Heading out into the yard to quickly get the lawn mowed before the rain comes seems to be something I have to do a lot during the rainy summer months. Unfortunately, the rain sometimes comes unexpectedly, and I end up having to make a quick dash for the garage, leaving my lawn mower out in the rain.
So, can a lawn mower get rained on, and can you leave it in the rain? Let’s find out.
Can Lawn Mowers Get Wet? (The Short Answer)
A light rain shower falling on a lawn mower is unlikely to cause a problem. But if you leave your lawn mower out in a downpour, then you could face several problems. More sensitive areas of the mower, such as the air filter, gas tank, spark plug, power connections, and batteries, can be negatively affected by heavy rainfall. These sensitive components may make starting and using your lawn mower difficult.
What May Happen If Your Lawn Mower Was Left in the Rain + Got Wet
Your lawn mower could have a few problems if it was left out in the rain. Problems caused by rain can happen to both gas-powered and electric-powered lawn mowers. So, let’s look at how water and rain can affect these two types of lawn mowers.
Gasoline Powered Lawn Mowers
Rain hitting your lawn mower isn’t going to do anything to components like the deck, wheels, or handlebar. You may end up with some rust if it happens too often, but nothing that is going to cause you any immediate problems.
But rain hitting the mower can very easily work its way into the gas tank and into the air filter. This means water can get in the gas tank and potentially through the air filter into the carburetor and cylinder head. Water seeping into these entry points will both prevent your lawn mower from starting and cause some pretty significant corrosive damage.
Water entering the lawn mower can rust components like the carburetor, cylinder head, and spark plug. In addition, water in the fuel will make the fuel unusable and contaminate the fuel system. So, before you start up your gas-powered lawn mower, check to see where the water managed to get to.
Electric & Battery Powered Lawn Mowers
Modern electrical and battery lawn mowers are given an IP rating (Ingress Protection) which tells you how they stand up to water. This rating method is used on electrical items including things like garden lights, electrical switches, and even your portable speaker.
If you take a look at the Makita 18v cordless lawn mower, you’ll see that it has a rating of IPX-4, meaning it can be subjected to splashing water from any direction. This is basically the description of rain. The Greenworks Optimow robot mower has an IP rating of IPX-5, meaning the lawn mower can resist a sustained, low-pressure water jet spray. This sounds more like a rainstorm.
So, check the IP rating of your electric or battery-powered lawn mower. If the amount of rain hasn’t exceeded your mower’s IP rating, then it should be ok. But if your mower has been absolutely soaked, then water could have worked its way into the electric motor and caused significant damage.
Also, if water has seeped into electrical connections, such as the battery terminals or power switches, then it could have caused some corrosion. If you are concerned, then you should inspect your lawn mower for any potential water damage.
Mower Got Wet? Here’s What You Should Check Before Using it Again
If you have left your lawn mower out in the rain, you will want to check a few things before switching it on again. Doing a quick inspection could prevent some avoidable damage, especially for you guys with gas-powered mowers. So, before you try to start your lawn mower, do these few inspection tests.
What to Check if Your Gas-powered Lawn Mower Got Rained On
The first place to check is inside the gas tank. Water is denser than gasoline, so it will sink to the bottom of your fuel tank. This means that if you try to start your engine, the fuel pump will suck the water through pretty quickly and cause some very troublesome problems.
So, pop off the gas cap and take a look inside the tank. Water will not mix with the fuel, so you should see two different liquids if water is actually in the tank. A good trick is to give the mower a shake. This will bring the water up from the bottom of the tank.
If you spot some water, then you should drain the fuel tank immediately. If you happen to try to start the lawn mower with water in the bottom of the tank, you’ll end up having to replace the fuel filter.
The next place to look is at the air filter. The air filter is the only separation between the outside environment and the inside of the engine. As a result, if the filter becomes soaked, it could allow water to leak into the carburetor and then the cylinder.
Remove the air filter cover and check if it’s wet. If the air filter is wet, then you’ll want to either let it dry out or replace it. If you do find water, then you’ll want to check the opening of the carburetor.
Water in the carburetor will lead to corrosion and problems running the engine. The best solution is to clean the carburetor. For this, there are two options, clean the carburetor attached to the engine, or remove the carburetor for cleaning. So, if your lawn mower gets wet and won’t start, this could be why.
The spark plug is the final place I like to check if I left my lawn mower out in the rain. Usually, if water manages to get into the engine, then you’ll find a damp spark plug. A damp spark plug is unlikely to spark and start up your lawn mower’s engine. So, remove the spark plug and inspect it for moisture. If there is any sign of water, then you’ll need to clean the spark plug.
Lastly, if you have checked your lawn mower and carried out the repairs, and are happy that everything is back to normal, give it a try. Your engine should be fine after getting the water out of the fuel tank, air filter, and carburetor.
If you did have a damp spark plug, but you have finished your repair, then the only easy way to get the water out of the cylinder is to run the engine or remove the cylinder head. The engine may run rough for a minute, but it should clean up once the water is either forced out of the exhaust pipe or evaporated.
Here’s more information on dealing with water in a gas lawn mower, if it happens to you.
What to Check if Your Electric Lawn Mower was Left Out in the Rain
Can a lawn mower get wet? Well, if you checked your electric lawn mowers IP rating, you’ll have seen that it can probably take a bit of rain. But before you put your lawn mower away, you should check a few things. Here’s what you should look at.
The battery housing is one area that needs to stay dry; this is why they have a gasket or O-ring that seals the compartment. If your seal is in good shape, then you shouldn’t have any problem. But if it’s damaged or missing, you could have some water seepage. So, pop off the battery cover and check for water. If there is water inside, you should remove the battery and dry out the compartment.
Next, you’ll want to give the motor a try. If water worked its way into the motor, it could have damaged the winding insulation, leading to the motor burning out. For this test, it’s best to leave the lawn mower a few days to dry out. So, with a dry mower, start up the blade and listen for any unusual noises. If you hear anything strange, then water could have damaged the motor.
Also, if the electric mower overheats, this could signal motor winding issues. My best advice is to call the manufacturer and see what they say. I’m pretty sure the motor/lawn mower will need to be replaced.
If You’re Going to Leave Your Mower Outside…
Sometimes when trying to figure out where to store your lawn mower, your only option is to leave it outside. If this is the case, then you need to find a location where the mower will be most protected from the elements and have limited exposure to the dreaded rain.
Additionally, make sure it’s not placed in an area that collects puddles or under potential falling tree branches. Another solution is to get a lawn mower cover or a storage box.
Just keep in mind that you might need to carry out some extra steps to store your mower outside. This could include things like extra rust protection and more frequent maintenance.
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