What is Preventative Maintenance?

Preventative maintenance is like giving your equipment a regular check-up. Preventative maintenance activities include scheduling, planning, and carrying out proactive inspections, repairs, and replacements of equipment and systems in commercial buildings to minimize downtime, reduce maintenance costs, and ensure smooth operations. It’s all about routine, scheduled servicing of your equipment and facilities to prevent those unexpected (and often costly) breakdowns.

Think of it as a little TLC for your appliances!

Here’s what it involves:

• Regular Inspections
• Adjustments
• Cleaning
• Testing
• Replacements

Why is Preventative Maintenance important?

Preventive maintenance is a critical step in setting your facility up for success.

• Extends your equipment life to ensure optimal performance
• Catches major breakdowns before they become a disruption to your business and lead to costly repairs
• Ensures your facilities are health code compliant
• Are a long-term cost saving solution that ensure all of your equipment is being used at optimal levels.
• Executed with a strategic plan provided by service partners can increase profit by increasing product output without having to add or replace unnecessary equipment.
• Preventative maintenance contracts with qualified vendors ensure regular system check-ups, early issue detection, and priority service response, ultimately avoiding costly repairs and ensuring minimal downtime.

HVAC System Maintenance

For commercial buildings, it’s really important to keep the commercial HVAC system in good shape. This helps them work better, use less energy, and keeps the air inside safe.

Why is HVAC System Maintenance Important?

• Energy Efficiency: Cleaning and inspecting components optimize energy usage, leading to cost savings.
• Extended Lifespan: Routine maintenance and preventive measures for commercial HVAC systems prolong the lifespan of HVAC systems, minimizing breakdowns and costly replacements.
• Preservation of Food Quality: Maintaining proper temperature levels prevents food spoilage and ensures food safety.
• Improved Air Quality: Regular preventative maintenance contributes to better indoor air quality, enhancing comfort for customers and staff.
• Minimized Downtime: Proactive preventative maintenance prevents unexpected breakdowns, minimizing disruptions to restaurant operations.

Monthly HVAC System Maintenance Task Checklist

• Inspect ductwork for leaks.
• Inspect and clean the evaporator and condenser coils to prevent breakdowns.
• Check and change or replace air filters, ensuring optimal airflow and indoor air quality.
• Examine ductwork for leaks and proper insulation.
• Inspect blower components for functionality and make necessary adjustments.
• Evaluate thermostat settings for efficiency and occupant comfort.
• Verify all electrical connections are secure and functioning correctly.
• Lubricate moving parts to reduce wear and tear.
• Conduct a thorough examination of the entire system to address any potential issues before they escalate.

PRO TIP: Location Matters! RTU units (Roof-Top Units) are typically located on the roof. Keep this in mind for easy access during maintenance checks.

Refrigeration Maintenance

For businesses that rely on keeping things cool, using preventive maintenance checklists for your refrigeration system is key.

Why is Refrigeration Maintenance Important?

• Preserving Food Quality: Consistent temperatures prevents food spoilage, ensuring food safety and quality.
• Energy Efficiency: Regular maintenance reduces energy consumption, saving our clients money on utility bills.
• Extended Lifespan: Preventive measures prolong equipment lifespan, reducing the need for expensive repairs or replacements.
• Regulatory Compliance: Compliance with health and safety regulations ensures a safe environment for food storage.
• Minimized Downtime: Proactive maintenance prevents breakdowns, minimizing disruptions to restaurant operations.
• Lower Overall Maintenance Costs: Preventive maintenance helps lower overall maintenance costs by improving scheduling, being prepared for maintenance work, and identifying and addressing potential issues before they escalate.

Monthly Refrigeration Maintenance Task Checklist

• Inspect and clean condenser coils, evaporator coils, and drains to prevent leaks and mold buildup.
• Check and tighten electrical connections for safety.
• Verify proper airflow and adjust if needed.
• Clean and sanitize all reachable components.
• Ensure the functionality of doors and seals for optimal performance.
• Examine machinery, including the blower, to avoid breakdowns.
• Inspect and clean the drain pan to prevent blockages.
• Conduct a thorough inspection of all refrigeration parts following manufacturer guidelines.
• Document all maintenance activities for a comprehensive record of upkeep.

PRO TIP: During preventive maintenance, crucial components like the compressor and evaporator are inspected. Did you know? The compressor can cost between $350 and $5000, depending on size.

Also, don’t forget about the gasket! Checking for a tight seal is essential. A damaged gasket can lead to energy loss and compromised food safety. It’s a common finding during maintenance checks.

Hood/Exhaust Maintenance Cleaning

To keep your kitchen safe and running smoothly, it's really important to clean the hood regularly.

Why is Hood Cleaning Important?

• Fire Safety: Regular cleaning reduces the risk of kitchen fires by removing grease buildup. This is essential for compliance with fire codes, particularly the NFPA 96 Standard.
• Compliance: Following fire code regulations ensures a safe environment for your restaurant and staff. Compliance with NFPA 96 Standard is crucial to meet legal requirements.
• Air Quality: Clean hood and exhaust systems prevent the spread of grease, smoke, and odors, maintaining a clean and comfortable environment for customers and staff.
• Efficiency: Clean systems operate more efficiently, reducing airflow restrictions and energy consumption.
• Equipment Longevity: Preventing corrosion and mechanical issues caused by grease buildup extends the lifespan of hood and exhaust systems.

Monthly Hood and Exhaust Maintenance Task Checklist

• Inspect and clean exhaust fan blades for any greasy buildup.
• Inspect and clean fan motor and bearings.
• Check and tighten electrical connections.
• Clean and sanitize filters.
• Inspect ductwork for any damage or leaks.
• Verify the functionality of exhaust fan belts.
• Clean hood interior and exterior surfaces.
• Check airflow for proper ventilation.
• Inspect for any mold or mildew growth.
• Conduct a visual inspection of ductwork for any signs of damage or leaks.
• Verify the functionality of the blower and any necessary adjustments.

PRO TIP:
When you're in the kitchen, take a quick look at the hood sticker. It tells you when the hood was last cleaned. This simple check helps you stay on top of maintenance and ensures a clean, compliant kitchen.

Fire Safety Maintenance

Keeping commercial places safe for everyone who comes in, like workers and guests, means making sure fire safety is always up to scratch.

Why is Fire Safety Important?

Keeping fire safety in check is super important, especially in places like offices and restaurants. It's all about making sure everyone who comes into the building is safe and that everything valuable inside is protected too. To do this right, it’s crucial to keep up with regular checks and fixes so any problems can be spotted early on before they turn into big issues.

Fire Safety Maintenance Tasks

• Extinguisher Inspection and Renewal: Annual inspection and tag renewal are essential. The number and placement depend on kitchen and restaurant size.
• Exit Signs Inspection: Signs must be well-lit, visible, and unobstructed, ensuring safe evacuation routes.
• Fire Suppression Systems: Essential for kitchens with hot cooking equipment, including sprinklers and Ansul systems, which smother fires and prevent reignition.
• Fire Alarm Inspection: Ensures functionality of smoke detectors, annunciators, batteries, and control panels, coordinated with the local fire department.
• Hood Cleaning and Exhaust Maintenance: Prevents grease buildup, reducing fire hazards and ensuring safe kitchen operations.

PRO TIP:
In order to perform a fire alarm inspection, the local fire department must be notified. The vendor who performs this will do this!

Grease Trap Maintenance

For restaurants and commercial kitchens, keeping their grease traps in good shape is super important. It helps everything run smoothly and stops expensive plumbing problems before they start.

Why is Grease Trap Maintenance Important?

• Control Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG): Grease traps collect and reduce FOG, preventing drain blockages and environmental contamination.
• Prevent Drain Blockages: Regular maintenance stops FOG buildup, avoiding costly drain blockages and sewage backups.
• Eliminate Odors and Pests: Proper maintenance prevents foul odors and pest issues caused by accumulated grease.

Monthly Grease Trap Maintenance Task Checklist

• Clear out any accumulated debris in the grease trap, ensuring proper drainage.
• Inspect grease trap lid for proper sealing.
• Check for any leaks or damage and repair if necessary.
• Scrub the trap thoroughly to remove grime and maintain hygiene standards.
• Ensure proper functioning of the inlet and outlet pipes.
• Use enzyme-based cleaners to maintain grease trap efficiency.

PRO TIP:
Know Your Trap:

• Size (in Gallons)
• Location (Inside Kitchen or Outside)

Conclusion

Making sure everything in your business is regularly checked and fixed is super important. By doing these preventative maintenance tasks often, you're not just making things last longer but also saving money because you won't have to fix big problems later on. Plus, it helps avoid any time when your assets aren't working or could be unsafe. Keeping up with this isn’t only about following rules; it’s really about protecting what you’ve built in your business from future headaches.

If figuring out how to set up this kind of plan sounds tricky, reaching out to us can lead the way towards ensuring everything runs without a hitch for as long as possible.