Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

The Storing of a Lawn Mower in the Basement and Fumes

...
George Doyle/Stockbyte/Getty Images

Storing a lawn mower in the basement with gas in its tank can be potentially dangerous. While a mower's fuel tank should limit the amount of fumes and fuel that leaks when the mower is stored, even a small amount of gasoline liquid can produce enough fumes to make an enclosed space like a basement uncomfortable to endure. Additionally, gas fumes can potentially be hazardous to your health and, in sufficient quantity, can be explosive.

Over Winter

If you intend to store your lawn mower in your basement over the winter, you may be able to sufficiently empty the gas tank so as to limit the amount of odor you bring into your basement. Empty the gas tank as best you can manually, using a gas siphon. Following that, run the mower until it runs out of fuel, to burn off any gasoline that may be in the carburetor or fuel lines. Leave the mower outside with the gas cap off for an afternoon to allow the tank to fully air out.

Add Very Little Gas

If you must experiment with storing your lawn mower in the basement, you will want to limit the amount of gasoline you put in the mower's tank for each usage. Start by adding a very small amount, less than half of a cup. For future uses, figure out how much gasoline it takes to mow your lawn, and add slightly less than that amount. Every time you mow your lawn, before storing the mower in your basement, run it until it stalls out from lack of gas, and then leave it outside with the gas cap off for a few hours. If, once you have the mower in your basement, you smell a gasoline odor, remove the mower immediately and find different accommodations for it.

Ventilate

If your basement has windows that can be kept open for ventilation, use them. While gasoline from a lawn mower is unlikely to pose the risk of an explosion, it can stink up your basement pretty quickly. Keep your basement as well ventilated as possible, and if there are any gas odors detectable in your house, remove the lawn mower immediately.

A Few Words of Caution

Never run your lawn mower in an enclosed space such as a basement. In a very short amount of time, it can produce sufficient carbon monoxide to cause you to lose consciousness. Do not store the container of gasoline for your mower in the basement. Gasoline expands and contracts according to the temperature, and can pop off the built-in vents in gas cans and leak fumes into your basement.

Related Articles

How to Clean a Gas Tank on a Lawn Mower
How to Clean a Gas Tank on a Lawn Mower
How to Get Bad Gas Out of a Push Mower
How to Get Bad Gas Out of a Push Mower
How to Mix Oil & Gas for a Ryobi Gas Trimmer
How to Mix Oil & Gas for a Ryobi Gas Trimmer
How to Mow with a Corded Mower
How to Mow with a Corded Mower
How to Make Your Riding Lawn Mower Quiet
How to Make Your Riding Lawn Mower Quiet
How to Clean a Toro Snowblower Carb
How to Clean a Toro Snowblower Carb
What Causes a Gas Leaf Blower to Keep Stalling?
What Causes a Gas Leaf Blower to Keep Stalling?
How to Get More Speed Out of Hydrostatic Riding Lawn Tractors
How to Get More Speed Out of Hydrostatic Riding Lawn...
How to Figure Ounces of 2 Cycle Oil to Gasoline for Weed Eaters
How to Figure Ounces of 2 Cycle Oil to Gasoline for...
How to Use a Fuel System Cleaner for Lawn Mowers
How to Use a Fuel System Cleaner for Lawn Mowers
How to Dispose of Old Lawn Mowers
How to Dispose of Old Lawn Mowers
Garden Guides
×