In a previous blog, we discussed some of the benefits a preventive maintenance contract can have for your UPS and your business. Based on the unexpected nature of power outages and weather-related outages, it’s easy to see why a maintenance contract – which keeps your system running at peak performance – makes good business sense.
In this four-part blog series, we will discuss important questions to ask potential UPS maintenance providers. To begin with, be sure to consider the following question:
How many preventive maintenance visits per year are offered in your UPS and battery maintenance contracts?
UPS maintenance providers will typically offer a handful of service options for maintaining your UPS and battery plant. The most common(and manufacturer recommended) is two preventive maintenance visits per year. This usually includes 1 major PM visit and 1 minor PM visit. Some UPS maintenance providers will offer customizable maintenance plans to fit your specific needs, where you can select any mix of major/minor PM visits, among other variables.
The main difference between a major UPS PM and a minor UPS PM, is that during the major PM the UPS is put into bypass mode. This allows for a more thorough check of components and can reveal problem areas that may not be apparent during a minor PM. During the minor PM, the UPS remains in normal operation, so your critical load will not be exposed. Some firms chose to have their UPS maintenance visits performed after hours, so that normal business operations will not be impacted.
Once a PM visit is complete, a qualified UPS maintenance provider will provide an all-encompassing “Field Service Report,” which divulges, at a granular level, the health of your UPS unit(s) and battery plant. This would include a thorough breakdown of battery health, and also identify areas of concern that may need your attention in the future. This type of document allows you to be prepared for and budget for future repairs and/or UPS component replacements.
In our next blog, we will dig into emergency response times, and how these should weigh in when choosing a preventive maintenance provider.In the meantime, contact SEPS to discuss what PM plan is best for your critical power needs.
With more than 35 years of field experience and leadership in power protection, SEPS is well qualified to perform UPS preventive maintenance. SEPS offers a full suite of UPS services and all technicians are trained and certified to manufacturer standards, assuring a thorough job. For more information, please contact us, or speak with one of our Power Protection experts at 630-283-2399 or dmayo@sepsinc.local.