Estimates indicate that poorly designed and maintained compressed air systems in the United States account for up to $3.2 billion in wasted utility payments every year. Here are three maintenance strategies that are easy to prioritize in 2015:
- Budget for Maintenance
While maintenance costs only account for about 5-10% of an air compressor’s annual cost of ownership, failing to set aside a budget for maintenance can lead to potentially devastating consequences. Deferred maintenance leads to an increased risk of downtime and decreased efficiency throughout the compressed air system.
Because maintenance costs are relatively low in relation to other compressed air costs, planning a maintenance budget should be an annual exercise. Make sure you consider all the factors that might affect the budget including the types of compressors, auxiliary equipment, operating cycle, installation conditions, safety, energy recovery or cooling systems, utilization and maintenance scheduling.
- Establish a Maintenance Routine
Proper maintenance not only helps reduce your next energy bill, but also helps extend the life of your compressed air system well into the future.
If do-it-yourself maintenance is not an option in your facility, a service agreement can help optimize your compressed air system, as well as take the guesswork out of maintenance planning. Atlas Copco offers a variety of service agreements that includes all regular maintenance, engineering improvements, breakdown repairs and machine overhauls with fixed annual costs for the agreed period. If you would like to learn more about our service agreements or schedule a visit, fill out our Request a Quote form and a service representative will be in contact with you soon.
- Explore Advanced Data Monitoring
Because compressed air is an essential component of many processes in a variety of industries, it is important to make sure compressed air systems operate as efficiently as possible. If you aren’t already monitoring your compressed air system on a regular basis, you might be missing the signs that could indicate a potential problem.
Advanced data monitoring of equipment is one of the most effective strategies to improve compressed air system efficiency and avoid costly downtime. Our customizable compressed air monitoring program, SMARTLINK, provides plant operators with the tools to recognize and react to performance changes in real-time. SMARTLINK is divided into three levels – service, uptime and energy – offering flexible monitoring solutions for any facility or budget. Learn more about SMARTLINK by visiting our service page, Monitor Your Products; or, download the SMARTLINK brochure.
Well-planned maintenance helps you anticipate costs and ultimately extends the life of the Atlas Copco compressor and its auxiliary equipment. December is the time to plan. Contact us if you have any questions or would like to arrange a customer support visit.
