Should I take my mower to a shop for a yearly tune-up?

Short answer

For most homeowners the oil, air filter, spark plug and fuel can be done at home on a push mower. A yearly shop visit is worth it when the work is beyond your tools or comfort, the mower is a riding or zero-turn machine, or a warranty or hard-to-start engine is involved. A good compromise is to do the routine items yourself and pay a shop for the blade and anything that will not run right.

The routine schedule is modest. For most residential lawnmowers, oil is typically changed every year,^[1] fuel filters typically on an annual basis,^[1] and spark plugs typically every two years.^[1] That is the work a yearly tune-up covers.

Do it yourself when

You own a basic socket set, the mower is a push model, and you can follow the manual. The first rule is safety: disconnect the spark or electric plug before troubleshooting or repairing the mower.^[2] The tasks are straightforward, and how to tune up a mower walks through them. Changing oil on a riding mower is also manageable; see how to change the oil in a riding mower.

Take it to a shop when

• It is a riding or zero-turn mower and the work goes beyond oil and filters: belts, deck spindles, transmission or electrics.
• The blade needs balancing or replacing and you have no way to do it safely. An unbalanced blade can create a slight wobble that causes strain on a mower.^[1] Compare sharpening it yourself or having it sharpened.
• It is hard to start or stalls after fresh fuel, a clean filter and a new plug.
• The mower is under warranty. Check the warranty terms in the manual before doing the work yourself.
• You have nowhere safe to tip it. A mower can tip over easily.^[2]

Fuel matters whoever services it

Engines that are rarely or seasonally used, such as lawnmowers or chainsaws, are especially prone to difficulties with ethanol-blended gasoline,^[3] and the advice is to add fuel stabilizer if the equipment will be idle for more than a few weeks.^[3] Do that at the end of the season, whoever services the mower.

What a yearly shop visit should include

Ask for a written list: oil, air filter, spark plug, blade sharpened and balanced, deck cleaned, and a check of belts and cables. Ask for an itemised estimate before they start; see what servicing costs. Shops tend to be busy in spring, so an end-of-season visit often means the mower is ready when the season starts.

Stop and call a pro if

• You smell fuel or see a leak you cannot trace to a loose cap.
• The mower shakes, smokes or makes a new noise. Stop using it.
• A safety switch or guard is damaged or bypassed. Never disengage any safety switches or devices.^[2]
• You doubt a blade repair. The blades turn at 2,000 to 4,000 revolutions per minute,^[2] so leave it to a shop.

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