Spark Your Maintenance Plan: Electrical System Maintenance Risks

What you don’t see, doesn’t hurt? Not in this case, it could put you at risk. Some companies tend to procrastinate - and they do so at a cost. Setting aside the budget for maintenance, because it’s not an immediate emergency and because it’s not built into their depreciation schedule.

But like all facility equipment, electrical components degrade and wear over time. Proper functioning of electrical and lighting systems are crucial for any facility’s operations.

At the center of facility operations, electrical systems must be maintained proactively. From awareness of equipment lifespans to seasonal check-ins, it’s important to recognize problems before they become emergencies.

Why You Can’t Afford to Skip Electrical Maintenance

You Reduce All Components of Operational Life, Incurring More Costs

The most important reason to schedule maintenance at regular intervals is to extend the life of your equipment. Prematurely replacing equipment can easily occur as a result of neglect, potentially adding up to thousands in unnecessary costs.

Regularly scheduled maintenance can help ensure that all electrical systems are functioning properly. An infrared test, performed by a licensed team, exposes where equipment or circuitry is on the verge of overheating or potential failure. This testing provides insight into the overall operating efficiency of electrical systems, if installations were executed correctly, and if the equipment will last for its expected lifespan.

For example, the switchboard, also referred to as the switchgear in some cases, is the central component of a facility’s electrical system. If a switchboard malfunctions, the entire facility must be shut down while a replacement is installed. Not only does the facility pay the full cost of the replaced equipment, but they also suffer the costs of a disruption in operations.

In addition, emergency maintenance is far more costly both in terms of the actual repairs and the time lost if the facility must stop operations until maintenance is complete.

You Won’t Realize Energy Savings

While proactive and emergency maintenance are important to consider, the impact of energy efficiency on a facility also calls for attention. Older lightbulbs nearing the end of their working lives can be replaced or retrofitted with more effective LED lighting — saving the facility a surprising amount of money over time and increasing the longevity between replacements.

Additionally, newer equipment will run more efficiently. Depending on the equipment in question, it may be worth looking into the cost saving benefits of a more efficient replacement. This could potentially be a contributing factor when determining when to schedule a new installation.

Electrical Maintenance Tips

#1: Plan for Regularly Scheduled Maintenance

According to the Department of Energy, planned maintenance services reduce facility expenditures by 25-30 percent, eliminate the potential risk of breakdowns by 70 percent, and reduce facility downtime by 35 percent on average. Identifying the main risks in your facility and understanding how to prioritize their maintenance is essential to understanding the overall health of your facility.

So long as the equipment is functioning properly and regular facility inspections (i.e. bi-annually or quarterly) are conducted, you will be doing both yourself and the occupants a great service to keep them out of harm’s way. For more information regarding facility maintenance and associated risks, download this complimentary facility risk evaluation guide.

#2 Have a Plan in Place in Case of Emergency

While proactive maintenance will almost certainly keep emergency maintenance to a minimum, it’s not always a foolproof solution. Having an emergency plan in place can prepare your facility’s staff for unforeseen events.

To contact our on-demand emergency truck-based service hotline, click here.

#3: Request an Infrared Scan Test

The primary planned maintenance measure for electrical systems is infrared testing. Infrared is useful in detecting problems early since heat is a preliminary symptom of components on the verge of breaking down or malfunctioning. Additionally, infrared thermography is a noninvasive and contactless process, which allows facilities to continue operations while the testing is conducted and enables a facility to remain safe as we continue to adhere to changing safety protocols in light of the global pandemic.

TDIndustries is passionate about ensuring proper facilities maintenance, so we created an Infrared Scan Test to aid in the process. TD is looking for qualified Infrared Scan Test candidates, and chances are you meet the criteria if you've read this far.

We encourage you to request an Infrared Scan Test and avoid the unexpected stress of maintenance emergencies today!