UPS Maintenance - 5 Pillars

Your UPS system is simple enough to operate. Once it’s hooked up to your building properly, it is ready to go. The moment you lose power from your utility, the transition is seamless. However, thorough UPS maintenance is crucial to getting that kind of “always ready” service.

Let’s take a closer look at the five pillars of UPS maintenance:

1. Make a UPS Maintenance Schedule (And Use It!)

You have plenty of things to do, and UPS maintenance may be near the bottom of your list. To keep your emergency power system going strong, take a proactive approach. Key components of your system, like the rectifier, inverter, and batteries, should be inspected regularly. Contracting with a trusted UPS maintenance team is ideal, as they’ll help keep you on schedule.

2. Document Issues, Repairs, and Replacements

With proper UPS maintenance, you can get about 13 years of service from your UPS system. However, individual components have a limited working life and will need to be replaced – in many emergency power setups, that’s especially true of batteries. Each time a component fails, the date and time should be documented to inform the overall maintenance plan.

3. Inspect UPS Batteries Closely for Defects

The battery is by far the part of your UPS most likely to fail at any given time. Depending on your system architecture, batteries may have an expected life of 3-5 years. In some cases, they can work together to deliver power even if some individual units fail. However, they should always be examined closely, as heat or cold can cause them to wear out faster than expected.

4. Be Aware of the Operating Environment

Speaking of which, temperature isn’t the only environmental issue that drives UPS maintenance. A thermal inspection of your wiring system can uncover issues, even elsewhere in your facility, that may interfere with power transfer. Dirt and dust are often responsible for restricted air flow and more heat issues. Moisture can cause corrosion leading to system failure.

5. Perform Load Bank Testing Regularly

Load bank testing is as close as you can get to seeing how your system will act in the real world. The results guide UPS maintenance and help you resolve issues that might otherwise fly under the radar. It’s the most effective supplement to regular UPS maintenance you can have.

For professional UPS maintenance you can trust, just call Nite & Day Power.