything works as it should

After a service, your mower will start easier, run smoother, cut cleaner, and last longer.

What happens if you skip servicing?

Honestly? Your mower will probably keep running for a while. But over time, skipping servicing leads to problems:

• The engine runs less efficiently and uses more fuel

• Blunt blades tear the grass instead of cutting it, which damages your lawn

• Dirty oil and filters cause extra wear on the engine

• Small problems turn into bigger, more expensive repairs

• The mower becomes harder to start and less reliable

We see mowers come in that have not been serviced in three or four years. Some of them are beyond saving. Others need a lot of work to get back to how they should be. A regular service is always cheaper than a major repair.

The bottom line

If you use your mower for normal domestic use, service it once a year in late winter or early spring. If you use it heavily, service it twice a year. If you use it commercially, follow the manufacturer's guidelines and service it more often.

Not sure what your mower needs? Give us a call and we can talk you through it. We have been doing this for over 30 years and we will give you honest advice, not a sales pitch.

Call Surrey Power Machinery on 07776 210601

Servicing starts from £60 and includes free collection and delivery within 5 miles of Liphook.