Strimmer lines make cutting neat lawn edges, mowing the lawn and trimming weeds easier.
However, many users complain about a broken trimmer line, turning a day in the garden into unproductive pauses.
One way to prevent a strimmer line from breaking is to install it correctly. You can consult a manual or watch YouTube video tutorials when winding the trimmer line.
However, there are several other tips to prevent your strimmer line from breaking. Below is everything you need to know to make your strimmer line last longer.
What Causes a Strimmer Line to Break?
Before knowing how to maintain a strimmer line, knowing what causes them to break is important.
Some top reasons for strimmer line breakage include:
- Using poor-quality lines that are old or too thin
- Accidentally hitting hard and sharp objects
- Improper storage of the strimmer line, thus breaking easily
- Brittle lines due to long periods of use
- Incorrectly rolled line on the spool, thus causing breakage
The 5 Different Ways of Maintaining a Strimmer Line to Prevent Breakages
Frequent line breakage can be a frustrating and time-consuming issue for many gardeners.
If you have been dealing with a breaking strimmer line issue, the solutions below will allow you to use your trimmer without having to stop now and then to feed the line.
1. Avoid Hitting Hard and Sharp Objects
Hitting hard or sharp objects is one of the top reasons your strimmer line keeps breaking. These include pavement, walls, rocks, thick stems, metal, and other hard or sharp surfaces.
The problem with these hard surfaces is that your trimmer line can’t cut them. Therefore, once it makes contact, the line bends and slides past, which can lead to breakage after a few hits.
The high speed at which the string hits hard objects can also create intense friction. Therefore, you may also find that your strimmer line melts together, causing it to be weak and more prone to breaking.
Therefore, the best thing you can do to prevent a strimmer line from breaking is to avoid using it in areas with hard surfaces. If you must, ensure you use the trimmer guard to protect your string from hard objects.
2. Use a High-Quality, Tougher Line
If your trimmer line keeps breaking, you may be using a poor-quality string.
For example, if your line is too thin and lightweight, it will break easily, especially if it comes into contact with hard surfaces or even tough plants.
Therefore, the best thing to do is to upgrade to a strimmer line that doesn’t break off easily. Also, you must ensure the new line is thick enough and made from a heavy-duty material.
However, when choosing a new strimmer line, you should be careful not to exceed the maximum thickness of your weed eater.
A line that is too thick will cause feeding issues, and it might even be more prone to breaking.
3. Use the Correct Line Length
A line that is too short can cause the trimmer head to rotate at a higher rate, generating extra friction. This can increase the wear and tear of the line, making it more susceptible to breaking.
On the other hand, if your line is too long, you might accidentally hit hard or sharp objects. Fortunately, most trimmers have a blade that automatically cuts the line to the right size.
Therefore, you only need to check on your trimmer and extend the line if it becomes too short. If you are lucky, your trimmer may also have an automatic line feeding system, which will lengthen the line if it becomes too short.
4. Soak Your Trimmer Line in Water
Soaking a strimmer line in water prevents breakage and increases the string’s lifespan. The water helps to keep the strimmer line from getting brittle, thus making it harder to break.
Soaking your strimmer line in water can also offer several other benefits like:
Increasing the Line’s Density
When the strimmer line absorbs water, it becomes heavier. Therefore, you will have an easier time cutting through tough grass and weeds with a decreased chance of the line breaking.
Lubrication
The water lubricates the strimmer line, reducing the friction generated when it comes into contact with plants or hard surfaces. Therefore, this makes the line less susceptible to breaking.
Removing Dust and Debris
Soaking a trimmer line in water (after use) removes accumulated dust and debris. Consequently, this can increase the durability and lifespan of your line.
Cooling the Strimmer Line
Water will cool your trimmer line when the generated friction becomes too much or if you use the trimmer in hot weather.
The cooling effect can prevent your line from melting or becoming weak and brittle (due to the heat).
5. Install the Strimmer Line Correctly
Proper installation is another top tip to make your strimmer line last longer. For example, winding the line backwards can increase the stress on the pool, leading to more wear and tear.
Another common mistake is winding the sting unevenly, too tight, or too loose on the string trimmer. This can cause the line to become a tangled mess, making it easier to break.
Therefore, you must install the strimmer line properly to extend its lifespan. Most trimmers will come with instructions, for example, arrow direction on the trimmer head indicating the right way to wind a line.
Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.