Author: MaintenX

While many facility managers understand the importance of preventative maintenance, the practice of performing regular checks and making small modifications over time, there are some companies and facilities that do not agree. In some cases, upper management will make the case against preventative maintenance why it isn’t effective. Although these claims may come from a reasonable place, they show the lack of understanding of how important preventative maintenance is and what it entails. Here are some of the most common management objections to preventative maintenance and how you can overcome them.

 

“It’s not worth the cost.”

 

This is often the first objection upper management has to preventative maintenance, as there is an investment that is necessary. While there is a cost up front to perform preventative maintenance, it is much smaller than the amount emergency repairs or new equipment would cost. Preventative maintenance extends the lifespan of equipment, meaning replacements will be less frequent, and minimizes the possibility of needing repairs and the downtime that could be caused from inoperative machinery.

 

“We don’t have time for it.”

 

Another objection to preventative maintenance is the time it takes. Unlike repairs, which happen as needed, preventative maintenance needs to be scheduled in advance and kept on schedule in order to be effective. If this sounds stressful, and it might be depending on company resources, think of how more stressful it would be to manage emergency repairs and the situations that arise from malfunctioning equipment. 

 

“We don’t have the personnel for it.”

 

Depending on the size of your company, you may not have people on staff who can perform preventative maintenance. While this is understandable, it should not be a barrier to setting up a maintenance plan. There are third party companies you can work with that are highly skilled in facility maintenance and can oversee all of the processes and checks so that you don’t have to.

 

At MaintenX, we strive to be this preventative maintenance partner for you. We’ve worked with companies of all sizes, and have all the skills and experience necessary to oversee any project or maintenance plan. To learn more about our facility maintenance services, please call us any time at (855) 751-0075.

 

Water management is a tricky process for facility managers. The larger the building, the more complex water management can be, especially for someone who is not trained in plumbing or industrial cooling systems. Because of this, you’ll likely need professional help to identify opportunities for savings and to streamline your water usage.

First, it’s important for you as the facility manager to understand your sources. Water management is most critical during natural disasters or unexpected shutdowns when water supplies are often disrupted. By understanding how your water system operates from the ground up, you can better make action plans in an emergency. As the facility manager, you should know the source, use, and importance of every water supply in your facility, from landscape irrigation to critical sanitary and cooling water systems. 

Next, you should schedule a consultation to identify inefficiencies. Even the newest, most energy-efficient commercial buildings have some sort of waste, and it is often in the water management system where this waste accumulates. In hospitals, for example, 35% of water waste comes from restroom use. Without water-efficient faucets and toilets, your facility could be wasting thousands of dollars of water resources. However, it’s important not to guess or assume the best ways in which your facility can reduce water waste — contact your MaintenX team instead for a proper inspection. 

The goal of the consultation is to establish your water balance. Water balance is the comparison of your baseline water supply (or intended water usage goal) with equipment and appliance usage throughout the facility. If you’re looking to reduce your water usage by a certain percentage or dollar amount, you need to look at what operational practices or equipment are contributing to the excess. This is

Some ways in which your facility may need to improve its water balance include: 

• Installing water-efficient irrigation and landscaping
• Installing low flow or water-efficient toilets, urinals, faucets, and other bathroom fixtures
• Upgrading cooling systems to energy-efficient equipment
• Upgrading to energy-efficient commercial kitchen equipment
• Implementing water recycling programs for wastewater 
• Improving water treatment for the implementation of water recycling
• Recovering rainwater for industrial cooling and other water uses

You must then establish clear objectives and priorities. Depending on the current state of your facility, you may have many different improvements to make to ensure maximum water efficiency. However, taking on all of these facility improvements at once will leave you with very little ancillary funds for your regular and reactive maintenance costs. Talk with your MaintenX team to create a plan that restores optimal water balance and fits within your current year’s budget. 

Building a better water management plan is possible this year with the help of your MaintenX technicians. We help you create a better water management plan and will help reduce water waste through preventative care services. Contact our offices today to learn more!

 

Facility maintenance can feel like a never-ending list of to-dos. Even when everything is in working order, preventative maintenance needs will always be right around the corner. One of those never-ending preventative tasks is plumbing service. While plumbing emergencies are rare, it’s important that you schedule regular inspections to prevent cracks, leaks, and blockages throughout your facility’s system. 

Fortunately, you can streamline some of your plumbing maintenance with high-pressure water jetting services. This advanced plumbing maintenance service helps you to clear blockages, remove grease, and prevent costly repairs from cracked or burst pipes. Unlike snaking or drain-clearing chemicals, this service is environmentally friendly and highly effective. 

What is High-Pressure Water Jetting? 

Water jetting, also known as hydro-jetting, is the process of clearing pipes using highly pressurized water from a hose. The water pressure can range from 7,000 PSI up to 60,000 PSI, and is completed in a process similar to snaking. Your MaintenX plumber will feed a small hose through your pipes and blast the water through the pipes and tanks, effectively clearing everything from debris and grease to tree roots or other large blockages. 

Why Schedule High-Pressure Water Jetting?

Water jetting is preferable for clearing pipes for many reasons. Snaking is the more common service, and can be effective for smaller blockages caused by things like leaves, food waste, or toilet paper. However, larger blockages can not always be cleared by snaking. This method also does not clear pipes as completely as water jetting. Some facilities use chemical solutions to dissolve small clogs or blockages, but this is not an ideal solution for many reasons. The chemicals can erode the piping and are oftentimes not safe if not properly disposed of. Hydro jetting is the safest, most effective option for commercial plumbing cleaning. 

For more information on hydro-jetting, click here. 

MaintenX offers high-pressure water jetting services for business all year long. We believe this is the best way for you to keep your pipes clean and avoid damage due to clogged pipes or tree root invasion. If you’re interested in our hydro jetting services, contact your local MaintenX team today!

As a facility manager, sometimes it can feel like you’re hit with one disaster after another. The faucets leak, then the HVAC starts to give out, and sooner or later a major piece of machinery gives out without warning. There’s a reason why facility maintenance is a full-time department. It’s an incredible balancing act — ensuring all the working parts of a facility, from basic equipment to systems of people, all work in harmony. The tendency for systems and equipment to fail is a constant threat you must prepare for if you are to keep disaster at bay.  

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s how to survive the unexpected and face new adversity when disaster has already struck. Businesses have gone through multiple shutdowns, lagging production times, and disruptions of the supply chain at every level. If you are struggling to keep up with the demands of your facility, here are some ways to reestablish routine and get things back in order: 

Analyze your organizational processes.

Is the reason you’re falling behind weakness in your organizational structure? Perhaps you don’t have communication protocols between staff and the maintenance department to address maintenance issues early. Or you don’t have a system for prioritizing work orders based on urgency and expense. These seemingly trivial details can cause major issues when maintenance emergencies actually happen. 

Update your technology. 

Are you relying on outdated equipment or systems to keep your facility intact? Whether it’s an outdated piece of equipment or a technologically dated work-order management system, old systems can keep you stuck in the past. By investing in new technological advancements for your facility, you can keep up with the demands of your modern industry. 

Finish what you started. 

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions in supply lines across almost all industries. This has led to backups in work orders, longer hours for employees who are able to stay, and a general increase of demand with an ever-shortening supply of labor and resources. If you’re pushing your facility to the max to keep up with demand, it may be time to consider reigning in your work orders and focusing on what’s already on your plate. You can’t easily continue operating in a facility that’s falling apart and being pushed to maximum performance every day. Reevaluate your priorities, and make a deliberate decision on what and where to cut back on productivity. 

Invest in preventative maintenance. 

Oftentimes it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. However, if you’re running a large facility, you need to invest in preventative care as much as you do emergency maintenance. Preventative care is the cost-savings you (hopefully) never get to see. It prevents you from spending thousands on costly emergency repairs. While it may seem like you don’t have time for preventative maintenance when you’re already behind, you should always make time for investing in your facility’s future. 

MaintenX can help you get your facility back in order with our comprehensive preventative care services. We use an advanced work-order management system that makes it easy to communicate with your MaintenX team, schedule repairs or consultations, and keep track of preventative care schedules. We prioritize the needs of your facility now and in the future so you never have to worry about falling behind. 

To learn more about our preventative care services, contact your local MaintenX team today!

Winter is here, and hopefully, your facility is prepared. At this busy time of year, it can be easy to let maintenance tasks fall to the wayside. However, it’s important that you care for your facility’s needs in order to better care for your consumers’. One of the most common maintenance issues facility managers face in the winter is trouble due to improper insulation. 

Maintaining insulation is about more than just keeping it warm in the winter. It prevents cold-weather condensation, protects employees and customers from uncomfortable conditions, and can even increase the energy-efficiency of your facility as a whole. It’s important to maintain insulation before, during, and after winter to ensure that your facility can run at peak performance no matter what the temperature is outside. 

In Florida, where MaintenX is headquartered, most facilities are built for warm weather rather than cold. While your facility may be designed to cool down, it can oftentimes struggle to heat up in the winter. This is when insulation maintenance is called for.

Reduce cold-weather condensation with insulation maintenance

Outward air leakage from the climate-controlled indoor environment to the cold winter air can cause cold-weather condensation. This type of condensation can be detrimental to your facility, as it can lead to drywall damage, mildew, and lowered air quality. One of the ways you can prevent this is by properly insulating your walls. This provides a protective barrier between the opposing temperatures, which reduces the chance of cold-weather condensation and facility damage. 

Improve energy-efficiency

Proper insulation can help you maintain a constant temperature within your facility. This is not just for tenant comfort, however. If there is little to no insulation, the cold outdoor environment will cause fluctuations in temperature inside. The harder your heater has to work (especially in a traditionally warm climate where heaters are not built as efficiently), the more energy your facility will expend. By maintaining insulation, you can effectively lower your energy costs in the winter without having to replace or overwork your heater. 

Call MaintenX for insulation maintenance. 

Typically, insulation does not need to be replaced very often. If insulation is maintained, it can last up to 80 years or more. However, you should schedule an inspection if you notice changes in temperature, draft areas of the facility, an increase in mold and mildew, or other signs of insulation damage inside the facility. Your MaintenX technician can help inspect the facility and recommend insulation maintenance services based on your needs. 

For more information on winter maintenance and insulation services, contact us today!

 

Parking lots are rarely a first-priority for facility managers looking to make improvements in the look and function of their buildings. Typically, your parking lot will need little to no maintenance throughout the year, until the first winter snow rolls around. When this happens, you’ll need to take extra precautions to ensure a safe visiting experience for tenants and customers. 

Snow removal in a parking lot is essential. If you are operating a hospital, restaurant, retail store, or another place where high levels of foot traffic are expected, you want to create a clear path for visitors to walk and park safely. Scheduling a snow plowing or snow removal service after-hours or in slower hours can help you keep pileups at bay. Below are just a few tips on proper snow removal for parking lots: 

• Designate a snow pile location that does not cover drains, block visibility, obstruct traffic, or fill handicapped parking spaces. 
• Move snow as far away from the building as possible 
• Schedule snow removal services based on local forecasts so you don’t end up with several inches to remove
• Invest in snow removal equipment if your region experiences heavy snowfall that will require removal every few days or week. 

Snow and ice removal are essential in the winter, but it’s not the only task on your parking lot maintenance to-do list. Maintaining outdoor lighting is important, especially as the days get shorter and more visitors arrive after sundown. Be vigilant about maintaining outdoor lighting and attend to shortages or dimming bulbs. Your guests will appreciate the extra care you take in their safety and overall customer experience. 

Maintaining your parking lot will also enhance curb appeal. A storefront that is well-maintained and free of snow will be much more appealing to passersby than one that has snow piling up and dim lighting in the dark. The more well-kept you can keep your parking lot, the better the customer experience you can provide. 

MaintenX is here to help you maintain your parking lot throughout the year. We offer snow removal and outdoor electrical services to keep your parking lot looking clean and inviting. We also offer preventative care services for concrete inside and out. There is no better investment in your facility than proper preventative care. To learn more, contact your local MaintenX professional today!

 

If you’re planning major maintenance work, it may be wise to schedule it after business hours. If loud equipment or disruptive procedures must be used to perform the maintenance task, it can be better to invest in after-hours care rather than risking shutdowns or lowered productivity during the day. However, in order for after-hours maintenance to be cost-effective, it requires thorough planning on the part of the facility manager and maintenance team. 

The benefits of properly planned and scheduled maintenance are numerous: 

• Increased productivity from your maintenance team
• Reduced facility downtime due to emergency maintenance
• Fewer instances of maintenance rework and mistakes
• Increased understanding of long-term maintenance goals
• Better communication between staff and maintenance technicians
• Lower spare parts holding needs
• Worksite risk minimization 

Planning after-hours maintenance is a smart move for many reasons. It can further reduce downtime and creates a better tenant experience than scheduling maintenance services during business hours. 

Work out a budget with your maintenance team. 

After-hours maintenance services can oftentimes be more expensive. While it may be worth the investment, you should carefully consider what tasks are most important to be handled after closing, and which ones may be more cost-effective to perform during business hours with minimal disruption. 

Look at wrench time studies and past work to determine your team. 

If you’re going to perform maintenance service after hours, you want to ensure you have a team that works quickly and efficiently. Not only will budgeting your time be important, but a highly qualified team will ensure that the job is done before the next day. 

Increase the accuracy of labor estimates. 

After-hours maintenance often has stricter timeframes to comply with. In many cases, facility managers poorly estimate labor hours needed for a task to be completed. Work with your maintenance team and look at past service times to accurately estimate labor times for the services you scheduled. 

These tips will help you better prepare for after-hours maintenance and get more done at your facility. To learn more, talk to your local MaintenX team about after-hour services and options for emergency repairs.

 

Stone flooring is one of the most attractive options for commercial facilities. This natural and long-lasting option is expensive, but adds an elegance unmatched by other types of commercial flooring. While they are exceedingly attractive, stone flooring requires special care that you as the facility manager should know. However, far too many facility managers don’t make the call for professional cleaning soon enough, and their stone floors suffer. 

Stone flooring is one of the few natural flooring options available, in addition to hardwood which can also be pricey (and not as long-lasting). Unlike ceramics, they are simply cut into tiles rather than manufactured specifically for flooring. This means that you will need to pay attention to the types of cleaners, procedures, and foot traffic your stone flooring is exposed to. Below are just a few ways in which you can protect the stone flooring installed at your facility: 

Placemats at entrances. 

Placemats are oftentimes underrated when considering preventative maintenance in a commercial space. They are not just used for aesthetics. They can quickly reduce the amount of outside dirt, snow, and other intruders brought inside your facility. Placing placemats at every entrance can be the first defense against damage to your stone flooring. 

Sweep and vacuum regularly. 

Sweeping and vacuuming should always be done before you mop. This helps to remove the largest debris and dirt particles before you introduce cleaners. This is also the simplest and fastest way to clean stone flooring on a daily basis. Sweeping up at closing will help you maintain a clean appearance to customers. 

Use the right cleaners. 

Many commercial facilities use all-purpose household cleaners on their stone flooring. At best, this can leave a detergent residue that will eventually cloud the shininess of your stone flooring. If the household cleaners are acidic, they can cause real damage to the floor if not rinsed immediately after use. When household cleaners leave a residue or start to degrade the polish of the stone, a professional cleaning will be needed. If you are looking to clean in-house, use a neutral cleaner made for natural stone and be sure to change out the water frequently to avoid bringing new contaminants in. 

Clean grout thoroughly.

Typically, the grout between stone tiles is the most problematic part of the floor. They are the lowest point, which means water will contribute to dirt buildup between the tiles. Grout also has the tendency to chip and break away, which can put your tiles in danger of breaking. Be sure to clean your grout thoroughly and replace it immediately when it chips. 

Stone floors can make your commercial facility look stunning, but only if it is properly maintained. For professional floor cleaning services and pricing, contact the MaintenX team!

 

The holidays are over, and now it’s time to get things back in order at your facility. For office buildings and small businesses, this may be as simple as some New Year’s cleaning and attending to minor issues appearing after a holiday closure. However, for retail outlets, food service facilities, and some medical facilities, the holidays are a hectic time. You’ll want to invest in maintenance and cleaning when the season dies down to prepare your facility for the new year. 

Regroup as a team. 

The first step to entering the post-holiday season is getting your team in the right mindset for the new year. They have likely been working hard and exerting themselves to the max, which is a mindset you need for the end-of-the-year push. However, bringing this mindset into the new year can lead to burnout that negatively affects performance. Take stock of your priorities for 2021 and help your staff get on board with the new goals. 

Attend to wearing equipment. 

Once you’ve addressed staff fatigue and burnout due to the end-of-the-year push, you must address the same issues for your equipment. If your equipment or the facility as a whole has been overworked, you should schedule a consultation with your maintenance technicians to identify areas of a potential breakdown. It is oftentimes after the holiday season that issues with basic facility systems start to show themselves. Be prepared for these breakdowns by consulting with your MaintenX team. 

Invest in professional cleaning services. 

If your facility is used for retail or food service, you likely had an incredible influx of foot traffic during the holidays. This can lead to some bad habits forming, including the absence of regular cleaning in favor of more sales. As the holiday season slows down, take time to schedule a professional deep cleaning. Wash the floors, clean the exterior, and clean your ventilation system so that you can start the new year fresh. 

Plan for restocking. 

Restocking can be a pain after the holidays. Due to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions, it may be especially difficult to catch up as you’re waiting for shipments from manufacturers. The earlier you plan for this, the better your facility will weather the post-holiday storm. With so many empty shelves, you may need to ask for extra assistance from your staff to catch up. Plan for this ahead of time so that you can staff properly and work on your restocking needs efficiently. 

Begin your 2021 maintenance plan. 

The new year offers the opportunity to learn from last year and prepare your facility maintenance needs accordingly. Look at your maintenance budget versus actual expenses from 2020, as well as the emergency repairs you had to complete this year. Use this information to tweak your 2021 maintenance plan. 

MaintenX is here to help you through post-holiday maintenance and cleaning. Contact your local MaintenX team to learn about our services and preventative care.

For most businesses — especially those retail, finance, food service, travel, and nonprofit work — the busiest month of the year is always December. It’s the time of year when people want to buy and give the most, which means you’ll see a spike in sales almost guaranteed. However, after the holiday rush, it would be nice to see that trend plateau instead of dip back down to normal. 

There are many ways in which you can keep sales high after the holidays. Below are some of the ways we encourage our clients to make the most of the giving season and maintain it into 2021. 

Plan for returns. 

Not all of us are great gift-givers, which means the first of the year is when returns are at their highest. This can cause logistic and financial nightmares for businesses, but only if you aren’t prepared for them. Offer your customers better deals to exchange rather than return items, such as discounts or personalized services to help them find the gift they actually wanted. 

Keep the sales going. 

You might be tired of the sales, but it’s almost guaranteed that your customers aren’t. This encourages those who received gift cards or cash to extend their holiday cheer into January at your place of business. This tactic can also be used for food service or events businesses, where new menu items or lower prices can encourage people to spend their cash on experiences rather than more gifts. 

Reach new customers through a loyalty program. 

So many people buy for others during their holiday shopping spree, which means you’ll be reaching customers who may not have chosen you on their own accord. This is your chance to hook them after the holiday season with new promotions, loyalty programs, or other incentives, turning them into a regular shopper. 

Introduce a new offer. 

The new year brings a call for change among many people. This is the perfect time to launch a new product or service, especially if it is something you can market to help customers reach goals or embrace a happier 2021. As people are searching for new ways to change, so is your company. Start the year off right with a strong launch that will incentivize new sales into January. 

No matter what programs you choose to keep the sales going strong, you’ll need an experienced maintenance team to keep the ground floor running smoothly. Contact MaintenX today to learn about our different preventative maintenance programs as well as emergency services. We’re always here to lend a helping hand to local businesses!