Lawn equipment is the lifeblood of all professional landscaping companies, but how can you decide when it’s time for a replacement? Of course, you want to get the highest return on investment, but pushing the equipment too far can be counterproductive.
So how can you decide if a repair or replacement is more cost-effective? Continue reading below to learn some simple tips to keep in mind when determining when to replace lawn care equipment.
Consider Basic Engine Life
Running a lawnmower or other lawn care equipment well past its basic engine life could end up costing in the long run. An engine that doesn’t run often can’t be traded in. Plus, equipment may not work as well if you extend its life too long.
Many landscapers try to get an extra year or two out of their lawn care equipment before replacing it. Sometimes, this is okay. If the equipment is well taken care of and still running well, it may be possible to extend its life by a year or two.
Generally, however, the engine’s horsepower will tell you the basic life of the engine. If a lawnmower has 23 horsepower, you’d multiply 23 by 100 to get your engine life in hours. That means you’d get 2,300 hours of work from the engine.
Not sure how many hours the engine has in it? If you’re a landscaping professional, you can estimate engine hours by dividing the total number by your average workweek.
If you work an average of 50 hours each week during the summer months, you’ll put about 200 engine hours on the mower every month. This number, of course, is if the mower is used consistently.
Think About Trade-Ins
It may be a good idea to upgrade your lawn care equipment while it’s still working. If it breaks, it may not be eligible for trade-ins. If it’s eligible, broken equipment won’t fetch a trade-in value anywhere near what working equipment would.
If your lawn equipment has a warranty, you can choose to replace it so long as it’s covered. You might have a warranty through the equipment’s manufacturing or, occasionally, through the place you purchased it.
Sometimes It’s Better to Replace Versus Repair
No matter how high-quality a piece of lawn equipment is, it’ll eventually break. While it’s better to trade something in while it’s working, that isn’t always possible.
Knowing when to replace an item instead of repair boils down to age and cost. If your equipment has already gone past its basic engine life, it makes more sense to replace it. If the repair will cost half as much (or more) as a replacement will, it’s more cost-efficient to simply replace it.
Now You Know When to Replace Lawn Care Equipment
Lawn professionals often wonder when to replace lawn care equipment. The information above should help with this essential dilemma.
Do you have more questions? Check out our other blog posts. You’ll find a wealth of information on related topics to help you delve further into the subject.
