Lawn mower shooting rocks. In Praise of the Push Reel Mower

In Praise of the Push Reel Mower

I recently became a homeowner and along with my first house came another first: my very own little piece of land to tend. And since Kate and I had been living in apartments for all our married life, I needed to buy a mower to take care of our lawn. Like most Americans, I grew up using and being surrounded by gas-powered mowers. The sound of two-stroke engines firing up around the neighborhood was the unofficial soundtrack of my boyhood summers.

But despite my immersion in the cult of Lawn Boy, I’ve always been intrigued by old-fashioned manual/push reel mowers. Maybe my curiosity about them came from flipping through old magazines depicting a happy 1950s suburban dad mowing his small patch of green heaven. Or maybe it was from watching groundskeepers use giant reel mowers to mow the infield at baseball stadiums.

Whatever the reason for my lifelong pull towards the manual reel mower, when I was in the market for my own mower, I decided to look into whether the old-fashioned push reel mower was a viable option for my lawn mowing needs. To my great surprise, I discovered that the reel mower isn’t just a viable option, but is in some instances superior to its gas-powered cousins.

How a Push Reel Mower Works

Your typical power rotary mower has a spinning blade that chops off the top of the grass as it rotates like a helicopter, resulting in torn and shredded turf. Instead of tearing and chopping your grass, a reel mower cuts your grass just like a pair of scissors. It’s easier to understand how this works when you can see the mower, rather than just describing it, so check out the video below for a full explanation:

Oh, and it goes without saying, but unlike a power mower that requires gas or electricity to work, you provide the power to your manual reel mower.

Choosing a Push Reel Mower

Mowing with my Fiskars Push Reel

The basic construction of a reel mower is pretty much the same across brands. They mainly vary in characteristics like:

• Weight. How heavy will it be when you’re pushing it?
• Cutting width. The longer and bigger the mower is, the heavier it will be, but the less passes you’ll have to make back and forth on your lawn, and thus the faster you’ll get the job done.
• Cutting heights. What’s the range of heights you can adjust the blades up and down?
• Direction of grass spray. Does the grass spray behind the mower or out in front? Obviously the latter has an advantage in not covering your feet with clippings.

When I was looking for a reel mower, I did a lot of research and finally brought home the Fiskars Staysharp Max Push Reel Lawn Mower. This thing isn’t your grandpa’s heavy old contraption. The folks at Fiskars have taken the old manual reel mower design and updated it for the 21st century: it’s 60% easier to push than other manual mowers, boasts twice the cutting power of competitors, sprays the grass out in front of you, and the blades only need sharpening every 5-10 years (that’s the “StaySharp” bit). It’s fast, powerful, and maneuverable. Not to mention kind of fun to use. After mowing with my Fiskars for nearly two months, I can confidently say that it’s given me the best mowing experience I’ve ever had. Kate and I even fight over who gets to mow the lawn now (the compromise: I mow the front; she mows the back). I can’t sing the mower’s praises highly enough ( and I don’t have any affiliation with the company whatsoever, by the way–just a very happy customer ).

Look at that beautiful cascade of grass.

If your only experience with a push reel mower was using a heavy clunker in your youth, I highly recommend giving the Fiskars a try. It will change your mind about manual mowers.

The Benefits of a Push Reel Mower

Push reel mowers are better for your grass’ health. This was my biggest motivating factor for purchasing a push reel mower as opposed to a power rotary mower. As mentioned above, power rotary mowers cut the grass by chopping and tearing your grass, while reel mowers cut the grass by snipping it cleanly like a pair of scissors. Torn and shredded grass leaves your lawn vulnerable to disease and insect attacks; grass that is cleanly cut with a reel mower heals faster and is less vulnerable to those maladies.

Push reel mowers make your lawn look nicer. Not only are reel mowers better for your grass’ health, they leave your lawn looking professionally manicured. Again, it all goes back to the scissor-like way the reel mower cuts the grass. Clean and even cuts make for a clean and even-looking lawn. The reel mower’s superior cut is the reason why groundskeepers at professional baseball stadiums and golf courses use large reel mowers pulled by tractors. The reel cut makes the grass look purty.

Push reel mowers are quiet. One of the things I hated the most about the old gas-powered Lawn Boy of my youth was the noise. First, it’s just grating to have to listen to a loud and obnoxious two-stroke engine for extended periods of time. Second, because the thing was so stinking loud, I couldn’t mow the grass too early or too late in the evening, lest I disturb the neighbors. That’s not a problem if you live in, say, Vermont, where summer days are pleasantly warm and idyllic (if it’s not raining). When you live in hot and humid Oklahoma, however, mowing your yard during the day with the sun beating down on you is downright miserable.

The push reel mower solves both of those noise-related problems. The only sound it makes is a satisfyingly quiet “snip-snip-snip” as the mower cuts the grass. I love hearing that sound. It’s actually rather soothing. And because my manual reel mower is so darn quiet, I can mow my lawn early in the morning without waking up the neighbors. Goodbye 107-degrees-with-a-heat-index-of-a-115 lawn mowing sessions!

Push reel mowers don’t emit pollution. Don’t let the smallness of your power lawn mower engine deceive you. That sucker spits out a crap load of air pollution. If you let a typical gas-powered lawn mower run for an hour, it will produce as much air pollution as a sedan running for two hundred miles. Jeez-um!

The amount of pollution a push reel mower produces? Zilch. Unless of course you count the relaxing farts you rip as you cut the grass.

If you’re an environmentally-conscious guy, the choice is clear between power and manual. You gotta go manual.

Push reel mowers are hassle-free. Push reel mowers are simple machines. You push it and blades spin around and cut your grass. That’s it. No pulling starter cords or priming the engine before you can mow. Just start walking and–bam!–you’re cutting the grass. Also, you’ll never have to buy gas, oil, or spark plugs ever again. About the only maintenance you’ll have with your manual reel mower is blade sharpening, and some folks think that’s more of an enjoyable, mind-settling task than a chore. And again, with the Fiskars, you’ll only have to sharpen the blades every half decade or so.

Push reel mowers are cheaper. Even a “top-of-the-line” reel mower like the Fiskars costs less than most power mowers. And if you get one of the smaller, classic models, they can run you less than 100. Plus, there are no maintenance costs. With gas as high as they are, why waste a single drop tooling around your backyard?

Push reel mowers exercise your body. There’s no autodrive on a push reel mower. These bad boys are man-powered. The Fiskars is particularly heavy for a reel mower (52 lbs), but is designed in a way that makes it easier to push, and it gives me a nice bout of exercise; hard enough to work up a satisfying sweat, but not so hard it leaves me feeling exhausted. It’s kind of like pushing a Prowler Sled around your yard, except for that when you’re done, you’re in better shape and your lawn has been mowed.

Push reel mowers are safer than power mowers. In a careless moment a power mower can turn into a rolling death trap, or at least an appendage mauler. than 75,000 Americans, 10,000 of which are children, are injured in lawn mowing accidents annually, and, get this, 75 people die from lawn mowing accidents every year. Mowing over a grass-hidden rock can turn it into a projectile capable of traveling 200 mph and taking out someone’s eye, and the power mower’s fast-whirling blades have eaten up children’s toes and hands. And even if your power mower isn’t running, you’re still at risk for an accident. I burnt my hand on a hot lawn mower engine as a boy and still have the scar to prove it.

While some dangers still exist when using a reel mower, they’re much, much safer than power mowers. Unless I ran the thing right over someone Tom and Jerry-style, there’s little risk of it chewing up a limb. If you run over a rock, instead of shooting it out like a bullet, your mower just jams. Also, no hot engines to burn yourself on.

Push reel mowers make mowing a pleasure. As a young man, I saw lawn mowing as a chore that you had to do every week. I didn’t look forward to it. I just did it because I had to. Since I’ve started mowing with my Fiskars push reel mower, mowing the grass has turned from a chore into a pleasure. I actually look forward to lawn mowing day. Really! I love pushing it in the cool of the early morning as birds chirp at the day’s start. I love listening to the quiet “snip-snip-snip” of grass cutting. I love the physicality of it–how it feels a little like pushing a plow. I love watching tiny blades of cut grass spit out in front of my mower in a green cascade. Most of all, I love the satisfying feeling I get as I look over my cleanly cut lawn.

Is a Push Reel Mower Right For You?

In Gran Torino, Korean War vet Walt Kowalski calms his mind before confronting a violent gang by mowing his yard with a manual reel mower. Manly.

Now before you head to the home improvement store to pick up a push reel mower, you need to know that it’s not for everybody. Sometimes power or riding mowers are actually better, depending on a variety of factors. Below I highlight a few of these factors you should consider before switching to a push reel mower.

Your yard is a half-acre or smaller. Manual reel mowers are suited for small to medium-sized yards. Most experts agree that if you have to mow more than 8,000 square feet, you’re better off using a power push or riding mower. Although I will say that my yard is on the large end of a medium-sized yard, and it only takes me 45 minutes to mow with my manual mower. And if your yard is the size of most yards in suburban developments, there really isn’t any reason you shouldn’t use a push reel mower.

You can’t bag clippings. If you’re one of those folks who prefer to bag your clippings, then a push reel mower probably isn’t for you. While some push reel mowers have a basket that will catch your clippings, they don’t work very well, and many don’t offer any clipping catcher at all.

However, if you’re a devoted-bagger, you might reconsider your stance. Most lawn care experts agree that you shouldn’t bag your clippings and should just leave them in your grass. Grass clippings are fertilizer for your lawn. They provide the same beneficial nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium nutrients that are in commercial fertilizers, except they’re free.

Not great for excessively bumpy and overgrown yards. I’ve noticed that on areas of my lawn that have a lot of bumps, the reel mower doesn’t do a good job of cutting, mainly because the wheels can’t get good traction to move the blade. I’ll usually have to come back and trim that with my weed-wacker. It’s not a problem because there’s only one part in my lawn that gives me trouble.

Also, push reel mowers work best on yards that are already well-maintained. They don’t cut really long grass too well, so if you always let your grass get pretty long before you cut it, you’re better off using a power mower.

What sort of grass do you have? Manual reel mowers work better on some types of grass than others. Most reel mowers have a hard time handling extra thick grasses like Zoysia, St. Augustine, and Bermuda. Never fear. If you have a lawn that’s made completely of one of these grasses, you’re not necessarily relegated to just gas-powered mowers. Heavier, more powerful manual reel mowers like the Fiskars don’t have a problem with these types of grasses. Adjusting the height of the reel mower’s blades can also prevent the mower from getting bogged down in thick grass.

Shave Like Your Grandpa, Mow Like Your Grandpa

After a couple of months of using my push reel mower, I really don’t know why the manual mower isn’t more popular or why most folks get the gas-powered variety. It seems quite analogous to shaving. There are a few things where the classic turns out to do just as good a job (sometimes an even better one), and provides a more enjoyable and satisfying experience to boot. The safety razor is one of those things. And so is the push reel mower. Give it a try!

Lawn Mowing Tricks No One Ever Told You

Mowing your lawn seems like a pretty straightforward task, but are you unintentionally making the chore harder than it needs to be? Our lawn care experts have some lawn mowing tips that will make mowing your lawn easier and help your lawn grow healthier too!

How to Choose the Right Mower

This lawn mowing tip should not be underestimated. Having the right equipment makes any job easier, especially when it comes to mowing your lawn. Using the right mower will make cutting the grass easier and more manageable, and you won’t harm the grass in the process. There are many different types of mowers to consider, so choose one that best suits your needs.

Here are some of the different types of lawn mowers to consider:

• Riding Mower: If you have a large area to mow — more than a ¼ acre of grass — consider investing in a rider mower.
• Walk Behind Front-wheel Drive Mower: This mower is ideal for areas that have level ground because it allows you to pivot in and out of corners easily.
• Walk Behind Rear-wheel Drive Mower: An ideal option for lawns that requires uphill or angled mowing.
• Walk Behind All-wheel Drive Mower: This mower is ideal for a wide range of surfaces, including rough ground.

As mentioned, choosing the right mower for your lawn can make all the difference when it comes to cutting it efficiently. Mowing a large area with a push mower or trying to mow sloped areas of your property with a mower that’s not built for the job makes it a lot tougher. And when mowing becomes a chore, you probably won’t do it as often, which can affect the health of your lawn.

In addition to choosing the right equipment, there are other things that will make your mowing job easier, and keep your lawn healthy.

Mow at the Right Time

This may seem obvious, but the best time of day to mow is when it’s cool outside, usually morning or early evening. Mowing when it’s cool helps keep moisture in the roots where it’s needed. It also reduces the risk of heat exhaustion.

Mowing in the evening is preferable to the morning because the grass gets additional hours of darkness to heal before the sun comes up. The grass also tends to be dewy or wet,especially if it was watered overnight. As a general rule, you shouldn’t mow when the grass is wet for your own safety and the health of your grass. Cutting grass when it’s wet may leave piles of grass on your lawn that could eventually kill that area of grass. In addition, if the grass is too wet, it may clog your mower and result in a less precise cut. Finally, if you do cut your grass in the early evening, make sure you leave yourself enough time to complete the job so you’re not mowing in the dark.

It’s easy to cut the grass on a set weekly schedule but keep in mind that hot, dry weather slows the growth of cool-season grass. In these conditions, you’ll be happy to hear you can mow less frequently without harming the grass.

Set the Blade Height Properly

One of the most essential tips for mowing lawns is setting the mower’s blade to the right height. Setting your mower to the appropriate height depends on your grass type and the season. For most mowers, adjusting the height is a matter of raising or lowering the wheels. Other mowers have a lever that you can push and release to adjust the height. When adjusting the height of your mower, make sure to place the lawn mower on a flat surface, and never adjust the blade height while the engine is running. For warm-season grasses raise the height of your mower in the fall to avoid cutting the grass too short. Adjust the blade height of your mower in the summer for cool-season grasses. For most grasses, cutting at a height of 3 to 3.5 inches will prevent browning, dehydration, and keep your cool-season grass healthy during the hotter months.

Sharpen Your Mower Blade

At first, you may think this lawn mower tip simply lengthens your to-do list, but it will actually save you time in the long run. A sharp mower blade makes cutting more efficient and prevents you from having to make multiple passes over the same section of grass. This quick investment of your time at the start of summer can make mowing the lawn easier all season long.

Use Different Mowing Patterns

It’s easy to fall into the habit of mowing along the same route, but since grass tends to lean in the direction you mow, you’ll encourage more upward growth and it will help you avoid falling into a rut, literally. So, switch up the way you mow each time with different mowing patterns and enjoy the change of pace.

Remove Any Debris

The last thing you or your lawn mower needs is a rock, stick, or baseball dulling its freshly sharpened blades. To prevent frustration and potential injury, clear these items from the grass before you start mowing. A quick survey of the area before you begin mowing is time well spent, as it can help you avoid a damaged mower and downtime.

Don’t Bag the Clippings

While leaving grass clippings behind may look a little messy, these clippings are beneficial to your lawn. This organic fertilizing technique returns nitrogen and other valuable nutrients to the soil. Make sure you direct grass clippings onto areas you’ve already mowed as a free way to promote a healthier lawn.

Water Properly

How much and how often you water your lawn will help keep it looking great and healthy throughout the year. If the soil feels dry and the grass looks dehydrated, water your lawn immediately after mowing it. Watering dry grass after cutting it helps it bounce back quicker. However, if your lawn is hydrated and healthy looking, continue watering it on the same schedule. If your area has received a lot of rain, allow the wet soil to dry to a depth of about one or two inches before watering again. It’s important to remember that a lawn can receive too much water. Overwatering your lawn makes it more susceptible to fungal or bacterial infections, which could eventually kill your entire lawn.

Don’t Scalp Your Lawn

While cutting your lawn regularly is important to maintain its good health, you don’t want to cut it too short or too often. Scalping or mowing your grass too short can weaken it, create brown spots, and potentially cause it to die. Cutting your lawn too low limits the nutrient supply your grass needs and makes it more vulnerable to weeds, pests, and infections. Remember our mowing tip about your lawn mower blade? Keeping the blade on your mower sharp will result in a cleaner, more precise cut. A dull blade is a significant contributor to scalping because it pulls the blade up as it cuts rather than cutting it clean.

Maintain Your Mower

Keeping your lawn mower in top working condition is one of the most important lawn mower tips. Performing regular maintenance will ensure it’s ready to do a great job whenever you need it. It’s good practice to perform mower maintenance before each growing season and to check your mower periodically throughout the season.

Here’s a maintenance checklist that will help you keep your lawn mower working its best year-round:

• Replace the lawn mower oil (always check it prior to the first cut of the season).
• Treat the fuel with a fluid stabilizer (gas can go stale in less than 30 days).
• Change the spark plug every 2 years.
• Clean or replace the air filter once a year (more if your mower is exposed to a lot of dust and debris).
• Sharpen the blades before each season and throughout the year, depending on usage.
• Clean your mower blades after every use. Give your lawn mower a thorough cleaning about twice a year.

Have A Perfect Lawn All Year Round

As you can see from these lawn mowing tips, there is a lot that goes into maintaining a great looking, healthy lawn. If you have limited time or would rather spend it doing something else, there is another way to have a beautiful, healthy lawn all year round — The Grounds Guys! Our team of experienced pros have all the equipment and expertise needed to ensure your lawn stays healthy and looks its absolute best throughout the year. To get started, give us a call or find The Grounds Guys® location nearest you. We’re happy to answer your questions, provide a free quote, or explain our extensive range of lawn maintenance services.

As a proud member of the Neighborly community of home service brands, all our work is backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise™. This ensures the quality of work and guarantees your satisfaction.

Related Content:

So which is best mulching vs bagging vs side discharge?

It’s no secret, there are many ways to handle lawn clippings.

And, with all choices, there are pros and cons for each method.

But don’t worry, we made things simple with this guide.

Let’s take a look!

What Do The Pros Say?

We surveyed 880 of GreenPal’s lawn care pros to see which grass clipping management method that they preferred.

Of the 880 Respondents:

• 620 said they preferred to mulch the clippings.
• 180 said they preferred to use side discharge.
• 80 said they preferred to bag them.

According to our survey 70% of lawn care professionals prefer to use a mulching kit.

However, it is important to note: One big reason more lawn care professionals do not use a bagging system instead, is that many clients are simply unwilling to pay more for the time involved.

However there is much more to the story!

Method #1- Bag Your Clippings

The first method we will mention is the second most common method for handling grass clippings among homeowners. Use a bagging attachment on your lawn mower.

Look, bagging lawn clippings is simple.

Install a bagging system on your mower, and all you need to do is find a place to dump the clippings.

importantly, there are huge benefits to bagging your grass clippings including; the ability to cut grass in nearly all conditions, and best of all it can remove weed seeds from the lawn.

If you do bag your grass compost your clippings!

• Can help reduce weeds by removing seed heads from the lawn.
• Provides the most professional appearance.
• Works even when the lawn is wet.
• Remove all debris from the lawn such as grass clippings and leaves.
• Less likely to throw a rock or other object which can cause damage.
• Takes longer due to having to dispose of the grass clippings throughout the mowing process.
• You need to have a place for dumping grass clippings.
• Removes free nutrients from the lawn.
• Requires a lawn mower with high enough HP to cut effectively.

Bagging in a Nutshell

Hands down, bagging grass clippings is the all around best method for most homeowners, especially if your lawn is full of weeds or not that well established.

But that is still not the whole story.

Method #2- Use the Side Discharge

Perhaps the most popular among homeowners is using the side discharge.

For many homeowners the side discharge works just fine, and since it is the default for most mowers, most simply use this method.

Best of all, cutting tall grass is not a problem.

Using the side discharge is easily the fastest method to use.

• Mowing tall or wet grass is best done with a side discharge.
• Offers a good quality cut.
• Fastest mowing speed.
• Throws clippings everywhere.
• Less powerful mowers can leave clumps of grass in the lawn which can leave brown spots.
• Can throw seeds and grass into flower beds.
• Anything that gets under the mower deck can be shot into cars, homes or people.

Side Discharge in a Nutshell

Side discharge is good overall, and provides a fast, quality cut. IF you mow very regularly.

However, there are some significant downsides to using a side discharge system, including throwing grass and other debris everywhere.

But what about mulching?

Method #3- Mulch the Grass

Most people don’t know this, but there is a 3rd lawn mowing option, and that is mulching the grass.

Get this, this type of mulching has nothing to do with the mulch you use in a garden bed.

Instead, mulching grass involves a closed mower deck and mulching blade.

Rather than discharging grass. Mulching mowers chop up the grass, and even leaves, into tiny pieces which quickly break down into the lawn.

Now, there are some downsides to mulching the grass. The biggest problem is that tall grass can be difficult to cut.

Additionally, low HP mower may not have the power required to mulch the grass properly.

• Little or no visible grass clippings.
• Keeps nutrients in the lawn.
• Non-stop mowing.
• Can mulch fall leaves into the lawn.
• Less likely to throw a rock or other object which can cause damage.
• Not ideal for wet or tall grass.
• May add to thatch build up.
• May encourage disease in the lawn.

Mulching in a Nutshell

Mulching is a great all around option for homeowners that cut their lawn regularly.

Not only does mulching keep nutrients in the lawn, mulching also reduces the risk of throwing a rock or other object into a car, home or person.

Bottom Line on Side Discharge vs Bagging vs Mulching

The way you should handle your lawn care clippings greatly depends on your individual goals and lawn.

Using this infographic on how to handle lawn clippings can help you decide which grass clipping method is best for you.

Best of all, if you don’t feel like taking the time to figure it all out, reach out to the pros at GreenPal, and they will handle it for you!

Hi, I’m Gene Caballero and I’m the co-founder of GreenPal. At GreenPal, we’re helping hundreds of thousands of Americans solve one of the trickiest problems: a reliable, fast, and affordable way to get lawncare taken care of. On behalf of GreenPal, I’ve been featured in the Indianapolis Star. the Sacramento Bee. Entrepreneur. Inc.com. and dozens more. Please feel free to say hi on or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Who’s Responsible if Your Neighbor’s Lawnmower Kicks Up a Rock and Shatters Your Windshield?

Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.

As a homeowner, it’s one thing to consider the risks your own property might present to others, but when it comes to the threats your neighbors can present to you, that’s another story. So what happens if, while your neighbor’s mowing, their lawnmower kicks up a rock that shatters your car’s windshield? Who’s responsible for this mess, anyway?

Luckily independent insurance agents are experienced in just these kinds of scenarios. They’ve seen and heard it all, so they know exactly what protection is required for many different catastrophes. Here’s how they’d help get you covered against a neighbor’s lawnmower kicking up a rock that shatters your car’s windshield.

Who’s Responsible if My Neighbor’s Lawnmower Kicks Up a Rock that Shatters My Windshield?

While technically it would be your neighbor’s fault for the incident, it actually most likely wouldn’t be their insurance policy that responded. Though your neighbor certainly could file a claim through their own homeowners insurance, an incident like this one will usually come back to your own policy. In order to avoid some unnecessary back and forth, you’d probably want to just go ahead and file a claim through your own homeowners insurance.

Would Car Insurance or Home Insurance Cover a Shattered Windshield?

To get technical again, both could probably cover it. However, in order for your auto insurance to cover it, you’d need to have purchased comprehensive or “other than collision” coverage. If you didn’t add this to your auto policy, you’d need to go through your homeowners insurance. Otherwise, to decide which insurance to go through, you’d want to check your deductibles on both to see which would cover more of the loss, and leave you paying less out of

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?

Homeowners insurance is designed to cover many hazards to the home and its surroundings, not just the building itself. Though you may end up needing to add more types of coverage to your policy, standard homeowners insurance provides the following protections:

• Structural damage: Covers the dwelling of the home, or the building itself. Damage to or destruction of the dwelling by covered perils such as certain natural disasters and more is reimbursed by this coverage. Detached structures like sheds are often covered, too.
• Personal property damage: Covers personal belongings like furniture, clothing, electronics, and more from perils such as fire or theft. Items stored within the home as well as external storage units are covered, though property stored off-premises often has a much lower coverage limit. Coverage would also apply to certain incidents affecting your vehicles in the driveway or garage.
• Additional living expenses: In the event your home gets badly damaged or destroyed and you’re forced to live elsewhere while awaiting repairs, this coverage provides reimbursement for things like hotel rooms, eating out, extra gas mileage, and more. Additional living expenses makes up the difference in spending to maintain your normal lifestyle while living away from the home.
• Liability: Covers legal expenses such as attorney and court fees in the event you are sued for bodily injury or property damage to a third party. If you’re ordered to pay any settlements from losing the case, they’re covered, too.

Your independent insurance agent can help you get set up with all the homeowners insurance you need to protect your home and everything in/around it.

What Does Comprehensive Car Insurance Cover?

An important add-on option to standard auto insurance policies is comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage reimburses drivers for hazards considered “other than collision,” including:

• Glass breakage: If your windshield or Windows are cracked, chipped, or shattered, such as by a rock kicked up by your neighbor’s lawnmower.
• Theft and vandalism: If your car is stolen or vandalized by keying, tagging, etc.
• Riots: If your vehicle is damaged due to shenanigans taking place during a riot.
• Collision with animals: Including deer and other large animals that could cause vehicular damage. This is the only type of collision not covered under the collision section of standard auto insurance policies.
• Natural disasters and weather damage: Including fire, hurricanes, hail, tornadoes, and flood damage.

Talk to your independent insurance agent about adding comprehensive coverage to your auto insurance policy in order to get much fuller picture of protection for your vehicle.

What if I Don’t Have Insurance?

Well, it’s possible that your neighbor’s homeowners insurance would cover the incident if you didn’t have your own policy, but you shouldn’t bet on it. Really, you shouldn’t ever be without homeowners or auto insurance, and certainly never missing both at the same time. So, hopefully you shouldn’t even have to consider a situation like this.

If you were really upset about the incident and wanted to sue your neighbor, you’d have to rely on your homeowners insurance again. Without liability coverage provided by a homeowners insurance policy, the out of fees to hire a lawyer and go to court could be much too expensive.

How Would This Incident Affect My Premium?

Luckily, a single incident such as this one shouldn’t hike your homeowners insurance premium. It’s highly unusual for an insurance company to punish a policyholder for a one-off incident, especially if it wasn’t their fault. That being said, if it became a trend for you to start filing these kinds of claims often, your insurance company may choose to hike your premium, or even decide to not renew your policy past its current term.

Additional Reasons to Consider Comprehensive Auto Insurance

Many perils could damage your vehicle beyond just a rock that was tossed by a lawnmower. Without comprehensive coverage, you might be stuck paying for these repairs out of your own Here are a few of the most common auto insurance claims that require comprehensive coverage for reimbursement:

• Hail damage: Damage from hail can severely damage or even destroy a vehicle. If you live in an area prone to hailstorms, you’ll want to have comprehensive auto insurance to protect you.
• Vandalism: Cars can be vandalized in many ways, including being keyed, tagged, having the tires slashed, or getting broken into. Comprehensive coverage would pay for the damages.
• Theft: No matter if your car gets swiped from a parking lot or your own home, having to pay for that loss out of would be tragic. Comprehensive auto insurance reimburses the vehicle’s owner for the replacement value of the car.

Your independent insurance agent can help get you equipped with all the comprehensive coverage you need to protect your vehicle against unforeseen catastrophes.

Additional Protections Provided by Homeowners Insurance

Beyond the perils already mentioned, homeowners insurance provides even more critical protection for your home and property. Standard homeowners insurance covers many common threats to the home outside of the common or obvious.

Homeowners insurance typically provides coverage for the following perils:

• Theft and vandalism
• Most explosions
• Aircraft or vehicle damage
• Fire and smoke damage
• Water damage
• Damage from riots and civil commotions
• Falling objects (and trees)
• Certain natural disasters (i.e., windstorms, hail, lightning, and blizzards)

Your independent agent can help address your concerns about any areas where you feel you may be lacking important protection for your home. They’ll get you set up with all the coverage you could need, long before you ever need it.

Here’s How an Independent Insurance Agent Would Help

When it comes to protecting your car’s windshield from being shattered and all other unique incidents, no one’s better equipped to help than an independent insurance agent. Independent insurance agents search through multiple carriers to find providers who specialize in homeowners and auto insurance, deliver quotes from a number of different sources, and help you walk through them all to find the best blend of coverage and cost.