While the weather is still cooperative, experts say this is the ideal time to transition the lawn mower to the back of the barn or shed and get the snowblower ready for duty. Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, says to prep the mower for storage by sharpening the blade, putting in a new spark plug and air filter, and running it until it runs out of gas.
If your mower or other tools, like weed trimmers, run on those large, rechargeable batteries, there’s a right way and a wrong way to store those for the winter ahead — and those batteries are pricey, so don’t just leave them attached.
If your snowblower was put away properly in the spring, he says it should be an easy chore to get it ready for the winter ahead. Fuel stabilizers, products like Sta-bil, may be helpful but Kiser would refer you back to the instruction manual.
Kiser says if you stored your snowblower properly last spring, it should be ready to go when the snow arrives.
Forecasters say light snow is possible in parts of Iowa this weekend, but little-to-no accumulation is likely. Still, the flying flakes will be here soon enough, and Kiser says when that day arrives, you’ll want to take another precaution for the health of your snowblower.
If you have questions about your power equipment but can’t find the original instruction manual, he notes it’s probably online. Find out more at www.opei.org/.
