Preventative maintenance saves thousands, here is the arithmetic

Maintenance is the first thing trimmed from a tight facilities budget, because nothing appears to break the day you cancel it. The cost arrives twelve to eighteen months later, and it arrives as capital.

Where the savings actually come from

• ·Energy: a fouled condenser coil can add 10–25% to running costs on the same delivered cooling
• ·Repairs: bearings, belts and capacitors replaced on schedule cost a fraction of the compressor they protect
• ·Downtime: unplanned failures happen at the worst possible time, which is also the most expensive time
• ·Asset life: well-maintained commercial plant routinely reaches 15–20 years; neglected plant often does not see 10

The failure chain

Almost every catastrophic failure we attend has a boring origin. A blocked filter restricts airflow. Restricted airflow lowers suction pressure. Low suction pressure returns liquid refrigerant to the compressor. The compressor fails. Total cost: a five-figure replacement, caused by a consumable worth a few dollars.

Making the budget case

The argument that works with boards and committees is not comfort, it is predictability. A maintenance agreement converts a volatile reactive line item into a fixed annual figure, plus a documented capital forecast that lets you plan replacements rather than fund emergencies.