(NAPSI)—When the colder weather blows in, it’s often time to
put away such outdoor power equipment as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and trimmers,
and get out snow throwers, generators and other small-engine equipment.
Questions To Consider
To help home and business owners prepare for this change, the experts at
the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade
association representing more than 100 power equipment, engine and utility
vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, suggest you ask yourself seven
questions:
1. Do you know how to use your
equipment properly? Review owner’s manuals for equipment.
Refamiliarize yourself with safe handling procedures and required maintenance
needs. If you lost your manual, you can probably find it online.
2. Does any of your equipment need
servicing? Before storing equipment, clean and service it or take it to a
small-engine repair shop. Drain and change engine oil and dispose of old oil
safely. Service the air filter and do other maintenance activities as
directed by your service manual. Check all equipment coming out of storage
and see what maintenance and repairs are required.
3. Are batteries fully charged?
Remove and fully charge any batteries before storage or to ready your winter
equipment for a sudden, unexpected weather event.
4. Have you drained the fuel tank
in stored equipment? Unused gas left in tanks for months can go stale. It
can even damage your equipment. For equipment you’ll store over the
winter, add fuel stabilizer to the gas tank, then run the equipment to
distribute it. Turn the engine off, let the machine cool, then restart and
run until the gas tank is empty.
5. Is equipment properly sheltered
from rough weather? Store warm weather equipment in a clean and dry place
such as a garage, barn or shed. Cold weather equipment should also be kept
away from the elements but available for use. Always keep outdoor power
equipment out of the reach of children.
6. Is your yard tidy and free of
debris? Clear the paths regularly used. Make space in your garage or
basement before the weather changes so you have room to store larger items,
such as patio furniture, umbrellas and toys.
7. Have you found and prepared your
gas can? Always know the appropriate fuel needed. Most outdoor power
equipment was designed, built and warranted to run on 10 percent or less
ethanol fuel. Buy the type of fuel recommended by your equipment manufacturer.
Fuel goes stale and will need to be replaced if you have not used it within
30 days. Use a fuel stabilizer if recommended by your manufacturer.
It’s important to protect your power by using the correct fuel.
“Good maintenance means equipment will be in great shape when you
want to tackle landscaping projects again,” explained Kris Kiser,
president and CEO of OPEI. “Now is also the time for snow thrower and
generator maintenance and reviewing safe handling procedures.”
Learn More
Get more information on safe fueling for outdoor power equipment at www.LookBeforeYouPump.com and
find additional safety tips at www.OPEI.org.
““Good maintenance means
equipment will be in great shape when you want to tackle landscaping projects
again,” said Kris Kiser, president, CEO of OPEI. http://bit.ly/2AJ3L5k”
On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)