Prepare your Robot Lawnmower for the winter

In this blog post, we’ll be discussing 4 simple steps to help you winterize your automatic lawnmower. You should always winterize your robotic lawn mower indoors, ideally in a location that is not too cold. When you see that the grass is not growing anymore or the day temperature is starting to get near 32 °F, it is time to start preparing your robot mower. It would be best if you remembered that freezing temperatures are generally not good for the battery of your robotic lawnmower. Hence, it is better to winterize and store your robotic lawnmower before the first real frost.

Prepare your Robot Lawnmower for the winter:

• Step 1: You must carefully remove the charging station of your automatic lawnmower
• Step 2: Carefully clean your robotic lawnmower
• Step 3: Winterize your automatic lawnmower in a dry and not too cold place
• Step 4: Charge your automatic lawnmower once every three months (for specific models)

Scroll on to read the detailed step-by-step guide to winterize your automatic lawnmower:

Step 1: You must carefully remove the charging station of your automatic lawnmower:

Just before starting with the winterization of your automatic lawnmower, you should charge it fully in its docking station, then turn its main switch to the off position. If possible, do not charge the battery of your robotic lawnmower when the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. You can leave the boundary wire outside during the winter months, but if the connector is unprotected, insulate it using tape or put it inside a protective box.

It is wise to use vibrant colored tape to help you find the cable easily in the next mowing season. Bring the charging station of your automatic lawnmower, the low voltage cable, and the transformer indoors to protect them against harsh and wet weather conditions. Only when you have to charge your robot mower during the winter season you have to connect it to the mains. If not charging, you can disconnect it.

Step 2: Carefully clean your robotic lawnmower:

You must carefully clean your automatic lawn mower to remove the deposits of dry grass and mud found inside.

To clean your automatic lawnmower:

● Step 1: Turn off

Turn the mower completely off (for safety reasons). Remove the battery if possible.

● Step 2: Remove the cover:

Then take off its cover. Check the user manual on how to do this, or if you do not have it anymore, check the internet of Youtube.

● Step 3: Clean the inside

Remove the grass clippings and the mud from your robotic lawnmower. Use a vacuum at a low setting (if your vacuum has power settings). For more refined particles of dry grass, you can use compressed air at low pressure or simply a brush. For some areas, you can also use a toothbrush.

● Step 4: Put the cover back on

Put the cover back on. If needed, check the manual of use google/youtube how to do this.

● Step 5: Clean the cover

Take a damp cloth and slightly rub it over the cover of your robotic lawnmower. Never use a pressure washer or hose to clean your robotic lawnmower; otherwise, it can get damaged beyond repair.

● Step 6: Check the blades

After the mower is thoroughly cleaned, it is time to inspect the mower blades carefully. For most robot mowers, sharpening is not allowed, since it may create unbalance. Check the manual to be sure.

If the blades are 100% perfect, you can leave them on while in storage, but if you notice any damage or wear, you should replace them.

● Step 7: Changing the robot lawnmower blades

If you see that the blades are not in good shape remove the old ones and order new ones for the next spring season.

Most robotic mowers have multiple different blades, that are screwed to the blade disc. The blades have two edges to ensure maximum cutting capacity and can be used rotating on both clock and anti-clock directions. Always replace all the blades, including all of the screws, so you can be sure that the balance will be fine. To replace the blades of your robotic lawnmower, you can follow these 7 steps:

1. Use gloves: You must, first of all, put on a good quality pair of cut-resistant gloves, for the safety of your hands.
2. Turn off: You must make sure that you have turned the main switch of your robotic lawnmower off, or better, have removed the battery.
3. Turn over: Then you must turn over your robotic lawnmower
4. Rotate the skid plate: Then, you must rotate the skid plate of your robotic lawnmower so that the hole inside it becomes parallel with the screw for the blade of your robotic lawnmower.
5. Remove the screws: Use your cross tip screwdriver or a straight slot to open up the screw of the blade of your robotic lawnmower.
6. Remove blade disc screws: Push apart the skid plate and the blade disc of your robotic lawnmower. Remove the screw and the old blade of your robotic lawnmower.
7. Get a replacement blade: Find the most compatible blade for your robotic lawnmower. You must only purchase compatible blades and screws. If possible, ones that are recommended by the manufacturer.
8. Fit the new blade: Fit the new blades, and make sure that you screw it tightly to prevent it from coming off while your robotic lawnmower is working.

● Step 8: Software update

Check if there is a software update for your machine. Check the manual on how to do this.

● Professional maintenance:

If you do not have the time or skills to clean, replace, repair, or maintain the different parts of your robotic lawnmower, you can hire a professional expert to help you. Robotic lawnmower cleaning services include cleaning the body, blade disc, chassis, and skid plate of your automower. They test all the functions and components, and carefully inspect the bearings, and the blades of your machine for any signs of aging. They will check the capacity of the battery so you will know if any replacement or further maintenance is required. Part of the maintenance should also be the relubrication of the chassis halves that will deter moisture and keep away rust, mildew, and mold. Part of the service should be the check for software updates.

Step 3: Winterize your automatic lawnmower in a dry and not too cold place:

After cleaning the automatic lawnmowers, the next step is to store them in a proper location until spring arrives. The location should be dry and not too cold. Most manufactures like Husqvarna, Bosch, Gardena, and Worx recommend storing the mower in a horizontal position. If your model has a GPS anti-theft feature, and you would like to use that during the wintertime, you should make sure that the unit is on and kept charged during the storage period.

Step 4: Charge your automatic lawnmower once every three months (for specific models):

Some automatic lawnmowers models, like the Robomow, are using Lithium Ferrum polymer batteries. For this type of battery, It is important to charge it every three months. So if the machine will be in storage for a more extended period, it is advised to charge it fully every three months.

Robomow even has a special power supply for this.

After winterization:

Before you start using your robotic lawnmower again the next spring season, you should make sure that its contact strips and charging strips are 100% clean and make good contact. If you find any dirt, dust, or debris on them, you must clean them, and test if the charging process works ok. If you see that the contact strips and the charging strips of your machine look are burnt out, use a dry cloth to wipe them clean.

If your robot lawnmower did not have a battery connected, or the battery was empty, set the correct time and date.

Final remarks

To sum up this blog post, I want to say that your robotic lawnmower is expensive and deserves most of your attention. You must invest your time and effort in winterizing it properly to be able to utilize its complete life span. Having read the above given simple step-by-step guide, I am confident that you are left with no more confusion or doubts on how to prepare your automatic lawnmower for the winter.