As with any mechanical device or unit, there are going to be extra running costs associated with it. You have to by fuel if it is run from a petrol or diesel engine or pay for the generator or electric power too. There is also the maintenance to consider too. With most Chipper Shredder units, you will need to get it serviced regularly to ensure that it keeps working correctly and also at the best of its ability.
Most chipper or shredder units that you can buy from a hardware store or online are also serviceable by the home owner and come with a variety of replaceable parts. These range from replacement blades, hoppers, cables, wheels and also an entire replacement motor or engine.
Replacing an item such as the cutting blades or the cutting string on a leaf shredder is definitely something you can do at home. Just by following the manufacturers instructions, and observing all of the safety guidelines, you can quickly and easily remove and replace these items. Over time, the blades of your chipper shredder may become dull and will not function to their best ability. You can either purchase replacement blades or remove the existing ones to be sharpened by a local tool or hardware company who offers such a service. Other devices that use a more complex set of teeth or geared cogs to break down the waste material from your garden may require the blades to be replaced as sharpening them is not always possible.
Electrical cabling that connects the chipper shredder to it's power source can be easily replaced. Electrical cable is fairly cheap to buy and can easily be spliced with the existing cables and connections to make a quick repair.
The hopper and the exit chute are plastic or metal parts that can be removed and replaced if they get damaged during use. Stones and larger pieces of timber can damage the chipper and may require you to get these items replaced. Smaller chippers and garden shredders have plastic chutes and hoppers that clip into place where as the larger models will be fastened only screws or nuts and bolts. Again, these items are quick and easy to replace.
The largest job may be to replace the entire engine of a faulty chipper shredder. You will definitely need to know how to work with mechanical parts and be able to handle the small parts, gears and assembly. This is probably beyond the reach of many people, so if you are not confident, make sure you enquire with a local repair outlet rather than doing it yourself.
