You tender a request for vacation weeks or even months in advance, highlight upcoming appointments on the calendar and share your daily availability with everyone in the organization — right down to the hour. But are you devoting the same level of care and planning to your UPS maintenance schedule?
An effective maintenance strategy — targeting both the overall UPS and its batteries — is critical to your system’s ongoing reliability and performance. The type of batteries will also determine the level and frequency of service; for instance, most smaller UPSs use sealed batteries that require little maintenance, while other models utilize flooded-cell batteries that require monthly attention.
Some basic maintenance tasks can be completed by in-house staff, while other services will require the assistance of a trained technician to ensure personnel safety and compliance.
Risks of Not Completing Preventive Maintenance for Your UPS
No matter what industry you’re in or the type of UPS system you use, failing to maintain it will put your organization at risk for:
- Loss of power: For some sectors, such as the medical industry, UPS system failure can result in a life-or-death situation. A complete loss of power is a critical situation that must be avoided.
- Lost revenue and productivity: When the power goes out and you don’t have a reliable backup system, business operations will halt, resulting in lost revenue and productivity while you wait for UPS service or for the power to come back on.
- Increased costs: UPS systems and their batteries can be expensive to replace when they become damaged or degrade due to lack of maintenance. Power failures can damage expensive equipment or cause data loss. Repairing damaged systems is generally much more expensive than completing preventive maintenance, which provides the ability to catch potential issues early on.
- Data corruption or loss: A power failure can also put you at risk for system shutdowns, resulting in potential data corruption or even data loss. If this occurs, your organization may violate regulatory compliance requirements.
Benefits of a Regular UPS Preventive Maintenance Checklist
Maintaining your UPS system is the best way to keep it in working order. The benefits of a regular UPS maintenance schedule include:
- Reliability: Regular maintenance can provide peace of mind, knowing that unexpected power outages won’t interrupt your regular business operations or impact your data.
- Increased lifespan: A regular maintenance schedule ensures all components of your UPS system are in working order. When properly maintained, a UPS system will last longer, maximizing your investment.
- Optimal performance: Regular maintenance ensures that your UPS system is working as it should at all times.
- Reduced costs: Repairs can be costly and quickly add up over time. Regular maintenance reduces the likelihood that you will need unexpected repairs and emergency services.
- Reduced risk of downtime: If you experience a power outage, UPS systems will provide you with backup power. Along with minimizing any potential losses from unexpected downtime, these systems also prevent the risk of data loss and equipment damage from a power failure.
- Safety: By servicing your system and minimizing potential safety issues like electrical shock, battery leakage and fires, you’ll create a safer work environment for your employees.
When to Schedule UPS Maintenance
Be sure to service your UPS system regularly so you can rely on it when the power goes out. There are several key components that need to be inspected and maintained on an ongoing basis, such as the battery, cooling system and electrical connections. .
Consider creating a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual preventive maintenance schedule to ensure everything is operating as it should throughout the year.
Monthly UPS Maintenance
At least once a month, assign a competent staff member to:
- Conduct a visual inspection of the UPS to ensure it is clean and dust-free
- Examine and evaluate the room’s ventilation system to confirm it is operational
- Test batteries for adequate electrolytes and any indication of leaks
- Review results from the battery monitoring system
- Measure the batteries’ ambient temperature and float charging current
- Test the generator if it is part of the building’s emergency power system
Quarterly UPS Maintenance
On a quarterly basis, a service technician should:
- Look for signs of damage like burned insulation
- Measure the voltage of each cell or battery block
- Measure the ambient temperature and negative-post temperature of at least 10 percent of the cells or battery blocks (if possible, check all cells)
Semi-Annual UPS Maintenance
Twice a year, a technician should:
- Inspect battery connections to prevent heat buildup and fire hazard risk
- Make repairs as needed
- Clean UPS equipment enclosures
- Test the system’s overall operation
Annual UPS Maintenance
During this important yearly checkup, depending on your equipment type and requirements, expect a technician to complete the following:
- Power down the system and inspect all parts
- Use thermal scan technology on electrical connections using a diagnostic tool to identify any hot spots
- Conduct a load test to determine the capacity of the battery bank, which may require separating the UPS from its power supply and connecting the UPS batteries to a load to determine its power capabilities
- Clear dirt, dust and other particles from system parts
- Measure and check the torque of all connections and make any necessary adjustments
- Run a complete operational test, including a monitored battery-rundown to calculate if the battery is near the end of its life, an AC ripple current and interconnecting cable resistance testing
For flooded-cell batteries, the technician should:
- Examine terminals for wear and buildup of dirt
- Measure and record the voltage and current of the entire bank
- Measure and record the voltage for each individual cell and test electrolytes
- Record and log measurements to track battery performance
Quick Tips for UPS Maintenance
To keep your UPS system running at the optimal level, follow these tips for an effective maintenance strategy:
- Stick to a maintenance schedule: Regular maintenance is essential to ensuring your UPS system remains operational. Choose a set schedule and stick to it. Keep a record of upcoming maintenance to know when specific tasks need to be performed.
- Keep detailed maintenance records: Create written and electronic records of all maintenance performed on your UPS system so you can track what was done in the past and any maintenance that needs to be added to your schedule.
- Perform regular inspections: Delegate tasks to staff members to inspect equipment regularly. Doing so ensures you stay up-to-date on all your maintenance needs.
- Be prepared for unscheduled maintenance: In some cases, a regular inspection can reveal an unexpected problem that needs to be addressed. Know who you can contact when unscheduled repairs are necessary.
Partner With a Leading Uninterruptible Power Supply Maintenance Provider
Your UPS system is an investment, and you should be able to rely on it when the power goes out. Choosing the right UPS maintenance provider can mean the difference between remaining operational during a power failure or being left in the dark.
As a provider of mission-critical power services, Unified Power is your go-to for cost-effective UPS maintenance services. Our technicians are highly trained and knowledgeable about the latest UPS models and maintenance procedures, allowing us to take a proactive approach and correct potential failures with your system before they lead to expensive repairs or replacement issues.
Depending on your needs and goals, we offer several preventive maintenance plans:
- Bronze: This economical plan offers benefits ranging from next-day business response to annual sealed battery maintenance
- Silver: Keep your system running throughout the year with benefits like annual sealed battery maintenance, guaranteed energy response times, and parts and labor for electronics
- Gold: Take advantage of all the benefits in our Silver plan plus semiannual sealed battery preventive maintenance
- Platinum: To meet more comprehensive needs, we offer a platinum package, offering additional benefits like quarterly sealed battery maintenance
No matter which plan you choose, you’ll experience peace of mind knowing that you can rely on your UPS in a critical situation. With 24/7 corrective maintenance and same-day shipping, we will ensure everything is repaired and back online as quickly as possible if you ever experience an issue.
Receive a Free Customized Quote for UPS Maintenance From Unified Power
We understand that your UPS system is a critical part of your ability to maintain operations in the event of an outage. Unified Power’s maintenance services minimize the risk of system failures and help prevent future losses. With a variety of services, ranging from one-time calls to our four maintenance tiers, you can choose the plan best suited to your needs.
Contact us for a free customized quote for tailored UPS preventive maintenance services that you can rely on.
