5 Tips for Cleaning and Maintaining Your Landscaping Tools
Landscape professionals like Landscaping Yorkville depend upon reliable operation from a variety of tools and equipment each day. A breakdown, although it may not stop work completely, can result in extra time at a site and throw off tight schedules during busy times of the year.
Jeffery Rossen of DC-area Rossen Landscape believes in establishing strict replacement schedules and maintenance routines for all tools and equipment. Staying on top of common-sense, basic cleaning and maintenance keeps the crews safe, maximizes work hours and promotes a professional appearance.
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The 2-cycle engines driving landscaping tools like blowers and weed trimmers require an oil/fuel mixture for proper lubrication and operation. Most operators know the risk involved in running these machines on a lean mix, but too often they avoid this folly by using a generous amount of oil in the blend. Rossen says that can be a costly mistake, as an overly rich fuel mix can damage the pistons, significantly reducing the life of the machine.
Rossen stresses the importance of keeping landscaping equipment clean. Operators at his company are required to tidy up and remove debris from all equipment before reloading the truck at each site. The cleaning process provides operators an opportunity to focus their attention on each machine and inspect it for potential problems. Dirt and grime steal lifespan from moving parts, and debris buildup can be ignited by hot equipment, resulting in a costly fire. Save time and effort on paver installation.
Landscape equipment gets heavy use in dusty conditions. Rossen’s company requires air filter inspections once a week during the busy mowing season. Cleaning is as simple as giving them a shot of air from the compressor. Filters that show signs of saturation from oil and fuel or visible tears should be replaced immediately.
During the heavy demands of leaf season, he recommends that the air filters on blowers are cleaned daily and replaced weekly.
The sight of landscape trailers moving through neighborhoods is familiar to most people. Rossen’s crews, however, all operate out of box trucks. This shields expensive mowers and other landscaping tools from rain and road spray, he says. Having equipment locked inside a van is also more secure, leading to a decrease in accidents, Rossen says. Converting from trailer to truck also improves parking, turning and visibility. Can a warranty win you the job?
