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Nothing lasts forever, not even heavy machinery such as lawn mowers. Unfortunately, this kind of equipment has a lifespan of only 10 years, even if it is taken care of, explains Durability Matters. However, if you don’t look after your lawn mower, it may only last around four or five years. Additionally, if you abuse and neglect it, you can expect it to last for two years maximum. Nonetheless, no matter how loved your lawn mower is — at some point, it will die. That’s just an unfortunate fact of life. Then you will have to go through the process of finding another one, comparing prices, and finding the best one that will meet your needs.
Luckily, there are many options, including standard push mowers and the convenient ride-on lawn mower. Additionally, they are available at many locations including Lowe’s, Home Depot, and sometimes Walmart. With so many options, it’s best to do your research and really think about what you want out of it. However, you might be asking yourself, is it time for a new lawn mower? There are many ways to tell — here are the three best ways to tell if it is time to buy a new lawn mower.
Mechanical issues are on the rise
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The most common reason for replacing a lawn mower is mechanical failure. At some point, your lawn mower will need something replacing. Sometimes, it’s a quick and cheap fix, while other times it’s more practical to just replace the whole lawn mower. According to Home Questions Answered, the most common issue is a mower failing to start. Of course, the reason for this could be a number of things. If you’ve tried to get it going to no avail, it’s probably past its prime and may need replacing.
Another equally common issue is damage to the blades of the lawn mower. It’s normal for blades to go dull and need replacing, but sometimes it’s more complex than that. If the blades are bent or even broken, they should be replaced immediately, however, this can also cause more intense problems that may not be able to be fixed. Additionally, it’s not uncommon for a lawn mower to overheat, especially when it’s used in direct sunlight for hours on end. The bottom line is, that if any of these mechanical issues are occurring more often than not, it’s time for an upgrade.
The warranty has officially expired
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One good thing about lawn mowers is that many come with an optional warranty, which is always good to have in case any issues arise. However, warranties only last for a certain amount of time, and vary depending on the brand of lawn mower and location of purchase. Some warranties last a year or two while others can last up to five years. Nonetheless, these warranties provide coverage for a lot of issues that can arise in the first few years of owning your new machine.
However, there is a wide variety of what exactly these warranties cover. For example, Husqvarna’s warranty covers normal wear and tear defects in the material. If this occurs, they will replace the parts at no additional charge. However, once this warranty has expired, the owner has to pay for all future repairs. So, if your warranty has expired, it’s best to just go ahead and replace your lawn mower whenever major issues arise. Otherwise, you may end up putting more money into a machine that may not be worth it in the long run.
You simply want an upgrade
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The last and simplest reason is that you just want a new one. Maybe you need a lawnmower that has additional features, maybe yours looks run down, maybe you just want to treat yourself to something nice. No matter what, if you want to upgrade your lawn mower from its current model, then do so. Just be sure that you’re getting what you need at an acceptable cost that will benefit you in the long run.
When you have decided it’s time to upgrade, Forbes Home suggests doing so in the early fall season. This is because sellers tend to lower their prices during this time, as they need to clear out their spring and summer stock to make room for fall and winter products. Although you may run into the problem of not having as much choice as these will be the lawnmowers no one else wants.
