MILWAUKEE, Sept. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- As today
marks the first official day of fall, homeowners are thinking about
putting away their lawn mowers for the season. But a new survey
from Briggs & Stratton Corporation (NYSE: BGG) suggests that
they are not thinking enough about how to properly store
their equipment.
The survey, conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of Briggs
& Stratton in July among 2,039 U.S. adults, showed that 58
percent of homeowners who lived in a climate that experiences a
true winter season simply park their push or ride-on lawn mower in
their garage or shed as is during the winter.
"A few simple steps in fall can help keep your lawn mower in
good working condition and make it last longer," explains
Carissa Gingras, marketing director
for consumer engines and service at Briggs & Stratton. "Just
like car owners routinely performing oil changes and tune-ups,
homeowners need to take care of their outdoor power equipment."
By incorporating five simple steps, homeowners can help extend
the life of their mowers.
Run the gas tank empty or add fuel stabilizer
There are two ways mower owners can store their equipment:
first, they can get rid of the gas completely by running the mower
or draining the fuel. Second, they can add a fuel treatment and
stabilizer. Gas begins to degrade and go stale only 30 days after
pumping it and stale gas can cause varnish and gumming that clog
the fuel system and carburetor jets. Plus, over 90 percent of fuel
in the United States contains up
to 10 percent ethanol, which attracts moisture and can cause
corrosion. "We recommend mower owners get in the habit of treating
their fuel every time they fill their red fuel can." And according
to Briggs & Stratton, it's important to use a fuel treatment
and stabilizer that does not contain additional alcohol.
Change the mower's oil
Either in the fall before storage, or during a spring tune-up,
it is important to change the oil to remove any dirt and debris
that can prevent the oil from lubricating and cooling the
engine.
Although, with the new Briggs & Stratton® EXi Series
engines mower owners don't need to change the oil for the life of
the engine.*
Remove the battery if equipped
On riding mowers, removing the battery during the winter season
can help prevent potential damage from corrosion of the battery and
battery terminals.
Clean the undercarriage and remove debris
After a full season of cutting, dirt and grass can build up on
the blades and get stuck on the mower's undercarriage. Cleaning it
now can help ensure a quality cut and can help keep the mower
running smoothly for the next season.
Store your lawn mower in a clean, dry place
Leaving a mower outside can lead to damage caused by moisture.
According to Briggs & Stratton's recently released poll, nearly
10 percent of homeowners leave their mower outside unprotected from
the elements. Storing a lawn mower in a clean, dry place will
ensure it is protected from the damaging weather elements.
By incorporating these simple steps, when it's time to take the
lawn mower out of storage in the spring, the 37 percent of survey
respondents who said that they prepare their mower for storage may
find it easier to start and operate their mower throughout the
mowing season.
*Regular scheduled maintenance still required. To see
complete details, refer to your Operating Manual. Briggs &
Stratton standard warranty terms and conditions apply. Just Check & Add does not extend the
warranty period. See
http://www.briggsandstratton.com/us/en/support/warranty for
details.
About Briggs & Stratton Corporation:
Briggs & Stratton Corporation, headquartered in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the
world's largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power
equipment. Its wholly owned subsidiaries include North America's number one marketer of
pressure washers, and it is a leading designer, manufacturer and
marketer of power generation, lawn and garden, turf care
and job site products through its Briggs & Stratton®,
Simplicity®, Snapper®, Snapper Pro® Ferris®, PowerBoss®, Allmand™,
Billy Goat®, Murray®, Branco® and Victa® brands. Briggs &
Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed and serviced
in over 100 countries on six continents. For additional
information, please visit www.basco.com and
www.briggsandstratton.com.
Survey Methodology:
The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of
Briggs & Stratton from July 22-24,
2015 among 2,039 adults age 18 and older, among which 1,159
are from households that own/use a lawn mower and experience a true
winter season. The online survey is not based on a probability
sample, and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can
be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including
weighting variables, please contact jliosi@lsb.com.
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SOURCE Briggs & Stratton Corporation