In the first blog in this series, we discussed UPS and battery maintenance contracts, and, specifically, what to expect as far as PM visits per year. With a regular PM schedule, you can keep your systems running smoothly and keep abreast of any issues. However, even the most trustworthy and resilient UPS systems can fail. And, unfortunately, you can’t predict it.

In the occasion when your UPS does fail, a swift and speedy response is necessary. This is why it’s crucial to get a full understanding of emergency services offered by your UPS maintenance provider. With that in mind, be sure to consider the following when consulting a UPS maintenance provider:

What is the guaranteed response time, in case of a UPS or battery emergency?

Typical emergency response times range from 4hrs, up to Next Business Day. But what do these mean? For some maintenance companies, this simply means that they will provide a response (email or phone call) within the guaranteed time. The actual repair of your equipment could take much longer. Ensure that your maintenance company guarantees an on-site technician, within your chosen response time. This will give you peace of mind, knowing that the risk to your critical load will be minimized.

Another aspect to consider is spare parts availability. During a UPS emergency, every second counts. It is crucial that UPS maintenance companies have parts available to arrive quickly at a customer’s site. Also be sure to double-check whether parts are covered under your maintenance contract or not. As a general rule, consumable components such as batteries and capacitors are not covered by maintenance agreements.

In our next blog in this series, we will discuss technician training and certification. Until then, 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@seps-inc.com.