Simple Guide to Outdoor Tool Maintenance | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House host Kevin O’Connor and landscape contractor Jenn Nawada discuss outdoor tool maintenance with a landscaping pro. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Host Kevin O'Connor meets back at the shop with landscape contractor Jenn Nawada and her guest, fellow landscaper Lee Gilliam. Lee shows Kevin and Jenn some of the tools landscapers use most often, from pruners to lawnmowers. After that, Lee shows Kevin and Jenn how to maintain those tools so they work well and provide the best results. Outdoor tools need love too. Host Kevin O’Connor and landscape contractor Jenn Nawada discuss outdoor tool maintenance with fellow landscape professional Lee Gilliam. Lee teaches them about some of the most common tools landscapers use, as well as how to maintain some of the larger power tools. Where to find it? Jenn introduces landscape contractor Lee Gilliam, and together they discuss different landscape tools and how to maintain them for Spring. Lee explains the main differences between gas-powered and electric-powered tools. Gas powered tools: Are usually capable of working at a higher capacity for longer periods of time. Better for larger properties require more maintenance to ensure the combustion engine performs at a high level, which includes changing the oil, checking spark plugs, changing the filters,..etc. Electric powered tools: Usually require little maintenance have less capacity and require frequent battery recharging. Better fit for properties 1 acre or less. For electric lawn mowers, the biggest maintenance includes sharpening the mower blades. To do this, Lee will: 1. Flip the machine on its side. 2. Remove the fastener that holds the blades in place using a screwdriver. 3. While wearing gloves (to avoid cutting himself), Lee will remove the blades 4. Using a file, run the blade in the same direction until the blade is sharp again 5. Slide the blades back into position and secure them to the lawnmower using the screwdriver For string trimmer maintenance (Lee will use a gas powered string trimmer in this demonstration): String trimmer tune up kits can be found in most home centers and they provide all the materials necessary for most basic maintenance on the string trimmer. The most typical maintenance on a string trimmer includes: • Changing the gas and air filters • Restringing the trimmer–remove the head on the trimmer by twisting it counter-clockwise. Pull the wire out until it’s at the right length. If there’s tension or nothing comes out, it will need a new line. For blower maintenance (Lee will show a gas powered and electric powered blower for this demonstration): • It’s less of a maintenance thing, but Lee recommends checking the decibel rating of your blower. Many towns are starting to ban blowers based on decibel levels, sometimes as low as 65 decibels. If yours is too loud, it may need to be replaced. Expert assistance provided by Lee Gilliam and Sons Landscaping [http://bit.ly/3ZPmaHY]. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/streaming-app About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG Simple Guide to Outdoor Tool Maintenance | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/