Tidying up your garden and clearing the fields of grass and other forms of vegetation is one activity you can never avoid if you want to improve the value and aesthetic of your home. Lawnmowers are ideal for this role.
However, one of the most challenging tasks is always keeping your lawn mower safe and protected when not in use. Your garage is one area you will look to when it comes to lawn mower storage. You want to keep your machine safe and in good condition before the mowing season.
As a result, you would be looking for the best storage space and idea to ensure that the area is not crowded but well-organized. This is why knowing how to store a lawn mower in a garage becomes handy.
Read on to learn some exciting tips on storing, protecting, and keeping your lawn mower safe in a garage.
Also Read:
How to Store a Lawn Mower in a Garage
Storing a lawn mower in your garage can be a significant challenge due to its shape, size, and weight. This is also why you would be looking to customize your garage for this storage to prevent potential harm to your children or other members of your family when the machine trips.
You can use many storage ideas to store a lawn mower in your garage, ranging from installing a storage lift system, shelves, and mini sheds, hanging them on the wall, building a shelving unit, to customizing existing garage space.
Below are detailed illustrations of the ideal ways to store a lawn mower in a garage. Read on!
-
Build a Shelving Unit
A shelving unit is a perfect storage option for a lawn mower in a garage when you have a lighter and compact model. Before you install the shelves in your garage, ensure the weight of the lawn mower in your possession can be lifted by the brackets.
Also, the shelves will be perfect when it is a season when you are not frequently using your machine, that is, after the mowing season.
Installing the shelving units in your garage will allow you to store your lawn mower and other objects under the shelf. This means you will create more space to store other garage tools and equipment safely.
Besides, through shelving, you can have multiple tiers in the garage, enhancing your storage space’s surface area. This adds to your storage space and helps keep other equipment organized and in top condition.
-
Optimize an Existing Space
Determining the amount of existing space in your garage is the first step you must consider when planning to store tools. As a garage owner, you know the tools you already have in your collection and those you hope to add. As such, you must know the space in your garage, the objects taking up the space, and whether they are essential or you can do a clear out.
Besides, it is paramount that you envision exactly which space in your garage you want to store your lawn mower. You may consider various spaces, including storing the mower under an Overhang, a corner, or creating a space by moving an existing object around.
Once you have determined the existence of these spaces, you must again determine whether it would be sizable enough for your lawn mower to fit. That is, you must take the lawn mower’s size, shape, and weight into consideration when optimizing the garage space for storage.
Usually, the ideal space to optimize lawn mower storage is under an overhang or corner because these areas have few activities. Consider moving items or equipment from these areas if they are already taken up as they are perfect for lawn mower storage.
3. Install a Ceiling Hanger
If your garage’s floor area is entirely taken up, you may consider installing a ceiling hanger to suspend your lawn mower. Considering the lawn mower’s weight, you must be sensitive to the hanger’s hanging positions and strength to support the machine’s weight before final installation. Nevertheless, this is an excellent way to store your lawn mower, as it will help you create more space in your garage.
Installing a ceiling hanger is a pretty simple process. You only need a hoist mechanism, coated steel cable, and hooks (2-4) to attach your machine. However, ensure that there is no precious item or vehicle under your suspended lawn mower. This prevents accidental damage to items or injuries if the machine trips from the hook and falls due to wear and tear over time.
However, this storage idea will work for someone who does not use their lawnmowers often. It is ideal when you want to store your machine for a more extended period, particularly after the mowing season.
4. Install a Wall Hanger
Apart from the ceiling hanger, the wall hangers are another perfect way to store your lawn mower in your garage. Installing the hangers on the wall can be challenging. You must be sensitive to the placement of the hooks to hold your machine in the horizontal or upright position to ensure that you do not store your lawn mower facing upside down or sideways.
Most lawnmowers within homes or for DIY projects use gas to operate and are integrated with gas tanks. Gas leakages may result when you hang the lawnmower upside down or on its side. This can pose a great danger and cause significant damage to your garage space and items.
So, if you have decided to install a wall hanger for your lawn mower storage, you must position it so that your machine will hang upright or horizontally.
-
Cover the Lawn Mower
Dust and debris will collect in your garage regardless of the protection or how frequently you clean your garage space. If you do not use your lawn mower for weeks or months, the best way to protect it from dust buildup is to cover it.
Remember, humidity can also build up in your garage when it is raining or during the winter, and a cover will help protect your machine from harsh weather elements. You want to go for a cover that will be both dustproof and waterproof to protect your lawn mower and enhance its life.
6. Build a Storage Lift System
One of the most viable and safe options to store your lawn mower in a garage is to install a storage lift system. The lift systems are robust and durable; you can depend on them to suspend even the weighty lawn mower models.
Go for the factory-built storage lifts, which are more reliable and robust than the DIY suspension contraption. However, they will come at a cost. The most basic storage lift systems costs between $200 and $600, while the most expensive can go up to $2500.
Always be sure you have determined the weight of your lawn mower before you go for any lift system. The system’s prices are also determined by the weights they can handle.
The pedestal lifts are among the most expensive lift systems but will work magic for you when you want to reduce the amount of space taken up by your lawn mower.
Also, the lifts can raise your machine to a significant height, allowing you to park your car below it, notably the single-column pedestal lifts. Besides, these lifts are reliable and steady enough to endure the weight of your machine.
-
Establish a Sloped System/Platform
Most of the ideas or concepts discussed above are integral when not using your lawn mower often, particularly after the mowing season storage. However, if you use your machine often, one excellent storage idea is to build a sloped platform to enable easy retrieval. You can accomplish this by erecting a shelving unit with an attached ramp.
Unlike building a shelving unit, establishing a sloped platform requires little technical knowledge and space. Still, it would be worth considering it gives you easy access to the lawn mower at your convenience.
If you are not familiar with the process, you may want to contact a professional to help you build the ramp.
How to Winterize Your Lawn Mower
Preparing your lawn mower for storage during the winter is a crucial step that most owners do not heed and end up losing the value of the machine and its functionality before its lifetime.
Winterizing your lawn mower is not a complex yet crucial process that you must not downplay. If you intend to keep and improve the efficiency of your machine, don’t just store it in the garage without taking primary precautions to keep it in top condition, especially in the winter.
Below are some important activities you must practice before finally storing your lawn mower in a garage during the winter.
Remove Gas from the Tank
The fuel that remains in your lawn mower’s gas tank after mowing season must be removed and stabilized before you store the tool during the winter. A fuel stabilizer helps keep the gas from going bad if you want to store your device for longer, making its addition to the fuel tank paramount.
Besides, since fuel is highly flammable, you do not want to store it in your garage, where it can easily catch fire and create havoc.
To remove the fuel from the gas tank, first, ensure you have acquired a fuel stabilizer. A fuel stabilizer is a solution that offers a protective layer for the fuel sitting in a gas tank. You can go for the fuel stabilizers, such as the Berryman Total Fuel Stabilizer.
Once the stabilizer is in the fuel tank, allow your machine to run for 5-10 minutes. This will enable your stabilizer to circulate in the whole engine before you turn off the lawn mower and let the engine cool.
Essentially, ensure that this exercise is performed outdoors, not in a storage compartment. Running the lawn mower results in burning fuel, producing carbon monoxide, which is hazardous and can cause breathing problems in an enclosed or poorly ventilated space.
Once your mower’s engine has cooled, remove the fuel from the tank by siphoning the excess gas/fuel. To ensure everything is removed from the tank, start the mower again and let it run until it stops by itself. This shows that you have cleared all the fuel, and your lawn mower is now ready for storage.
You wouldn’t fancy your lawn mower stored with fuel remains in the tank since the ethanol, a fuel component, attracts condensation, and when allowed to sit for a longer time, especially in the winter, it can cause the fuel to mix with the water.
Besides, the ethanol is corrosive and can damage the carburetor by causing rust buildup. As such, ensure that you have drained all the gas in your lawn mower to keep it in good shape during winter storage.
Remove Battery
Cordless, also called battery-powered lawnmowers, operate using Lithium-ion batteries. Before storing these units during the winter period, ensure that the first precaution you take is to remove the batteries.
Once you have located the battery compartment, disconnect the battery cable from the batteries starting with the negative terminal, always having a negative (-) sign. Once you have ejected the battery, wipe it to remove any dust that might have accumulated in it over time.
After removing the battery, check its terminal and clean it as well. You can apply a terminal protector or use a metal brush to clean. Once you have cleaned the battery, store it in a cool and dry place free from furnaces, water heaters, and away from gas cans.
The removal of the batteries during the winter from the lawnmowers is also crucial because the cold weather would accelerate the battery losing its charge. When you unhook and remove the battery from your lawnmower and store it separately indoors, you reduce the charge loss. However, before reinstalling the battery and using it during the mowing season, ensure it is fully charged. Charging the batteries is recommended after more extended storage.
Locate and Disconnect Spark Plug
A spark plug is an essential component of a lawn mower. It ignites the fuel-and-air mixture inside the cylinder of the lawn mower’s engine.
The plugs are integrated with a threaded metal shell connected to the engine’s ignition system and protrude into the combustion chamber.
If you are handling your mower for the first time, the spark plugs are located on the back or side of your lawn mower. Usually, they represent a short wire, often about 0.25 inches thick, leading to the top of a sharp, cylindrical protrusion from the engine.
Alternatively, if you cannot locate the plugs, you may want to consult the owner’s manual that comes with the machine to ensure you don’t interfere with the other components.
Once you have located the spark plugs, disconnect them to prevent the mower from accidentally kick-starting as you work on it, as this can pose serious injuries. Disconnecting the spark plugs is a safety precaution.
Remove Blades
The blades can be a hindrance when you want to clean the underside of your lawn mower or change the oil. As such, you would like to detach the blades from the mower. These blades are held in place with the screws. You only need to unscrew the bolts that contain them.
As a precaution, you must wear thick protective gloves as the blades are sharp and you can get cut while handling them.
Clean the Mower
Before storing your mower in the winter, do not forget to clean it. Cleaning the machine helps improve its lifespan and functionality. Also, keeping the more in top condition when it is clean ensures that you will not have a problem starting your unit during the spring.
Cleaning helps eliminate any dirt or debris that may accumulate in the small spaces of the engine. The accumulation of this debris can result in the engine overheating and can subsequently result in engine damage. Cleaning should be paramount even when using the mower.
Frequently Asked Questions-FAQs
Q1. Can you store a Lawn Mower Vertically?
A simple answer would be yes. However, first, check the manufacturer’s recommendations on storage. Most lawnmowers come with storage recommendations from the producers. You should store it flat if it isn’t built for vertical storage.
Only lawnmowers built for vertical storage should be kept in vertical storage. Otherwise, you will run the risk of fuel or oil dripping into the engine, which has a massive implication on the functionality and could result in severe damage.
Q2. Should gas be left in the lawn mower over the winter?
No. Unused gas that remains in a mower over the winter can get stale and result in gumming up of the carburetor and subsequent rust build-up that can corrode and damage the carburetor.
Also, gasoline contains ethanol that can attract condensation and result in the fuel mixing up with water over time. This will lower the quality of the fuel. As a result, the gas leftovers must be drained before lawn mower storage to keep it in good shape during the winter. Also, storing lawn mower with gas is a fire hazard.
The video below illustrates the various ways on how to store a lawn mower in a garage
Conclusion
A lawn mower is one of the top investment decisions you will have in your home. As such, you want to ensure it is protected and safe both when in use and during the off-season. One of the most challenges you will face as the owner is where and how to store it safely after the mowing season.
If you have an attached garage in your home, it is the first place that will come to your mind and is the best and most practical area to store your machine safely. However, it is crucial to know how you will store it safely. In this guide, we’ve illustrated some of the critical measures you must take before you store your lawn mower.
For instance, you must empty the gas tank and add a fuel stabilizer before storage, especially during the winter. Also, knowing how to store the lawn mower in the garage is essential. We’ve provided specific recommendations, including optimizing your garage and installing the wall and ceiling hangers.
We hope you benefit from this piece and if you have any questions or insight, leave your comments below.