Construction

The Construction Industry Advisor

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Regular maintenance helps protect your bottom line

Wear and tear are inevitable when it comes to construction equipment and parts. Preventive maintenance won't give new life to equipment already past its prime, but it will keep newer equipment in tip-top shape longer, protecting your investment -- and your bottom line.

A preventive maintenance program includes the same basic steps you'd perform on your own truck or family car, such as maintaining proper levels of lubricants and coolants, keeping correct tire pressures, and performing mechanical adjustments and equipment tune-ups regularly. Taking the process a step further, look for structural cracks, loose bolts, and worn rubber seals and bearings that may start small but lead to big problems if not addressed.

Another tip: When changing fluids in your equipment, don't pinch pennies by going with cheaper brands. Generally, high-quality engine oils and other fluids can provide more protection and longer machine life than their less-expensive counterparts.

Finally, develop a comprehensive inspection process customized to your fleet and operations. Routine maintenance, backed up with accurate and detailed inspection records and multiple sets of eyes looking for potential problems, will maximize equipment availability and minimize downtime. Don't just look at equipment once a year -- inspect it thoroughly every time it's used.

Knowing that dependable equipment performance is critical to your projects' success, view service and maintenance procedures as a smart investment rather than an unwanted expense. Whether it's a failed gasket or a loose-fitting hose, even the smallest annoyance can quickly turn into a major problem if left unchecked.