Did you know that temperatures below 10° C (or 50° F) can damage the battery and electrical components of your robot lawn mower?
High moisture and freezing temperatures in the winter are two of your robotic lawn mower’s worst enemies. And without proper protection, this can damage some delicate parts of the robot, therefore reducing the performance and lifespan of even the best robotic lawn mowers.
So don’t wait for the weather to freeze over before winterizing your robot mower because the longer you wait, the more you expose your machine to potential weather damage.
Winter is the ideal time to perform routine maintenance on your robotic lawnmower to ensure that it is in great shape and ready to manage your lawn come spring. Which brings us to the question: how do you properly store your robot mower during the winter?
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Your robotic lawn mower should be stored indoors in a warm area during winter, but a shed or garage should be OK as long as it is dry. As an expensive home robot, you will naturally want it to last as long as possible.
The best time to winterize your robot mower is when you notice that the grass is no longer growing or that the average day temperature is about 8° C or 40° F. It’s important that you’re aware that the battery in your robotic lawnmower is typically not fond of frigid weather.
If you’re thinking of winterizing your robot, here are the steps to take.
Preparing your robot mower for winter storage:
- Step 1: Carefully clean the robot
- Step 2: Remove the battery
- Step 3: Check the blades (you can change them if necessary)
- Step 4: Store in a dry, safe place
How to winterize a robot lawn mower in 4 simple steps
Step 1: Carefully clean the robot
You will need hand gloves, a plastic brush, and a clean rag to complete this task. And before you proceed with cleaning your robot lawn mower, make sure to power down the robot first. Make sure to press the manual stop button and press the OFF button to turn the power off.
- Wipe down the robot mower
The first thing you should do is a visual inspection of your machine. Use your eyes to carefully inspect the robot lawn mower to confirm that it looks good and everything is intact. Use the damp cloth to wipe down the body of the robot mower.
- Clean out the bottom
To be able to clean the underside, first set the cutting height to the lowest level. Carefully flip the robot over to inspect the underside, check the wheels, cutting disc and blades for damages. Inspect the cutting disc and make sure it spins freely. Use the plastic brush to brush off debris and grass clipping from the underside of the mower. Never use a metal scraper, detergents or pressure washer to clean your robotic lawnmower, because they can damage the machine.
- Pop the cover off to clean the inside
After inspecting and cleaning the underside of the robot, set it back on its wheels and carefully pop the cover off. Using a soft plastic brush, remove grass residues and debris from the robot. You can also use a vacuum at a low setting, but do not use water or a hose for this. A soft plastic brush works perfectly well for this exercise (compressed air is optional), simply take your time to sweep your robot lawn mower clean. Carefully replace the cover when you’re done.
- Clean the docking station
To clean the charging station, first unplug it from the power outlet. Use the plastic to remove grass and dirt from the docking station, especially around the charging station. Also, keeping the charging station indoors over the winter is strongly advised. This is because the moisture and frost can trigger rust, which can damage the station.
Step 2: Check the battery
Before you put your robot lawn mower away for winter storage, make sure that it is fully charged—or at least partially charged. This is especially important because the battery gradually drains while in storage.
And if the robot mower is stored with a low battery, it may completely drain off below the point where the charger can recover the battery. If this happens, you will need a battery replacement, which can cost you a few hundred bucks.
The ideal charging level for lithium-ion batteries to be stored in is 50 percent. No top-up charging is required for storage periods lasting six months or shorter because lithium batteries lose roughly 2 percent of their charge each month while they are in storage.
Step 3: Check the blades
After the mower has been properly cleaned, it is important to carefully check the mower blades to determine if they are in perfect shape. If you notice that the old blades don’t look very good, remove them and order replacement blades in preparation for the next spring.
You can leave the blades in place while in storage if they are in good condition, but you should change them if you see any wear or damage. Robotic lawn mowers often have blades that are attached to a rotating blade disc, which is fairly easy to replace.
You can consult your user’s manual if you need specific instructions on how to change the blades.
Step 4: Store in a dry, safe place
After proper cleaning, your robot lawn mower should be stored properly until springtime. The most ideal place to store your robot mower is somewhere that is perfectly dry and safe. It’s important that you do not store your robot in a damp or cold place, as this can negatively impact the machine.
Temperatures below freezing are not ideal for your robot. Ensure that your storage location doesn’t get too cold. It is good practice to cover it up with a tarp to prevent dust build-up, also protect your robot from potential rodent damage by ensuring that your storage location is free of rodents.
Get Professional Maintenance
You can get a professional to assist you if you don’t have the time or knowledge to clean, replace, repair, or maintain the different components of your robotic lawnmower.
In addition to general robot mower maintenance, some robotic lawnmower cleaning services also include winter storage in their services. Prior to winter storage, these professionals will examine all the components for signs of wear and damage. They will check the chassis, the blades, the battery, the software and electrical components, and any upgrades or replacements will be properly handled.
FAQs
How do you store a robot mower for the winter?
Robot lawn mowers are best stored in a dry and safe environment, above freezing temperatures. It is recommended that you service your robot mower before winter storage. Storing a dirty robotic lawn mower in a cold, damp place will reduce the lifespan of the machine.
Do robot mowers work in winter?
Robotic mowers are built to run in any kind of weather, except extremely stormy, rainy, or icy weather. In this case, the robotic lawn mower should be brought indoors to prevent damage to the machine. Moisture and frost can literally kill a robotic lawn mower.
Where do you store a robot mower?
The best place to store your robotic lawn mower is where it can be kept dry and free from frost. The charging station should also be carefully removed and stored in a dry and frost-free place during the winter. When it’s freezing, the perimeter wire should be the only item still on the lawn.
Conclusion
Don’t let the cold weather shorten the life of your robotic lawn mower. Keep it safe and free of any elements that could degrade its components.
To make sure that you get the most out of your robotic lawn mower, you must invest time and effort in properly winterizing it.
After reading the above straightforward, step-by-step instructions, I’m sure there’s no longer any question or doubt about how to store your automatic lawn mower during the winter properly. But, if you have any questions, kindly leave a comment below.
Matt is the founder of the Little Robot Shop, who has spent much of the last decade hacking home cleaning with various robots and devices to make keeping his home clean as easy as possible. Not an easy task with two young children.
When not working on the Little Robot Shop website or YouTube channel, he works as technical support and product specialist for a fast-growing digital company. He does his best to get his younglings to code, which will be an essential skill in the future.