Preventive Leaf Blower Maintenance
Congratulations, that you are now a proud owner of a new leaf blower. Did you know that you must perform certain preventive leaf blower maintenance to keep your blower running in top shape and your warranty active? This is where leaf blower maintenance can help. Tips include information for gas-powered, electric and battery or cordless leaf blowers.
This article will cover some safety tips and types of maintenance that owners should perform throughout the lawn care season.
Gas-Powered Leaf Maintenance
If you should own a gas-powered leaf blower, the following maintenance tips should help you.
- Hoses. Check to see if any of your hoses have any cracks or splitting wear on the hose. Replace any if found. Hoses can come loose so reconnect them. Also, replace any warn or damaged ones.
- Storage. Important, when storing your gas-powered leaf blower, be sure to store it engine side down if placing it on the floor in your garage or basement. The reason being is so you don’t damage the vacuum tube. If broken, replace it with the correct part in the owner’s manual.
- Oil and gas. Always place the proper mixture of gas and oil into the fuel tank of the leaf blower. This keeps the engine properly lubricated and will prevent engine problems later. Always use fresh gas at the start of the new season.
- Debris. If possible, keep debris away from the impeller. As debris can cause the fan to brake and stop airflow from going through the tube.
- Cracks. Check the unit for any cracks. Use epoxy to seal any small cracks to keep them from spreading.
- Clean the unit with a damp cloth when cooled. Never clean the blower when the engine is hot. This will help to prevent burns.
- Check the spark plug once a month. This is to ensure that the electrode gap is free of any debris. Doing this step will help prevent your unit from experiencing any power loss.
- In the spring, replace the spark plug and clean the air filter.
- Check for any loose screws, bolts and parts and tighten any if found.
- Before storage in the winter, remove all gas from the blower and empty any gas remaining in the gas can according to local ordinances. In the spring, use fresh gas for the blower as gas tends to get stale during the winter.
- Clean the muffler. Inspect vent for any dust, residue or carbon buildup. To clean, use a flat head screwdriver by inserting it gently into the vent to remove any carbon buildup. Use a clean cloth to clean the muffler and focus on the exhaust vent and cylinder exhaust port. Replace muffler ensuring all screws, fittings and bolts are securely fastened.
- Consult your owner’s manual for any additional maintenance they recommend you perform to keep you from voiding the warranty.
Electric Leaf Blowers
If you are an owner of an electric leaf blower, here are some helpful maintenance tips:
- Check for loose parts, bolts and screws. Tighten any if found.
- Check for any cracks on the unit. Cracks can cause your blower from working properly. So, check before using. Repair cracks using epoxy. Use according to directions on the package to seal the crack. If the crack cannot be repaired manually, then order a replacement part.
- Check out for any warn or damaged parts. Some components can rust over time or lose it sharpness. Replace any warn or damaged parts using the correct part number according to your owner’s manual.
- Check the extension cord for any wear or cracks. If your extension cord shows signs of wear or cracking, replace with a new one according to the owner’s manual. This will help prevent electric shocks or other electrical injuries.
- If your unit needs to be lubricated, perform the lubrication according to the owner’s manual.
- Consult your owner’s manual for any additional maintenance they recommend you perform to keep you from voiding the warranty.
Leaf Blower Safety Tips
Owners of leaf blowers must always consider safety when using this wonderful tool. Besides protecting yourself, you also must consider your neighbors. Here are a few safety tips to help you:
- Wear hearing protection when blowing to help prevent damage to the ear.
- Wear goggles to help keep debris from blowing into your eyes.
- Wear a dust mask to keep you from swallowing any dust when blowing.
- Wear pants that cover your legs which will keep debris from damaging your skin.
- Wear sturdy shoes to not expose any part of your feet. This is to protect them from any debris that may damage the exposed skin.
- Be sure to keep any pets and people far away from the area that you are clearing.
- To help your neighbors, use the blower during normal daylight hours. Your local village may have an ordinance that requires you to begin no sooner then 8 a.m. and quit by 9 p.m.
Conclusion
By following these maintenance tips you can keep your blower running smoothly for many years. As with any tool, sometimes the tool will fail. Consult your owner’s manual for assistance when this situation arises. It is also a good idea to become familiar with your unit by reading the owner’s manual to help you recognize any signs of possible trouble. You can take corrective action and help prevent a major repair bill later.
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