How to Buy an Electric Lawn Mower

Electric lawn mowers are designed for smaller lawns. There are corded and cordless electric lawn mowers, and each type has its pros and cons. As with any purchase, you will want to do some research before you buy. It is also important to take advantage of a salesman's product knowledge and expertise when you are at the store, so have some questions prepared beforehand.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Know the pros and cons of both corded and cordless electric lawn mowers. With corded mowers you will have to deal with maneuvering the long extension cord as you cut the grass. Cordless mowers are powered by a rechargeable battery so that maneuvering an extension cord is not a problem. However, they do need to be charged after use, and their batteries may run out after about an hour of mowing time. Batteries may need to be replaced after two years.

2. Consider some additional facts about electric lawn mowers. Both corded and battery-powered models require little maintenance. As with all lawn mowers the blade will need to be kept sharpened and with battery powered models you will have to recharge the battery. But, you do not have to worry about filling the mower with gasoline, changing a spark plug, changing oil or changing the filters as you would with a gasoline lawn mower.
   
   Electric lawn mowers are lightweight, which makes them easier to maneuver and they are quiet. Also, there are no harmful emissions (due to the burning of fuel such as in gas mowers) making them extremely environmentally friendly.

3. Decide upon a deck size. Deck size is the cutting width or width of the cutting blade. The deck size of electric lawn mowers are 19 to 20 inches (gas-powered mowers can be purchased with larger deck sizes).

4. Do a features comparison of several battery-operated electric mower manufacturers such as Black and Decker, Homelite and Neuton. Compare the warranties (most are limited two-year warranties), bagging options (rear or side bagging or both) and if it comes with a mulching blade.
   
   Another thing to consider is the charging time of the battery (length of time to recharge after use), as well as the mowing time of the battery. The mowing time of the battery is affected by the terrain as well as the condition of the grass (wet or tall grass will slow down the mower and take longer to mow). Also, you will want to know the replacement cost of a new battery.
   
   Overall weight of the lawn mower is also a consideration. Although electric lawn mowers are lightweight, some manufacturer's models are heavier than others.

5. Do a price comparison. Electric mowers are cheaper to run, especially with rising gasoline prices. Remember, the best times to purchase a lawn mower are in early spring and late fall when the lawn mowers are usually on sale.

References

• Consumer Tips and Reports