What Is Planned Preventative Maintenance?

Planned preventative maintenance (PPM), also known as regular servicing, is the proactive care and inspection of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVACR) systems to keep them running smoothly and efficiently. This type of maintenance is carried out on a regular basis, typically once every three to six months, and involves checking all aspects of the system for wear and tear. One of the main benefits of regular servicing is that it gives engineers and technicians a chance to identify small issues before they become big problems.

What Happens if one part of an HVACR system is faulty?

If one part of the HVACR system is not functioning correctly, it can have a knock-on effect on the other parts of the system. This can lead to increased energy consumption and operating costs, and in some cases, it can also cause health and safety concerns. In addition, if certain parts of a system are not operating optimally it can increase the pressure on other parts of the system. In turn, this increases the chances that the whole system will break down and therefore require emergency repairs.

Planned Preventative Maintenance Saves Money servicing

Of course, it costs money to have a system serviced and maintained on an ongoing basis. However, the cost of maintenance and servicing commercial air conditioning systems are often far lower than the costs of not having regular inspections by qualified engineers. This is because poorly maintained systems are more likely to break down. When breakdowns happen they tend to require emergency repairs, which can be costly in terms of call-out fees and replacement parts. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, if HVACR systems break down then they usually incur some cost to the business. For example, if a refrigeration unit in a supermarket or a restaurant fails, then it is highly likely that perishable goods will spoil. Similarly, if the cooling system in a data center fails then there could be significant damage to critical infrastructure and direct costs if the data center cannot process information efficiently.  This represents a direct cost to the supermarket. There could also be reputational damage too, so with these things in mind, the price of regular servicing is far less than the cost of not having PPM on commercial systems.

Planned Preventative Maintenance Can Extend The Life Of HVACR

Planned preventative maintenance is not just about avoiding breakdowns; it can also help to improve the performance of your HVACR infrastructure too. This can mean better energy efficiency, as well as a longer-lasting system. As mentioned, if one part of a system is not working optimally then it can strain other parts of the system.    Having HVACR infrastructure tested and maintained regularly means a professional engineer can address any worn or damaged parts before they impact other parts of a commercial HVACR system. For example, if an engineer finds that a fan motor is not running at its optimum speed, then they can make the necessary adjustments to ensure that it is, which will prevent the system from overheating and ultimately failing. This can save money in terms of both energy consumption and repair bills over time.

In short, planned preventative maintenance is a cost-effective way to extend the lifetime of your system, and professional companies like TJ Refrigeration will offer service plans that give peace of mind and better long-term performance. In this sense, the cost of the PPM is far outweighed by the benefits of having a fully working system.