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If you have a shed in your yard, you may be wondering if that is a convenient and safe location to store your electric lawn mower.
You can store an electric lawn mower in a shed if the shed is well-insulated and in good condition. The insulation is important because the battery and motor of an electric lawn mower are sensitive to exposure to moisture or cold. Damage to the electric cables can make the device malfunction.
In this article, I will discuss why your shed might not be the best place to store your electric lawn mower. After that, I will share how to choose the perfect shed to keep your electrical gear dry and protected.
How a Lawn Mower Can Get Damaged in a Shed
Electric lawnmowers are sensitive to cold and condensation, which can be present in a shed that isn’t weatherproof.
Understanding how temperature and moisture can influence the condition of your lawn mower might help you figure out how to protect the device and save yourself a lot of money by doing so.
Moisture
Condensation can get to the motor and battery of a lawn mower through the installed vents that allow air circulation, which should keep both the motor and battery cool. Water getting through those gaps is not too common, but the chance of it happening increases after prolonged exposure to water.
The electrical cords between the battery and motor, which ensure the motor has the power to make the lawn mower function, are insulated with rubber, plastic, or polymer (source).
The insulation might malfunction after extensive exposure to moisture and cause a short circuit when in use. This can result in serious injury from an electric shock and might even cause your lawn mower to catch fire.
It is possible to dry the device out if there’s no permanent damage due to corrosion, avoiding a short circuit and maintaining personal safety. You can do this by leaving the machine in a dry space, allowing it to dry on its own, or using an electrical heater.
If you want to test the condition of the cables, you can use a megohmmeter, which will do an analysis (source).
The Klein Tools Megohmmeter (link to Amazon) is an insulation tester available online, with a maximum test voltage of 1000V. The test tool has a built-in stand and warning alarm.
Damaged cables can be replaced, but that could cost you a lot of money, depending on your lawn mower and the damage. You’re better off preventing any moisture from contacting the electric lawn mower.
See Is It Safe To Store an Electric Lawn Mower Outside?
Cold Temperatures
Prolonged exposure to cold can seriously damage any electrical device, which is also the case for lawnmowers. The materials of the device can freeze and tear open, increasing the possibility of malfunctioning and causing danger to the person handling the machine.
If you don’t want to be subjected to an electric shock or have your expensive lawn mower break down, don’t store it in a place that can’t keep out the extreme cold.
In this article, I mentioned the vents installed by the motor and battery. Those vents can get clogged if the temperature reaches a freezing point and some condensation is already present on said vents.
As they’re assigned to allow air circulation, clogged-up vents can result in the overheating of the lawn mower’s engine (source).
Extreme Heat
This might be the most common cause of damage to your electric device. Extreme heat, if able to reach the inside of your shed, can mess up every part of the lawn mower, including the engine and battery.
Whereas the effect of cold can be fixed by relocating the machine to a warmer environment, deformation and warping caused by scorching temperatures cannot be reversed.
Any slight deformation in or around the motor and battery can make the lawn mower stop working or catch fire, putting you and everyone around you in danger if this goes undetected and spreads out.
Most sheds are made from wood, so a potential fire can spread quickly and become unmanageable. Altogether, avoid the risk by keeping your device stored cool and dry in a controlled environment.
How To Choose a Good-Quality Shed
So, we can conclude that you can store your electric lawn mower in a shed. However, this shed has to live up to certain expectations, like complete weather resistance.
Whatever is going on outside should not be able to make its way into the shed, exposing itself to the machine.
Most often, sheds aren’t water resistant. Even if rain cannot get inside the shed, moisture probably is through different gaps and holes in the walls.
Naturally, both cold and heat can get into the shed if it has holes and cracks. You should be able to keep extreme temperatures out if you want to protect your equipment.
You can buy some high-quality sheds for various price ranges on Amazon.com. You don’t have to spend much money on great outdoor storage.
The GRAVFORCE Metal Storage Shed (link to Amazon) is an excellent option for a great price. It’s weatherproof, has a lockable door, and has a size of 60.82 x 34.64 x 71.25 inches (154.5 cm x 88 cm x 181 cm).
If you already have a shed, try to insulate it as much as possible. You can try to do this yourself or ask a professional. It shouldn’t take much time but will protect all your outdoor gear, shielding it from corrosion and rust.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your electric lawn mower in a well-insulated, dry, and cool shed should be fine. Moisture and extreme temperatures can damage the machine, sometimes even to the point where it malfunctions when in use.
A device malfunction can lead to an electric shock, potentially dangerous to its user. It can also start a fire in the system with the potential to spread fast in a wooden shed or the grass.
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