Mid-Summer Mower Maintenance Tips

Posted on July 21, 2015 by baggervance71

4 Steps to Keeping your Lawn Mower Running all Summer Long

Summer is almost halfway over, which means your lawn mower has probably seen it’s fair share of daylight. In order to keep your lawn mower running great all summer long, now is the perfect time to give your mower a mid-season tune up. Here are five steps to giving your lawn mower some mid-season maintenance.

1. Give your Lawn Mower a Good Cleaning

The first step in giving your lawn mower a mid-summer tuneup is to clean it up a little bit. During the first half of the summer, chances are, your mower has collected some dirt, debris and grass. It’s important to give your mower a good cleaning. Clean thoroughly, especially underneath the mower deck. Grass buildup underneath the mower deck can hold a great deal of moisture, which will make your mower deck rust.

PRO TIP: Save water and use an air compressor to get rid of debris quickly! If you don’t have an air compressor, a leaf blower will work just as well.

2. Tighten Bolts and Hardware

Over the course of a summer, your lawn mower takes on a great deal of wear. Vibrations among other things can cause bolts on your lawn mower to loosen. Grab a wrench and make sure all of your hardware and bolts are tightened up!

3. Change the Air Filter

If your air filter is dirty, then it’s probably time to change it. Replacing your paper air filter can maximize your mowers performance and engine life. If your air filter is foam, then you could probably benefit from cleaning it. Using soap and water, remove all debris, grass, and anything else it might have collected so far.

4. Check the Blades

Well sharpened blades can make all the difference in the world, when it comes to cut quality. Remove the blades and carefully inspect them for chipped or dull edges or any chunks that are missing. Properly balanced and sharpened Lawn mower blades are without a doubt, the most important part of achieving a high quality of cut.

After you do these 4 simple steps, your lawn mower should be all ready to take on whatever you throw at it, as we head into the last half of the summer. Happy Mowing!

How to Change your Lawn Mower’s Spark Plug Like a Pro

Posted on May 26, 2015 by baggervance71

Changing the Spark Plug on your Lawn Mower

If you can’t get your lawn mower to start, many times it’s because of a faulty spark plug. An old or dirty spark plug can cause your lawn mower to have problems starting. Does your lawn mower start on the first pull? If not, simply replacing your spark plug can usually be exactly what your mower needs. Fortunately, replacing your mower’s spark plug is one of the easier things you can do for your mower. Here is a step by step guide to changing your lawn mower’s spark plug in under 10 minutes!

Does your Spark Plug Need Changed?

If your lawn mower doesn’t start on the first or second pull, then it’s probably time for a new spark plug. To decide whether or not you need to change your spark plug, first remove your old one and inspect the tip. If it’s black or dark in color or covered in debris, then it’s time to change your spark plug. Fortunately, spark plugs are incredibly inexpensive and super easy to replace!

You will Need:

New Spark Plug
Spark Plug Socket Wrench (These types of sockets contain a rubber insert that protects the ceramic spark plug.)

How to Change the Spark Plug

1. Disconnect the spark plug wire and clean around the spark plug hole with a wire brush.

2. Using a spark plug socket, remove the old spark plug.

3. Purchase a new spark plug. New spark plugs typically only cost a few dollars. Take the old spark plug into your local lawn mower service professional or hardware store to have it replaced. All spark plugs come with the model number printed right on them, so you can be sure you’re getting the right one.

4. Install the new Spark Plug. Insert the new spark plug into the spark plug hole. Turn the spark plug by hand until you can’t anymore, then use the spark plug socket to tighten the spark plug into place. Don’t over-tighten the the spark plug – applying too much pressure can crack the ceramic spark plug. Once the new spark plug is in place, connect the spark plug wire and you’re ready to go!

Changing your Lawn Mower Blades in Less than 10 Minutes

Posted on May 26, 2015 by baggervance71

How to Change your Lawn Mower Blades

The key to a better looking lawn sometimes lies in new lawn mower blades. If you’re noticing any missed patches of tall grass right after mowing your lawn, then it could be time to replace your lawn mower blades. The quality of your mowing can be greatly improved by newer, sharper lawn mower blades! Fortunately, lawn mower blades are easy to replace and inexpensive! If you’ve never replaced your lawn mower blades – don’t worry! Here is a step by step guide to changing your lawn mower blades in under ten minutes!

1. Disconnect the Spark Plug

As always, be sure to disconnect the spark plug before doing any work to your lawn mower. This will keep the engine from accidentally engaging while you are underneath the mower; which removes any chance of accidents.

2. Lift the Deck

Before you can change the mower blades, you need to be able to easily access the underside of your mower. If you have a walk behind lawn mower, simply tilt the mower back and prop it up on its side. Be sure to pay attention to which side your gas tank is on and avoid tilting your mower in a way that will spill gas on the engine. However, if you have a lawn tractor or a zero turn mower, you will need to lift up the deck with a jack.

Before tilting your walk behind lawn mower back, take off the gas cap and lay a plastic sandwich bag over the opening of the gas tank. Then replace the cap, twisting it securely. This will make sure no gas spills out during the blade changing process.

3. Take Off the Mounting Bolt

After you have the mower propped up on its side, it’s time to remove the blade. Keep in mind that it’s usually a good idea to wear gloves when handling a sharp blade. In most lawn mowers, there are between 1 and 3 bolts holding the blade into place. Using a socket wrench, unscrew the bolt from the deck’s mount. Pay attention to which direction the blade is positioned, because the new blade will go on exactly like that.

PRO Tip: Before taking off the old blade, take a picture of the underside of your mower deck with your phone. That will help you be sure the new blade goes on the same way.

4. Install the New Blade

Once you have a new blade, using the same socket wrench, attach it to the mount. Make sure that the blade is positioned exactly the same way the old blade was. Don’t over tighten the bolt – this can cause warping in the blade. Once the new blade is on, sit the mower back up and connect the spark plug wire! After this, you should be ready to mow like a pro!

How to Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Posted on May 5, 2015 by baggervance71

How to Add Value to Your Home and Improve Curb Appeal

If your house has been on the market for a long time, it can be discouraging. In honor of Coldwell Banker’s Curb Appeal Week, we are going to share some ways you can improve your home’s curb appeal so you can get it sold quickly!

Did you know landscaping and having a well kept lawn can have a direct effect on the resale value of your home? A poorly landscaped yard can discourage potential buyers! If someone pulls up to a house and notices that a yard is a disheveled mess, they will probably assume the same for the inside of the house. Curb Appeal is extremely important! It’s also an inexpensive way to drastically improve the appearance of the outside of your home without having to spend a lot of money.

“Good landscaping can add up to 28% to the overall value of a house and even cut its time on the market by 10-15%.”

– Landscape Economist John Harris

Last week, we gave you some insider tips on how to get a golf course quality yard. This week, we’ll tell you how you can easily increase the value of your home and it’s curb appeal so you can get your house sold!

Landscaping

First and foremost, landscaping is key to maximizing your curb appeal. Taking care of your lawn is an extremely inexpensive way to make sure the exterior of your house looks great! Well manicured lawns make a home look crisp, neat and symmetrical. In order to achieve a perfectly manicured lawn, some necessary steps include:

Take Care of Your Grass – Make sure your grass is thick and green. If your yard is brown and dry, here are some ways to achieving a green, beautiful lawn.
- Edge – using a weed trimmer, edge along curbs, driveways and fences.
- Mow – Striping Kits can help give your yard a neat, ballpark effect. Striping can be just what your lawn needs.
- Clean Up After Yourself – After you have trimming, edging and mowing, be sure to use a leaf blower to clean grass clippings and other debris off of the driveways and sidewalks.

Dress up the Entryway

Along with a well manicured lawn, the first thing that a buyer looks for in a home is the front entryway. Because of that, the key to an aesthetically pleasing home is an elegant entryway. Here are some easy ways you can improve your home’s entryway.

Accent the Door by painting it a bold color. If your homes exterior doesn’t draw the attention to the entryway, a bold colored door can be just what it needs.
Incorporate some potted plants or other greenery to either side of your door to give your entryway some added symmetry.
Add new light fixtures. If your outdoor lighting is outdated, replace them with some newer fixtures.
If your front porch is starting to look drab, then repaint or refinish the porch and/or deck.

Add Some Greenery

Greenery such as potted plants, trees, and an elegant garden can make sure your front lawn radiates a welcoming environment. Here are some ways to use greenery to make your home seem more inviting:

Adding flower boxes to front facing windows.
Making sure your garden is in top shape.
Pruning trees.
Trimming Hedges.
Putting down new mulch.
Planting a few trees.
Sprucing up your front entryway with potted plants.

Add some Accents

One more thing that can spruce the your home and add tons of curb appeal is to add a few accents. Incorporating a few, simple decorative items can be the added touch that your home needs. However, remember that less is more! Some ideas of elegant accents include:

Outdoor lighting
Updated House Numbers
A New Mailbox
Shutters
A small fountain or pond.

Get a second Opinion

As a homeowner, you might tend to overlook some of your home’s imperfections. We get so used to seeing imperfections such as chipped paint and cracks in the concrete, that we don’t even see them anymore. Because of this, it can be a good idea to get a second opinion. Invite a friend or realtor over to take a look at your home and point out glaring issues. Here are some easy fixes that you might have overlooked in your home.

Pressure-wash the porch, deck, and siding.
Fix cracks in steps and driveways
Prune trees and trim bushes
Repair Gutters
Repaint faded or chipped doors or siding.

Taking care of your lawn and landscaping is the easiest, most inexpensive way to both improve your curb appeal and raise the value of your home. When your home sends a warm, inviting message, then you can be sure that your home will be sold in no time at all.

How to Get your Lawn Mower Ready for Spring

Posted on April 30, 2015 by baggervance71

5 Easy Steps for Tuning up Your Lawn Mower

Last weekend, the weather warmed up enough for me to celebrate with my First Mow of the spring! I pulled the lawn mower out of the garage, and pulled the string, only to find it wouldn’t start… After a long winter of sitting in the garage, my mower wasn’t ready to take on the task at hand. That means it’s time for a tune up!

Even if your lawn mower is running fine, annual tune ups can prevent costly repairs, increase your engine life and improve your fuel economy by 33 percent! Here are five steps for tuning up your lawn mower and getting ready for spring!

Change the Oil

After a long winter, if your lawn mower won’t start, the first thing to check is the oil. It’s usually a good idea to change the oil in your lawn mower at least one time each year. If your oil needs to be changed, here are three steps to change your oil.

First, before messing with your lawn mower, be sure to REMOVE THE SPARK PLUG WIRE. That will ensure that your mower doesn’t accidentally start up while you’re in there working on it.
Next, remove the drain plug and tilt the mower back to empty the old oil. Be sure the gas cap is on tight, or remove the gas in order to avoid spills.
Refill the mower with the new oil. Make sure you don’t put too much oil in. Most mowers hold 18-20 ounces of oil. If your lawn mower has a dipstick, use that to check the level.

Check the Gas

It’s usually a good idea to start each mowing season with a fresh tank of gas. Keep that in mind this fall, before you put your mower away for the season. Let your gas run out or empty the tank before storing it for the winter. In the winter, condensation can build up in the tank and gas line and freeze, which can lead to bigger issues. Using fresh gas can make sure your lawn mower starts right up.

Check the Air Filter

The next step in tuning up your lawn mower is checking the air filter. If you have a paper filter, it will probably need to be changed at least once per year. If your air filter is gray or brown, then it’s time to change it. New air filters an extremely inexpensive way to be sure your mower is running at it’s top performance. New air filters increase fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and extend your engine life.

If you have a foam filter or pre-filter, you can also rinse it out with soap and water.

Change the Spark Plug

If, like me, you go to start your lawn mower in the spring and it won’t start, there’s a good chance it’s the spark plug. On the bright side, sparkplugs are also a cheap and easy fix. If the tip of your spark plug is black or dark, then you could probably use a new spark plug.

All you have to do is use a socket wrench to remove the old spark plug, and replace it with the new one. Make sure you purchase the correct spark plug by taking it into your local dealer or checking out this online lawn mower parts store. There’s a good chance that after switching out your spark plug, it will start right up!

Change or Sharpen Blades

Another aspect of tuning up your lawn mower is checking your blades. Before mowing, make sure your blades are balanced, sharp, and free of nicks and damage. Balanced lawn mower blades will make your lawn look as great as it can be!

If you need to change your lawn mower blade, tilt the mower so you can easily get to the bottom of the deck. Again, be sure to UNPLUG THE SPARK PLUG CABLE, and WEAR GLOVES! With a socket wrench, take out the bolt that’s holding your blade to the mount. Also, make sure to clean out the bottom of your mower deck of any grass or debris.

When putting the new blade on, pay attention to the direction and position of your blade. Make sure it’s the same position as your old blade. Use a socket wrench to attach the new blade.

After you follow these 5 steps, your lawn mower should be all tuned up and ready to take on anything you throw at it this summer!

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