For many, somewhere between March Madness’ Thursday morning tipoff and Easter Sunday marks the unofficial start of spring. With promises of warmer weather just around the corner (stay strong, those of you holding out in icy/snowy regions), that means the season of lawn care is likewise just a few weeks away.
To help you start the season right, we took a brief dive into the world of commercial lawn maintenance — including tips to ready your mower for the sizable task ahead.
Any investment in mechanical or home maintenance equipment is one worth keeping in good working order, particularly when on a commercial scale.
If your mowers have been sitting somewhat neglected in a shed or garage since Thanksgiving, consider the demands about to be placed on it; commercial landscaping vehicles reportedly travel an average of 111 miles per day. Assuming a 5-day work week over 26 weeks of spring and summer weather, that comes out to 14,430 miles per mowing season.
Also, while the lifespan of most heavy duty mowers can generally be expected to reach at least 2,000 hours of operation, commercial landscaping vehicles tend to rack up those hours quickly. If you’re putting in close to 1,000 hours per season, an ill-maintained mower won’t make it more than a few years without cause for replacement.
While the specifics vary based on mower quality, job size, terrain difficulty and the like, the one universal factor in extending the life (and efficiency) of a commercial mower remains keeping to a consistent maintenance schedule.
The consequences of skipping preventive maintenance are fairly self-evident; mid-season emergency repairs costs time, money and business compared to a set schedule designed to avoid catastrophic breakdowns.
Rather than put up with the hassle of repairs (and explaining to a client why the job is only half-done), keep things running smoothly with the following routine:
Daily: Check tire pressure and clear any debris. Your mower’s recommended range can be anywhere from 12-25 psi; check the owner's manual or the sidewalls of your tires beforehand (and note whether front and back tires have separate recommendations).
Every 20-30 Hours of Operation: Remove and sharpen the blades. Mowing conditions will affect your sharpening frequency — pay attention to whether recently-cut grass looks clean cut (you’re good!) or torn (maintenance time).
Weekly: Check your oil and inspect the air filter. Oil checks on commercial mowers are the same as any vehicle — wipe the dipstick clean, reinsert it, and make sure your oil level falls between “full” and “add.”
Monthly: Inspect the fuel tank, cap and hoses for any fuel leaks. Check the belt tension to see if it’s in line with the specs in your owner’s manual.
End of Season: Conduct a comprehensive inspection, deep clean and winterize.
Sharp blades, full tires and fresh fluid levels will improve your fuel efficiency and help spare your equipment from unexpected breakdowns. Over time, paying regular attention to these areas can extend your mower’s lifespan beyond the standard 2,000 hours up to 4,500-5,500 hours.
If your landscaping business is running on tight margins, skipping routine maintenance (even to take on more jobs) can invite serious setbacks. A simple preventative maintenance plan can keep your fleet running smoothly and help you avoid expensive surprises down the road.
Here’s the good news — Linxup has exactly the tool you need to track, log and provide alerts for recommended maintenance based on mileage, hours of use or specific dates based on your business’ specific needs.
The easy-to-use maintenance feature also keeps a detailed service history for quick reporting and compliance checks, so you’re always prepared. You can also keep tabs on your lawnmowers with Mower Tracker so you can see where and when jobs were completed.
Learn more about how you can stay ahead of breakdowns and unexpected costs this mowing season with Linxup.