Will a Lawn Mower Break in the Rain? What You Should Know

Lawnmowers are designed to withstand various temperatures and weather patterns. However, leaving a mower outside can lead to rust, corrosion, and few other issues. Protecting it from the rain is often as easy as using covers or tarps, but what if you accidentally left it outside?

A lawn mower will break in the rain if it’s left outside for several months or years. Prolonged exposure to rain, sun, and snow can ruin the engine, spark plugs, blades, deck, and fuel lines. Dry the lawn mower with towels and store it inside. Check the fuel tank to ensure there’s no water in it.

In this post, we’ll discuss what happens if you leave mowing equipment outside, what you can do about it, and the best storage solutions. We’ll also talk about how you can waterproof your lawnmower.

Before you read ahead: Lawnmowers can be protected with covers. Considering looking through the Best Lawnmower Covers to prevent all of the issues you’re about to read about in this article.

What Happens if I Leave My Lawn Mower in the Rain?

If you leave your lawn mower in the rain, it’ll develop rust and the deck will start to corrode. This process can damage and dull the blades, causing them to chop the grass unevenly. Furthermore, it can fill the engine with water and make it unusable.

Here’s what can happen if you leave a lawn mower in the rain for too long:

• The spark plugs can get soaked, preventing them from providing power from the engine and battery. Checking your spark plugs regularly will let you know when it’s time to replace them or if they’re too dirty to use. A wet spark plug won’t work, so they’re an essential part of the process.
• The engine can get filled with rainwater, which ruins the oxygen: fuel ratio in the combustion chamber. The internal combustion process burns oxygen and gasoline. If water enters the engine, it won’t cause the necessary controlled explosions to propel the mower.
• The blades and deck can get covered in rust and break apart. Perhaps the most common issue is when the mower sits in the rain for too long and the deck gets porous. Rust eats away at the metal parts, leaving holes and sharp edges all over the place.
• You can save your lawnmower by starting the ignition for a short time in some cases. According to Hunker, you can start the mower to force the water out of the engine. This method works well if you’ve only left it in the rain for a few days, but it won’t do anything to reverse rusting and corrosion.

Rain can destroy lawnmowers, leaf blowers, weed whackers, and many other kinds of lawn care equipment. It’s best to store them in a dry location. If you want to use your lawnmower in the rain, read the following section first.

Can I Use a Lawn Mower While It’s Raining?

You can’t use a lawn mower while it’s raining because the spark plugs might get soaked and fail to work. Wet grass cuts poorly, tearing the grass blades in patches. It can also make the deck rusty and covered in corrosion that strips the paint away.

Follow the suggestions below if you want to use a mower when it’s raining.

• Ensure the blades are properly sharpened to prevent them from dully cutting the wet grass. This step is important because semi-dull blades won’t cut the grass evenly. Furthermore, it’ll cause massive chunks of wet grass to get caught under the deck.
• Mow the lawn before it starts pouring. You can mow while it’s lightly sprinkling without too many issues, but a heavy rainstorm can be quite problematic. Not only does it cause the problems shown above, but it also puts you in a bad situation for thunder and lightning.
• Always do your best to avoid mowing fungi, animal droppings, and wet clumps of dirt. This debris can make your lawn smell bad, but it’s quite difficult to see when the grass is wet. While you can definitely mow in the rain, it’s important to keep an eye out for the obstacles.

Mowing in the rain isn’t advisable. If you can wait, let the lawn dry and keep your mower rain-free until you’re ready. On that note, try mowing when the sun is at its highest to prevent morning dew from clogging the blades and mower deck.

Are Lawn Mowers Waterproof?

Lawn mowers aren’t waterproof, but many of them have water-resistant decks that pour the rain down the sides. This unique design protects the engine, blades, and spark plugs from excess moisture. However, brands often claim their mowers are waterproof, but none of them are completely protected.

Best Spy claims no lawnmower is waterproof because they don’t have the proper seals to keep water. The design is sloped and ideal for rain resistance, but the water can still find its way into the vents and cracks around the deck and muffler. That being said, water-resistant lawnmowers are much better off in the rain.

Can a Lawn Mower Be Left Outside?

A lawn mower can be left outside as long as you cover it with a tarp, mower cover, or overhang. Yard care equipment shouldn’t be left in direct sunlight or rain since both of them can cause internal and external problems for the paint and engine.

Before you leave your mower outside, keep these issues in mind:

1. Placing a tarp over your lawnmower is an excellent way to protect it from UV rays, snow, and rain. Tarps are easy to strap over a mower, so why not protect your gear? Most tools and machinery shouldn’t be left out in the elements, but something as simple as a tarp can be a huge improvement.
2. You can leave a lawnmower under a carport, gazebo, or canopy tent. Rain can make the engine overheat. This process can make your lawnmower louder than it should be, but it also causes other mechanical problems. Park the mower in a dry spot if you have to leave it outside.
3. Always dry your lawn mowing equipment after it rains. The initial impact typically isn’t much of an issue; It’s the long-term settling of the water that leads to the internal and cosmetic issues. You can use anything from a soft cotton towel to a chamois or microfiber towel.
4. Rain isn’t the only weather that damages your lawnmower. You might’ve caught it a few times in this article, but sunshine can overheat the engine, wear the spark plugs, and dull the paint. Once the paint is stripped, the deck becomes much more susceptible to rust and corrosion.
5. Drain the oil and fuel out of your mower before storing it for a long time. These fluids can coagulate and thicken, causing clogs that take a long time to remove. You might have to replace the filters and lines, so it’s best to just drain the fluids before it gets rainy or if you don’t intend to use the mower for a few months.

Using your mower every couple of weeks will keep the engine rolling and in good condition. Leaving it unused for too long will cause various issues, so it’s best to keep it moving every so often.

Conclusion

Now that you know the potential damage the rain can cause to your lawnmower, you can leave it in a garage, shed, or under a tarp. Protecting your lawn care equipment from the snow and rain is important, but don’t forget to keep it in the sade to prevent UV damage.