Robot Mower Maintenance: What You Actually Have to Do (And What You Don't)

"Low maintenance" is how robot mowers are marketed. But what does that actually mean in practice? Here's the complete honest answer for a Minnesota homeowner with a Segway Navimow — what you actually have to do, how often, and how long it takes.

During the Mowing Season (May–October)

Blade replacement — every 4–8 weeks

This is the main recurring task. Robot mowers use small, lightweight razor-style blades rather than the heavy rotating decks on traditional mowers. These blades are cheap ($25–$35 for a full set of nine) and changing them takes about five minutes.

How often depends on your lawn. Thick, dense Kentucky bluegrass or fine fescue — both common in Minnesota — wears blades faster than thinner grass. Sandy soil that causes the blades to contact the ground occasionally wears them faster too. Check blade sharpness monthly and replace when they show visible wear.

Letting blades run too long reduces cut quality and forces the mower motor to work harder. It's the most common maintenance mistake we see.

Cleaning — every 2–4 weeks

The underside of the mower accumulates grass clippings, soil, and debris. Left uncleaned, this can cause corrosion, interfere with sensors, and reduce performance. Turn the mower over (it stops automatically when lifted), rinse the underside with a garden hose, and wipe down the sensors and camera lens with a dry cloth.

This takes about 10 minutes.

Software updates — as available

The Navimow app will notify you when firmware updates are available. These are downloaded over WiFi and install automatically. You don't need to do anything except keep the mower in range of your home network occasionally.

Sensor check — monthly

Walk the property occasionally and watch the mower operate. Confirm it's covering the full area, returning to dock cleanly, and not repeatedly struggling at specific spots (which can indicate a sensor issue or navigation problem worth addressing before it becomes a larger problem).

At the Start of the Season (May)

Clean the charging contacts on both the mower and dock. Oxidation over winter can prevent clean charging contact. A dry cloth or contact cleaner handles this.

Inspect the antenna (on models with a physical GNSS antenna) for any damage from winter storage. Check cable connections.

Do a full boundary walk. The Navimow remembers your boundary map from last season, but it's worth running a test mow in the first week to confirm coverage is complete and there haven't been any landscape changes (new garden beds, added obstacles) that need to be incorporated into the map.

Replace blades. Even if blades still have some life at the end of the previous season, starting fresh with new blades at season start makes sense. The cost is minimal.

At the End of the Season (October–November)

Clean the mower thoroughly before storage. Remove all grass clippings from the underside, clean sensors, wipe the shell. Debris left over winter can cause corrosion and attract rodents looking for nesting material.

Charge the battery to 60–80%. Storing a lithium battery at full charge or fully depleted degrades it faster. The 60–80% range is optimal for long-term storage.

Store the mower indoors. A garage, basement, or shed works perfectly. It doesn't need climate control — just protection from freeze-thaw cycles and moisture. Do not leave it outside.

Bring in or cover the charging dock. The dock is weatherproof for rain during the mowing season, but sustained exposure to Minnesota winter temperatures and freeze-thaw cycles can damage the electronics over time. Bring it in or use a weatherproof cover.

Replace the blades now if they're worn, so you're ready to go in spring without a supply delay.

What You Don't Have to Do

• No oil changes

• No fuel to manage

• No spark plug replacement

• No air filter cleaning

• No carburetor service

• No belt replacement

• No blade sharpening (you replace them, not sharpen)

The absence of an engine is a major maintenance simplification. Everything that makes a traditional gas mower expensive and time-consuming to maintain simply doesn't exist on a robot mower.

Romow's Maintenance Plan

If any of this sounds like more than you want to manage, that's exactly why Romow offers a $50/month seasonal maintenance plan. We handle blade changes, cleaning, sensor checks, and seasonal startup and winterization. You do nothing except watch the mower run.