Black & Decker LM175 18-Inch 6-1/2 amp ELECTRIC LAWN MOWER REVIEWS

Quick Overview: Ratings/Reviews: (300+ Customer Reviews) Price: $148.99 (FREE Shipping) The Good: It’s inexpensive, light, easy to start, quiet, low maintenance, and good for the environment. The Bad: The cord can be a hassle to deal with, especially if you have to go around trees or landscaping. The Bottom Line: The LM175 is a no-frills economical starter mower for smaller, level lawns.

COMPREHENSIVE LAWN MOWER REVIEWS: THE BLACK & DECKER LM175 ELECTRIC LAWN MOWERS

The Black and Decker LM175 electric lawn mower is a great mower for those looking for a budget mower. At $148.99, it’s extremely affordable. A comparable budget gas-powered mower costs $100 more than the LM175. It offers capable performance for your typical suburban lawn mowing needs. (see also: How to Choose a Lawn Mower.)

When looking at the cost of a lawn mower, you should also look at the maintenance costs. Unlike its gas-powered counterpart, the LM175 is powered by electricity. So, the energy cost (electricity vs. gasoline) is definitely lower. Also, you don’t have to deal with replacing spark plugs, regular tune-ups, and the oil changes required on gas lawn mowers. In other words, low maintenance costs. You just got to keep the blade sharp.

Lightweight & Easy Start

The LM175 is also very light at 36 lbs., so you don’t have to worry about the mower not being a self-propelled lawn mower. At this weight, it’s very maneuverable and you can easily get the mower on or off a truck for transport (in case you get called to mow the lawn for friends or relatives). And because it’s so lightweight, it doesn’t leave tire track marks. Also, unlike older mowers where you have to yank a cord (several times on occasion) to start the mower, you won’t have this problem with the LM175 which has an easy self-start lever. The lever doubles as a safety feature, turning off the mower when you let go of the lever.

Quiet & Environmentally Friendly

The great advantage of electric lawn mowers is that it’s much quieter to operate than the gas-powered models. If you really feel bad about bothering your neighbors when you mow the lawn, then get a push reel mower. Otherwise, an electric lawnmower like the LM175 is a good compromise. Because the Black and Decker LM175 uses electricity instead of gas, it’s a more environmentally-friendly alternative. No pollution and smell of gas fumes here.

Check current pricing on the Black & Decker LM175 at Amazon.com

Corded Electric Lawn Mower

So what’s the bad about the LM175? Well, it’s not so much bad as it is the nature of a corded lawn mower. You have to work with a very long extension cord which can be a pain in the you-know-what. Having owned one myself, I will give you a tip on how best to mow with a corded mower. When mowing, make your starting point closest to the electrical outlet. From there, you snake back and forth, moving further away from the outlet with each pass. If you do this, you won’t have to keep moving the extension cord out of the way.

Please keep in mind that the LM175 does not come with a power cord, so you should go ahead and buy a long extension cord (making sure it’s sufficiently long for your needs) when you buy a non-battery operated electric lawn mower.

Another thing to consider when you have a corded mower is how many trees or landscaping you have to mow around. If you have an open lawn, using the LM175 should be a breeze. But if you have many trees to go around, having to constantly move and re-adjust the cord can drive you crazy.

If you really want an electric lawn mower, but don’t want to bother with the cord, then you can go with a cordless model which starts at about $300. Also check out the Black & Decker CM1936, a Consumer Reports recommended cordless electric lawn mower. You’re doubling the cost, but for some, it’s worth it to not have to mess with a cord constantly. And who wouldn’t want something that’ll make the chore of mowing the yard easier?

Electrical mowers are not as powerful as the gas mowers, so you need to go slow and put the deck on the highest setting over tall or thick grass. If your lawn is really overgrown, you may have a hard time mowing using an electrical mower.

Black & Decker LM175 Lawn Mower Specifications

On the LM175, there’s a side discharge for lawn clippings. The Black & Decker Side Bag Assembly is optional (sold separately), but it’s on the smaller side so you’re probably better off just not using the attachment. Assembly is easy and quick, 15 minutes or so, and no tools are needed! The LM175 has an 18″ cutting deck and is powered by a high-efficiency, 6.5 amp Black & Decker motor. It also has a convenient one-touch height adjustment (from 1 to 3-1/2 inches). The deck comes with a lifetime warranty while the mower itself has a 2-year warranty.

The Black & Decker LM175 is a good starter electric mower that I’d recommend to someone on a tight budget. Don’t let the price fool you. It gets the job done adequately provided you have a typical level lawn that’s not overgrown and full of obstacles.

Buy the Black & Decker LM175 at Amazon.com and get FREE SHIPPING!

Remember to check out our other tips and advice on lawn care plus other electric lawn mower reviews!

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