At MaintenX, we put a lot of emphasis on preventative maintenance for commercial facilities. It is a part of our core mission to ensure that proper preventative care leads to cost reductions and reduced downtime for our clients. But, preventative maintenance is not the only viable maintenance strategy. Among the many reactive maintenance strategies, there is one that is particularly common: run-to-fail (RTF) maintenance.
RTF maintenance is considered the most cost-effective of the types of reactive maintenance strategies. In essence, using this system you allow appliances and equipment to run, without any maintenance, until it reaches the very end of its service life. While this may seem counterintuitive to our strategy at MaintenX, there are situations in which the RTF strategy is your best maintenance choice.
RTF maintenance is typically used for cheap parts and infrastructure rather than machinery and essential systems. For example, your lightbulbs, air filters, roofing shingles, and doors will likely not need any true maintenance. They will be used until they fail, and then will be replaced. This strategy is used for both replaceable parts and durable assets that are cheaper to replace than to repair.
A true RTF strategy is planned to minimize costs, and the service life is predicted to ensure you are prepared for the failure. By thinking through the service life and use of certain appliances and parts, you can save money for the preventative services you really need.
RTF, however, is not a standalone maintenance strategy. This system cannot be used for major systems such as your HVAC system, plumbing, or electrical units. RTF maintenance on these appliances will cost your facility greatly. Preventative maintenance must be prioritized to ensure you’re not wasting money replacing units or parts that could easily be cared for and sustained.
Using preventative maintenance, RTF, and strategies in between will help you tailor your maintenance plan to the exact needs of your facility. No maintenance schedule can be prepackaged and work for the same equipment and building. That is why it’s important to talk to your MaintenX team to see what’s best for your business.
MaintenX focuses on preventative maintenance, but we also take care of routine RTF maintenance procedures. We help your facility run more smoothly so you have time to focus on what matters most to you.
To learn more about our preventative maintenance services, contact your local MaintenX team today!
