A mower is essential equipment for anyone who wants a trim and tidy lawn. This Old House's experts tell you how to choose the best one for your grass-cutting needs
Here are the signs that it's time to start shopping:
Hard to start: A gas mower that takes too many pulls to start or that stops running shortly after starting may need fresh gas, a tune-up, or a thorough carburetor cleaning. If none of those fixes the problem, your mower is a prime candidate for replacement.
Inefficient: Compared with engines made in the '90s, today's gas mowers run 10 to 15 percent longer on the same amount of fuel. The current crop of battery-powered mowers runs 30 percent longer per charge than models from the '70s.
Full of fumes: Newer gas engines release 70 percent fewer emissions than their counterparts of just 15 years ago. Battery- or muscle-powered mowers are the healthiest alternatives for you and the environment.
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