How to Choose the Best Electric Lawn Mower

Adding a battery-powered push lawn mower to your arsenal is a great idea. The manager of Power at Hand, which sells and services outdoor power equipment in Denver, says that battery technology has improved to the point where the best electric lawn mower performs just as well as a gas-powered one.

According to Alex Kronk, whose website, thelawnreview.com, gives advice about lawn tools, electric lawnmowers are quieter than gas lawnmowers and can emit 11 times the emissions of a car over the same period. Most electric models start on the first try and don’t emit noxious fumes. Right now, gasoline prices are obscene.

The push mower has become mainstream thanks to high customer demand. For this story, I am sticking to the ones you walk behind, even though riding mowers will probably follow. Home improvement stores and specialty dealers have lawnmowers from every major manufacturer.

Before you use your credit card, do a little self-assessment. Every customer is asked if they really take care of their lawn. Do you mow every four to five days when the grass is growing, or do you mow when it gets tall? Extra force is needed to cut tall grass, which can wear out an electric engine. He says to be real with yourself as to what type of mower you are. If you just let the grass grow, electric will be disappointing.

Electric is the way to go for those who take pride in their lawn. You don’t have to change the oil or worry about the gasoline going bad with a battery-powered mower. The batteries are lightweight and fold up neatly for storage. It costs between $300 and $600 to be a durable one. There are some things to consider when choosing a battery-powered lawn mower.

Determine the lawn’s size. Consumers underestimate the amount of grass they need to mow. Measuremylawn.com can be used to get your lot size. A battery mower is up to the task for small spaces. Ask the dealer about a model’s run time and how many square feet it can mow before the battery runs out. A battery mower can run for 25 to 40 minutes on a single charge, so a large lawn may require you to switch to a second battery if you want to mow the front and back on different days.

Look for brands that are reliable. smart consumers know to shop name brands with strong track records for major equipment purchases If the company has a good reputation for products and customer service, it doesn’t matter where you buy your mower from. You can see the machines in action with online and video reviews. Aran Brosnan, senior marketing manager for Toro, said to talk to family members or neighbors who have electric lawnmowers. Overwhelmed by choices? You can shop from an authorized dealer, which will help you evaluate your lawn needs and answer questions, as well as let you test-drive various models to get a feel for which one fits you the best.

Stick with one battery system. Take note of other products that could use the same battery and charger. Brosnan says that manufacturers are trying to make sure that their battery is interchangeable across all power tools, so you can buy another tool in the system without another battery and charger. If you already have other battery-powered tools, you might want to check out the company that offers a mower. You can either buy the full version and swap in the battery from your other tools for additional run time, or you can purchase the tool without the battery and save money.

Hand-push vs. self-propelled. There are two styles of push mower: hand-push or self-propelled electric lawn mowers. You walk behind the machine as it cuts the grass. Electric mowers aren’t that heavy to begin with, so you should choose the one you like. The self-propelled function quickly depletes the battery and increases mower cost by up to $200.

If something goes wrong, know the procedure. If there is an issue with the mower, Chiesa says to ask your retailer before purchasing, one of the most important aspects to consider. Some companies insist that you ship it back in the box to the factory for repair, while others have authorized dealers. He says there is no place to take it.

Look for strength. It pays to find the best electric lawn mower self propelled with metal instead of plastic in the long run. Rocks won’t get thrown as you mow because the motor of the mower is protected by metal. You need to confirm with the retailer that nearly all newer battery mowers have a motor. The brushed motor is more energy efficient and lasts longer.

No maintenance is not low maintenance. You should take your electric battery-powered mower to a specialist once or twice a year to have the blades sharpened. Chiesa says people are surprised that dead leaves, not sticks or thick grass, are the dull mower blades. You want to keep your mower and battery out of harms way. Although the mower can stay in a non-temperature controlled space, the battery and charger should be kept indoors, where it is safe from the elements.

Extra features might be worth it. Extra features are being offered by manufacturers to differentiate their product from others. The company calls some of the models personal pace. The faster you walk, the faster the self-propelled electric lawn mower goes. Some mowers have an eco-mode that slows down the blade to save battery life, others can sense if the grass is thick and will ramp up when you need more energy. You can switch between the bag and mulcher features on most of the mowers. The only feature you should not pay for is lights. It’s a battery killer and who mows in the dark?

Frequently Asked Questions about Electric Lawn Mowers