Mow down pollution & lawnmower problems

Maintaining Your Lawnmower
Gas powered lawnmowers contribute to regional smog problems by emitting pollutants such as volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. These emissions affect the health of the user as well as those in the community by increasing pollutants that impact on a range of respiratory illnesses including asthma. For this reason, many homeowners are opting to replace their lawn mowers with electric, battery, or non-motorized push reel mowers. You may be interested to calculate the emissions produced from your current lawnmower; this can be easily done by logging onto Environment Canada's - Environmental Technology Centre website at:
http://www.etc-cte.ec.gc.ca/databases/lawnmoweremissions/default.aspx

If replacing your gas-powered lawnmower with a "cleaner" alternative is not an option there are steps that you can take to ensure that your mower is at least operating to its best efficiency.

Proper maintenance will keep your lawnmower operating better and longer.

• Fresh Gas: Fresh gas (87 or higher octane rated) is critical to an engine's performance. To fill the mower's tank, use a clean funnel to draw gasoline from a gas can. Plastic gas cans are a good choice because they won't rust. Gas that is older than 30 days may affect engine performance. Moisture build-up and octane loss can lead to gum deposits in the engine's fuel lines and carburetor, which can lead to poor engine performance.
   
• Engine Oil: Drain engine oil and replace it with clean engine oil after every 50 hours of operation. Check the lubrication section of your mower's owner's manual for specific oil recommendations.
   
• Gasoline: Be sure to use the gasoline and oil type that is recommended for your specific two or four-cycle mower.
   
• Spark Plug: Replace the spark plug after every 100 hours of operation. Spark plug type and gap can be found in the product specifications section of the owner's manual.
   
• Air Filter: If the mower's air filter is dirty, the engine may not run properly and may be damaged. Service the air filter after every 25 hours of operation or every season, whichever comes first. Remove the air filter cartridge and gently tap it on a flat surface. If the filter is very dirty, replace it with a new one.
   
• Mower Deck: Disconnect the spark wire from the spark plug and position it where it cannot come in contact with the spark plug. Clean the mower housing thoroughly with soap and water, removing all dirt, grease and grass. For heavy grass build-up under the mower's deck, use a scraper.
   
• Blade Care: For best results, lawn mower blades must be kept sharp. Lawn mower blades can be sharpened with a file or on a grinder wheel. Never attempt to sharpen the blade while it is on the mower. Special care should be taken to keep the blade balanced. An unbalanced blade will leave an uneven cut on the lawn and can eventually cause damage to the lawn mower or the engine. This is a good time to also check the blade for cracks or physical damage.
   
• Mulching: Mulching is a great option to economically and consistently fertilize the lawn. With mulching mowers, small particles of grass are returned to the soil to biodegrade and serve as fertilizer. When mulching, cut only one-third of the grass's height
   
• Engine: Clean dirt and debris from the engine air screen and the engine's cylinder fins.