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What Is Reactive Maintenance?

December 27, 2024

As the name suggests, reactive maintenance only happens when an issue is identified. It is more focused on working with the issue as they are occurring, rather than scheduling in advance for checkup and repairs. For instance, if your lighting had gone out suddenly, you will be calling an electrician to help you resolve the issue as soon as possible.

reactive maintenance

Why is Reactive Maintenance Important?

The importance of reactive maintenance lies in the fact how it helps your company deal and respond to electrical concerns in a timely manner.

  • Requires little to no planning: When you respond to a breakdown rather than expecting and preparing for it, you don't have time to train and prepare your employees.
  • Reduced installation costs: Because all the financial resources necessary to conduct a reactive maintenance plan are only used when an asset fails, there is essentially no initial cost.
  • Reactive maintenance requires fewer full-time personnel since it isn't labor-intensive until an asset fails, freeing up staff and resources for other company needs. 
  • No regular stoppages: Because you are not habitually interrupting production to repair an asset, you do not need to prepare for any stoppages.
AspectReactive MaintenanceProactive Maintenance
ApproachFix as problems ariseRegularly scheduled checks
CostHigher long-term costsLower long-term costs
DowntimeUnplanned downtimeMinimal downtime
SafetyPotential safety risksImproved safety

Comparing Reactive and Proactive Maintenance

To make things clear, here’s the difference between reactive and proactive maintenance.

  • Reactive maintenance. As mentioned above, it is more focused on repairing a certain item after it fails. 
  • Proactive maintenance. It is the usual routine checkup and maintenance of your equipment, determining arising electrical concerns and aiding it before it gets worse.

How Reactive Maintenance Works in Practice

Here’s a rough idea of how reactive maintenance works when you call a commercial electrician.

  1. Problem Identification. The first thing they do is to spot the concern or electrical issue. 
  2. Request Assistance. Once you have spotted the issue, immediately call for assistance from your trusted commercial electrician near you. You may inform them of your observation beforehand to help them prepare. 
  3. Arrival and Assessment. Upon the arrival of the electrician, they’ll be assessing the situation. Checking your electrical systems, equipment, etc.
  4. Conduct Repairs. The repairs start after they have diagnosed the problem.
  5. Testing and Confirmation. It is always important that after every repair, your electrician will conduct a test to see if the issue has been resolved. This is a vital step to prevent future concerns.
  6. Documentation. Once tested and verified, the last step is to document the accomplished tasks on that day and take down notes of issues that occurred. This helps future maintenance electricians keep track of repairs that have been done.

Common Situations for Reactive Maintenance

There are various electrical issues that may need reactive maintenance. Electricians often deals with the following:

  • Power Outages
  • Equipment Failures
  • Flickering Lights
  • Circuit Breaker Trips

Additional Common Issues

IssueDescriptionPossible Solutions
Overloaded CircuitsExcessive load on a single circuitRedistribute load, upgrade circuit capacity
Faulty WiringDamaged or incorrect wiringRewire affected areas
Outdated Electrical PanelsOlder panels may not handle current loadUpgrade to modern electrical panels
Inconsistent VoltageFluctuations in power supplyInstall voltage regulators

In commercial settings, reactive maintenance plays an important role. And that is to ensure that sudden electrical issues can be resolved promptly. When you recognize the value of reactive maintenance helps your business’ electrical system management.

To see an improved result, it is still ideal to combine proactive and reactive maintenance. This will surely help your electrical system work efficiently and can reduce unprecedented outages. Remember, a well-maintained electrical system will boost your electrical system and also keeps the safety of everyone involved in your business.

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