Many rely on Deferred Maintenance as a means to save money on commercial HVAC maintenance. However, this could be more costly in the long term.
Building owners and facility managers are often operating under very tight maintenance budgets, especially in today’s economy. Because of this, many rely on Deferred Maintenance as a means to save money on commercial HVAC maintenance. However, postponing maintenance activities, such as equipment repairs, to save money in the short term could actually lead to higher costs, asset failures, equipment breakdown and potential health and safety issues in the long term.
The Negative Effects of Deferred Maintenance
Believe it or not, reactive, deferred maintenance is the most costly way to maintain your commercial building’s HVAC systems.
The Snowball Effect
By deferring maintenance, you allow it to pile up. As the days, weeks, months, and years roll on, commercial HVAC maintenance tasks steadily continue to roll in until it is just too much to handle, both in terms of sheer quantity and cost. A preventive maintenance program, meanwhile, helps keep both maintenance items and maintenance costs in line.
Energy Efficiency Woes
HVAC systems in commercial buildings are responsible for more than 40% of total energy use. Without proper maintenance, equipment efficiency decreases roughly 5% annually just from normal wear and tear. This not only puts a strain on your equipment, but also your budget as your energy bills steadily climb year after year. So it should come as no surprise that facilities that implement an HVAC preventive maintenance program use 15-20% less energy than those that do not.
A Costly Alternative to Preventive Maintenance
The biggest argument for deferred maintenance is money. Why spend money now when you don’t really have to? The answer is actually quite simple. Deferred maintenance is like playing with a ticking time bomb. Eventually, something will go wrong. It’s only a matter of time. And when it happens, it will be big and it will be costly, both in terms of HVAC repairs and downtime. Any savings hoped to be achieved by deferring maintenance will quickly be offset by the cost of lost productivity and emergency repairs.
This is not even taking into account the fact that unnecessary wear and tear can greatly shorten the life of your equipment, leading to costly replacement.
Outsourcing HVAC Maintenance Can Help!
Crockett Facilities Services, Inc. (CFSI) is committed to helping building owners, property managers, engineers and facility professionals lower their operating expenses through HVAC preventive maintenance. We can develop a cost-effective, customized preventive maintenance plan for your commercial building that will provide you with peace of mind, improved comfort, and energy savings.
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To learn more about the importance of HVAC Preventive Maintenance, please contact us at 202.600.2787 or sales@crockett-facilities.com. Our PM contract customers receive priority service with 24/7 emergency service in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC.