With robotic mowers costing hundreds if not thousands of dollars, you want to be sure that your investment in a robot to mow your lawn has decent longevity.
Robotic mowers have complex electronics, wireless networking, and powerful engineering, which need proper maintenance to maximize their service life.
Robotic mowers have a lifespan of a decade or more, but several factors will affect the durability of your mower, and lifespans vary between models and manufacturers.
In this article, we take a closer look at the durability of robotic mowers last and run through 6 important factors to consider when determining how long robotic mowers last.
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How long is my robotic lawnmower going to last
If you have had terrible experiences with mobile phones or other types of technology, you may be reticent to spend a lot of money on a fashionable gadget that could pack up very soon after purchase.
However, manufacturers design and build robotic mowers to undertake arduous physical work in a variety of conditions and across varied terrain.
These are definitely devices that are made for work and not play.
A good-quality robotic mower from a reputable manufacturer should be expected to last about ten years.
The longevity of the lawnmower will be determined by the ability to replace parts that wear out or have technical problems prevented by regular servicing.
With the right care, you’ll get great value for money with a consistent and reliable performance from your robotic lawnmower in the years to come.
6 Essential factors to consider when determining the longevity of a robotic lawnmower
Durability and lifespan are vital considerations for purchasing a robotic lawnmower and may be more important than headline features and specifications.
This is because if your mower fails without a warranty or ready replacement parts, you are left high and dry with a useless machine.
With a decent mower costing upwards of $800 or more, you want to look out for these 6 factors that will affect how long your robotic mower will last.
1.Warranties for your robotic mower
When buying a robotic mower, a decent warrant can provide reassurance of its quality and longevity. Though it is unlikely, product or part failures happen and can be expensive in a technical garden appliance like a robot mower.
Reputable manufacturers of robotic mowers provide a written guarantee, that promises the repair or replacement of a failed mower within a fixed time period.
If a robotic mower needs to be repaired during the warranty period, the manufacturer may do it themselves or direct a customer to an authorized service center to have the repairs undertaken at their cost.
For most mower manufacturers, the default warranty supplied with a robotic mower lasts between one and two years and can be extended to three to five years if you purchase an extension.
Good warranty cover and responsive customer service that gets in-warranty repairs or replacements handled quickly extends the longevity of your robotic mower purchase.
2.Battery lifespan of an autonomous mower
The battery of your robotic mower is a critical part that has a significant impact on the overall lifespan of the machine. Look for quality lithium-ion batteries that can be easily replaced, to maximize the working life of your mower.
Lithium-ion batteries power most robotic lawnmowers. Lithium-ion technology provides reliable recharging and performance over many charging cycles.
Though the quality of these batteries can vary, they usually have a lifespan of two to three years before requiring replacement due to irreversible chemical reactions.
One of the biggest problems with batteries is being able to source functioning replacements for obscure or imported OEM brands of robotic lawnmowers. If you cannot find a suitable battery, the robotic lawnmower is effectively useless.
3. Availability of replacement parts for a robot mower
Being able to locate and install timely replacements for your mower is an excellent way of maximizing the lifespan of a robotic mower.
Because of the continual mechanical work that mowers do, inevitably, some parts will simply wear out. Thankfully, this happens at different rates for different parts and takes many years before the general wear and tear on the mower proves fatal.
If parts are not replaced quickly, they degrade the overall performance of the mower and make the motor and other parts work harder and wear out more quickly.
The blades are high wear components that require regular replacement for the mower to perform at its best.
They become blunt over time because of their cutting action and the corrosive grass juices that cover them. Robotic mower blades may need to be changed once or twice per grass growing season. Link to Amazon replacements here.
Service professionals can also repair parts like the battery and motor when they fail, safeguarding the performance of the mower.
4.Servicing your robotic mower
Professional servicing is one of the most effective ways to keep a robotic mower in good condition long term.
Not only will your robot and charging station benefit from proper installation and set but also, long-term maintenance and timely repairs and replacement of parts.
Specialists in servicing the leading bands of the robotic mowers are trained and approved to undertake in-warranty repairs and long-term servicing.
Service robotic lawnmowers annually. The key steps of a standard service of a robot mower include:
5. Dismantling of the mower and a deep clean
Service professionals literally take the mower apart and clean all the grime and grass cuttings from the moving parts of the mower so they work properly.
Inspecting the robotic mower for damage
The service technician inspects the robotic mower carefully for wear and faults that could lead to failure of the mower.
Checking the waterproofing and seals
Sealing rubbers and rubber bellows on the mower should be inspected for wear that could lead to the ingress of moisture or dust.
Seals may have to be replaced several times during the lifespan of a robotic mower.
Replacement of working components
Experienced service professionals can recognize wear on the moving parts of the robotic mower on inspection. They replace failing parts well before they cause your robotic mower to break down.
Software-based diagnostics
A key part of the service process is the software-based functionality tests that simulate the operations of the mower and how it responds to specific demands.
Service professionals can ensure that all manufacturer software updates are installed correctly, and troubleshoot any software problems that become apparent.
6. Technology may be what ultimately sets the lifespan of your autonomous mower
Mowers are reliant on advanced software algorithms and wireless connectivity to function. Depending on the model of the mower, you can keep its firmware updated by over-the-air updates or downloads via a USB connection.
The technology used in robotic mowers is constantly developing and though a mower can achieve a physical lifespan of a decade; it is likely that the technology will have moved on within that period.
Rounding up
There are multiple factors that affect how long your robotic mower is going to last. In addition, how you maintain and care for your robotic lawnmower will make a massive difference to its longevity.
Keeping your mower clean, secure, and away from dog poop and other hazards are all things that will help you get maximum value for money from a new robotic mower.
