A cordless, battery-powered lawn mower comes with many perks. They are lighter to use than their gas-powered equivalents and are not as smelly or as loud as them. I'm also a fan of not being tethered to an electrical socket—inside or outside of the home—making them one of the best lawn mower options.
How we keep most of our items powered is key to them being useful to us. Let's take the battery to a cordless lawn mower as a case in point. Unless the battery is charged, can hold it, and doesn't jilt, you continue to have a high-performing yard tool. If any of these factors are at fault, you may have a problem and find yourself looking for a replacement battery or a new lawn mower, which can come at a (high) expense.
I've done some research and spoken with a couple of experts to find out how I can extend the life of my lawn mower battery so it will be fully functioning in years to come.
7 ways to extend the life of your lawn mower battery
1. Store in a cool, dry place
From spring through to fall, the chances are that you will continue cutting the grass until it's time to stop mowing your lawn before winter. Throughout its use, the lawn mower will need to be stored in a cool, dry place so it's shielded from the elements.
"The storage environment significantly impacts battery life," says Ben McInerney, founder of GoTreeQuotes.com. "Batteries should be stored in a cool, dry place with temperatures between 40°F and 80°F. Extreme temperatures, especially heat, can accelerate battery degradation. If possible, store the mower and battery in a climate-controlled area. For those without this option, consider removing the battery and storing it separately in a more suitable environment during extreme weather conditions."
Ben McInerney is a certified arborist and the founder of GoTreeQuotes.com. With over 20 years of experience in arboriculture and landscape management across the United States, Ben has developed extensive expertise in sustainable and efficient outdoor care practices. His knowledge spans large-scale tree management to detailed lawn care techniques, making him a respected authority in comprehensive landscape maintenance.
Consistent weathering of sun, wind, rain, and frost is bad for any electrical equipment since it can erode connections and wear down parts holding the mower together. Storing the battery and associated mower in the garage or shed, like this KINYING Larger Outdoor Storage Shed for $348.78 on Amazon, will help prolong the longevity of the entire mower kit.
2. Use it reguarly
I've read that if your lawn mower battery sits in an uncharged state for too long, crystals can begin to form on the battery's plates. This lowers the battery's ability to hold charge and thus leads to certain replacements.
If you are to store your lawn mower battery, make sure that it is somewhere that you regularly have access to so there's no chance that you will forget about it. If you're storing your lawn mower over a season—or long holiday—you'll be itching to get the mower out again to start cutting the grass, so only store it for as long as you need.
Alternatively, an option worth considering is that many battery-powered lawn mowers by brands such as DeWALT, EGO, and Worx share their batteries amongst other power tools. If you end up buying into a brand's battery ecosystem, then you may well find that you can use your lawn mower battery to power your chainsaw, string trimmer, or hedge trimmer, which will keep it in use throughout the seasons.
3. Store in winter
When it comes time to store the lawn mower for winter, you'll also need to think about storing the battery.
Gene Caballero, co-founder at GreenPal and who has handled hundreds of lawnmowers over the years, says: "During the off-season, remove the battery and store it in a cool, dry place to prevent it from discharging and freezing. Charge the battery periodically during winter to keep it healthy."
Gene Caballero, born in Lima, Peru, is a distinguished entrepreneur and co-founder of GreenPal. For the majority of his life, Gene has lived in Nashville, Tennessee. With a strong background in various corporate roles, he eventually found his calling in the thriving world of startups.
In addition to his work with GreenPal, Gene is a sought-after speaker and industry thought leader. He frequently speaks at conferences and events on entrepreneurship, technology, and landscaping.
McInerney adds that proper off-season care is crucial for lawn mower battery longevity. "I recommend implementing a monthly charging routine during winter when the mower is not in use. This practice prevents the battery from fully discharging, which can lead to sulfation and reduced capacity. A brief 30-minute charge once a month can significantly extend battery life."
Mowers maintained with this routine will start smoothly in spring, avoiding the frustration of a dead battery at the beginning of the mowing season.
4. Remove and charge with each use
Removing and recharging the battery after each use is a good habit to get into. Not only will this avoid any frustration that'll inevitably come when you want to mow the lawn but have run out of power from the get-go, but it'll also help to increase the overall "health" of the battery by not letting it get empty.
Charge times vary between lawn mower makes and models, but usually, within a few hours, the battery will be topped back up to 100%.
5. Keep it covered
The majority of battery-powered lawn mowers that I am aware of have a concealed compartment where the battery resides. For example, the two batteries on the Worx 40V 17in Cordless Lawn Mower can be located towards the front of the mower under an allocated hooded area. There may be some cases where the batteries are exposed to the elements. If this is the case, only use the mower during dry weather, and ensure you dust off any debris when it is finished.
Dirt and moisture can cause early decay of the battery if it gets dirty, so I recommend that you remove the batteries after each use for a quick dust-down and recharge while you have them on hand.
6. Avoid over-charging
This came as a bit of a surprise to me, but Caballero said to "avoid overcharging your battery. Once it's fully charged, disconnect it from the charger." I researched more into this, and if you overcharge the battery or leave it on the charger, it could lead to overheating or, worse, cause a fire.
McInerney recommends: "...using a smart charger that automatically switches to a float charge when the battery is full. For manual chargers, it's crucial to remove the charger once the battery reaches full charge, typically after 6-8 hours for a standard lawn mower battery. Regular, shorter charging sessions are preferable to infrequent, prolonged charging."
Once you notice that the battery is charged, remove it and store it safely in a cupboard out of reach of the kids.
7. Regualy monitor the voltage
"Implementing a routine for checking battery voltage can prevent many common issues," says McInerney. "I recommend checking the voltage monthly during the mowing season and bi-monthly during off-seasons. When fully charged, a healthy 12-volt lawn mower battery should read between 12.6 and 12.8 volts. Consistently lower readings may indicate a need for replacement or deeper maintenance issues.
"By implementing these strategies, homeowners can significantly extend the life of their lawn mower batteries, ensure consistent performance, and avoid the inconvenience and cost of premature battery replacement. Proper battery care is integral to overall lawn mower maintenance, contributing to efficient lawn care and landscape management."
If your lawn mower battery and/or lawn mower has given up the ghost, it would be high time to check out the available lawn mower deals. I'm tracking the deals and sales throughout the year, and while there's always a bargain to be had, the best time to buy a lawn mower is either Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday, so pay particular attention to those events (if you can wait).
