What is the purpose of a spark arrestor on my hedge trimmer?

Spark arrestors are screens that limit the size of particles sometimes found in the exhaust gases of outdoor power equipment.

The idea is that by limiting the size of the exhaust particles (piece of carbon or other small debris), the thermal mass of the particle can be made small enough that it is no longer considered a substantial threat of fire hazard.

Care still needs to be taken of the surrounding area to ensure safety of the user and the surrounding environment.

Spark arrestor maintenance

1. Examine the muffler for defects and damages.
2. Make sure that the muffler is correctly attached to the product.
   
3. If your product has a special spark arrestor scree, clean the spark arrestor screen weekly.
4. Spark arrestor is located on the muffler. Remove the cover and once it is off, remove the spark arrestor.
5. When inspecting it, make sure the spark arrestor is intact and there are no rips and holes in it. Also, make sure there is no excessive carbon build-up. If there is any carbon build-up it will make your hedge trimmer run at a lower RPM and the product will not breath well.
6. Clean the carbon build-up from the spark arrestor with the wire brush.
7. Once the spark arrestor is clean, put it back in place. 
   
   NOTE: Do not remove the muffler from the product.

Husqvarna recommends that after every 50 hours of operation, the spark arrestor is cleaned.

NOTE: Not every hedge trimmer model has a spark arrestor. Check your product's operator's manual for more information.