Since robotic mowers retail for hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, you’ll want to know that your investment in a robot to mow your lawn has an acceptable lifespan.
Robotic mowers have intricate electronics, wireless networking technology, and considerable engineering, which will require maintenance to get the most service life of the unit.
Robotic mowers have a lifespan of 10 years or more, however many factors will affect the longevity of your mower, and lifespan also varies by model and manufacturer.
In this article, we take a deeper look at how long robotic mowers last and consider 6 key factors that impact how long robotic mowers last.
How long is my robotic lawnmower going to last
If you’ve had awful experiences with mobile phones, or other forms of technology, you might hesitate to spend a lot of money on a new gizmo that may just stop working soon after buying it.
However, robotic mowers are engineered and manufactured specifically to carry out heavy physical work across all kinds of environments and terrain.
These are clearly machines that are designed for work and not minds.
With good quality robotic mowers from reputable manufacturers, you might expect to get approximately ten years of life out of the robotic mower.
The availability of replacement parts and the ability to service technical problems will determine the longevity of the lawnmower.
With care and attention, you will enjoy value for money and reliable and dependable operation from your electric lawn mower for many years to come.
6 Essential factors to consider when determining the longevity of a robotic lawnmower
When purchasing a robotic mower, durability and lifespan are key factors to consider, often above the headline features and specifications.
If your mower breaks down, you would be left high and dry with a useless mower and no warranty or parts readily available.
As a standard mower runs upwards of $800 or more, look for any of these 6 factors as they will affect how long your mower will last you.
1.Warranties for your robotic mower
When contemplating the purchase of a robotics mower a reasonable warranty will provide an added level of security regarding your mower’s quality and longevity.
While it is unlikely, product or component failures do happen and they are expensive with a technical garden device such as a robot mower.
Trusted companies that manufacture robotic mowers typically provide a written warranty where they promise to repair or replace a failed mower within a predetermined time frame with coverage usually coming from the manufacturer or an authorized service center.
If your robotic mower does require repairs in the warranty period, either the manufacturer or a service center will complete the repairs at no cost to you, during the warranty period.
For most mower manufacturers, the standard warranty that comes with a robotic mower lasts a period of between one to two years, and can be increased to three years to five years if you purchase an added warranty extension.
Having a reasonable warranty coverage and reliable customer service, that will help get your warranty repairs or replacement completed quickly, will enhance the enjoyment and longevity of your robotic mower purchase.
2.Battery lifespan of an autonomous mower
The battery is one of the most critical components of a robotic mower and significantly affects its overall longevity. You should look for good-quality lithium-ion batteries that are easy to replace to maximize the working life of your mower.
Most robotic lawnmowers run on lithium-ion battery technology. Lithium-ion technology is extremely reliable for recharging and powering your robotic lawnmower across many charges.
Like all batteries, the quality of the batteries can vary, but most batteries last for about two to three years of use before replacement due to irreversible chemical interactions.
One of the major problems with batteries is the ability to source operational replacements for odd or logistical OEM branded robotic lawnmowers. If you are unable to find a replacement battery, the robotic lawnmower is practically worthless.
3. Availability of replacement parts for a robot mower
Identifying and purchasing timely replacement parts for your mower is a great way to extend the life of a robotic mower.
Because mowers operate more or less continuously, parts will naturally wear out over time. Fortunately, the wear varies by component and typically takes years of use before the mower fails catastrophically due to wear.
Not changing parts in a timely manner can result in decreased overall performance and put additional stress on the motor and other components which can also accelerate wear.
The blades of the mower are one of the key high wear components that need to be replaced in order for the mower to maintain peak performance while mowing.
Robotic mower blades wear down and become dull over time due to they way they cut and the development of corrosive grass juices that develop.
Robotic mower blades typically need replacing once or twice during each grass growing season. Link to Amazon replacements here.
Service professionals can also fix parts like the battery and motor when they fail and preserve the performance of the mower.
4.Servicing your robotic mower
Having your robotic mower serviced professionally is one of the best ways to keep your mower running great for the long haul.
Not only does a proper installation and setup benefit our robot and charging station, but we also need the long-term service support and eventual replacement parts.
The experts doing the work are vetted and certified specialists trained in servicing the leading brands of robotic mowers and, importantly, provide in-warranty repairs.
Plan on annually servicing your robotic mower. A service of a robotic lawnmower consists of some key steps.
5. Dismantling of the mower and a deep clean
Service experts essentially disassemble the mower and remove all the dirt and grass clippings that are attached to the moving parts of the mower so that they can function properly.
Inspecting the robotic mower for damage
The service technician performs a thorough inspection of the robotic lawn mower for wear parts and fault areas in the case of a mower break down.
Checking the waterproofing and seals
The seals and sealing rubbers on the mower will need to be periodically inspected for wear that could allow moisture or dust to enter.
Seals could need to be replaces multiple times in the life of a robotic mower.
Replacement of working components
Experienced service professionals will notice wear on the moving parts of the robotic mower upon inspection. They make replacement of failing parts well before they cause your robotic mower to fail.
Software-based diagnostics
Functional testing is an important part of the service process where software is used to replicate the mower’s actions along with the mower’s response to those requirements.
This allows for the service technician to confirm that they have installed all manufacturer software updates correctly and that all issues that crop up with the software can be diagnosed.
6. Technology may be what ultimately sets the lifespan of your autonomous mower
Mowers depend on advanced software programming and wireless communication to operate. Depending on the mower, you might be able to keep its firmware up to date with either over-the-air updates or downloads from a USB port.
The technology behind robotic mowers continues to advance, and while a mower can be physically in service for a decade, the technology will likely be obsolete in 10 years.
Rounding up
Several factors influence the lifespan of your robotic mower. Plus, whether you take care of and maintain your robotic lawnmower will ultimately impact how long it lasts.
Taking the time to ensure your mower is clean, safe, and kept away from dog shit, and other dangers are just a few things you can do to get the best bang for your buck when purchasing a new robotic mower.