Planned maintenance of equipment will help you to improve equipment life, system efficiency and avoid unplanned maintenance activity.
WHY PLANNED MAINTENANCE?
Some devices used in building control and energy management use moving parts. Relays have a little metal switch inside, which is moved back and forth with a spring and a magnetic field. Actuators have gears and motors and many larger parts now have cooling fans. Some older automation systems even use computer hard drives to save system information. All moving parts have some sort of friction and heat generation, both of which create wear and reduce the lifetime of the moving parts.
Preventative maintenance allows a trained technician to examine these parts, as they are currently functioning, and identify signs of wear and degradation. Observing and reacting to signs of wear and damage can mean the difference between a repair scheduled to avoid or eliminate downtime and an inconvenient, often costly emergency repair.
KEEPING SENSORS ACCURATE FOR PERFORMANCE
Sensors are calibrated devices. Most typically, they are factory calibrated and designed to work for years on end. However, as with any electrical component, over time the performance of particular components may be affected. When this happens, it can lead to sensors “losing” their calibration or even constantly drifting between values. Imagine that the sensor that tells the system how warm your space is has drifted over the last few years and now reads 2 degrees warmer than the space really is. This will lead to the HVAC equipment running longer when it’s not needed as well as making the space uncomfortable for the occupants.
SAVE MONEY WITH PLANNED MAINTENANCE
A preventative maintenance program, which includes checking sensor calibration, would be able to identify sensor issues in order to calibrate or replace the sensor. The result is increased comfort in the space as well as reduced energy usage.
Maintenance traditionally means to sustain or preserve a desired condition or level of performance. Unfortunately, In many cases today, maintenance means repairing things that break. In the long run, it is always cheaper to maintain a system than it is to repair it.
If you have questions about planned maintenance or would like to learn how a PM appointment can benefit your facility, call your local ConServ branch to learn more.
ConServ Building Services, LLC provides excellent commercial HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, and general construction services to businesses across the Southeastern United States. To learn more about ConServ, visit www.conservonline.com.