Preventive Maintenance
A Personal and Professional Perspective.
As both an engineer and general manager of a service company, it might be assumed that I’ve always valued the importance of proper maintenance, particularly when it comes to mechanical equipment. However, that couldn't be further from the truth. Early on, I had a very different approach to vehicle care, which inadvertently shaped my views on equipment maintenance over the years.
In my younger days, I owned a truck that I never bothered to change the oil in—opting instead to just keep adding oil when it ran low. Even if the engine leaked significantly, I’d simply top it off every month or two, never really considering that a better approach might prevent the issue in the first place. I followed the same method with other vehicles. I’d drive them hard, with no concern for their long-term reliability, and sell them off after a year or two. Remarkably, this method worked for me. I never experienced catastrophic failures or breakdowns, so I had little reason to change my mindset at the time.
It wasn’t until later in my life that I began to adopt a very different mentality about the care of machinery and equipment. This shift in perspective has not only improved my personal experiences with my vehicles, but it has also shaped my professional approach to maintaining mechanical equipment within buildings.
Like many mechanically inclined individuals, I’ve always enjoyed working on my own equipment—whether that’s cars, motorcycles, or lawnmowers. But my real transformation didn’t start with maintenance; it started with repairs. When something broke, my natural inclination was to save money by searching for the cheapest parts I could find. It didn’t take long to realize the pitfalls of this approach. Cheap parts fail before they reach their intended service intervals, which inevitably leads to more repairs and more expenses. This vicious cycle of replacing failed components was costing me more in the long run than simply buying higher-quality parts from the beginning.
Recognizing this pattern, I began to invest in better components. The more I spent on quality parts, the more invested I became in ensuring their longevity. This change happened slowly at first, but eventually it transformed my entire approach to maintenance. I started to see the long-term value in keeping equipment running smoothly, and I began to understand that the longer something lasts, the more valuable it becomes—not just financially, but operationally.
This principle applies equally to mechanical equipment within buildings. What began with personal vehicles has evolved into a professional philosophy, and it’s something I practice every day in our service company. One of the things I love most about our business is the opportunity to apply these hard-learned lessons in the real world. We live in a society that values instant results and the lowest possible cost, but I’ve found that patience and a proactive approach can lead to far better outcomes.
When I recommend preventive maintenance to our customers, it’s not to make a sale—it’s because I’ve seen the results firsthand. Preventive maintenance works, and I’m living proof of that. My current vehicle, for example, has over 140,000 miles on it without a single part failure. That’s not by accident. It started by purchasing a high-quality vehicle at a fair price—not the other way around. Add regular maintenance to the mix, and that vehicle has become as reliable as any new car on the market. In fact, I’d argue it’s more reliable. The same holds true for commercial equipment, whether it’s sump pumps, hot water heaters, or HVAC systems.
The benefits of this approach extend beyond just the equipment. When property owners take the time to implement preventive maintenance programs, we see a distinct change in how their operations run. Equipment failures become less frequent, and when they do happen, they’re easier to manage. Downtime is minimized, allowing businesses to run more smoothly. Budgeting becomes more predictable because owners aren’t constantly dealing with unplanned repairs or replacements. Perhaps most importantly, there’s a clear improvement in the overall owner experience. They no longer have to worry about their equipment breaking down unexpectedly. Instead, they can focus on their core business operations, knowing their mechanical systems are in good hands.
At our company, we don’t just swap parts to keep things running. We take the time to understand the equipment, diagnose issues correctly, and make repairs that last. We treat every customer’s equipment like it’s our own. This means recommending the right preventive maintenance plans not because it’s profitable for us, but because it’s the best way to ensure the longevity and reliability of their equipment.
In the end, proper pump preventative maintenance in NYC isn’t just about fixing problems as they arise. It’s about preventing those problems from happening in the first place. Whether it’s a truck, a sump pump, or a commercial HVAC system, the same rules apply: invest in quality parts, maintain them properly, and the equipment will reward you with years of dependable service.
