UPS service
UPS preventive maintenance
A preventive maintenance visit checks the parts of a UPS that wear out before they cause an outage: batteries, cooling fans, capacitors, air filters and power connections. We schedule one or two visits a year, test the system under its real load, and leave a written report with readings and recommendations. Visits run across Canada, with same-day dispatch in Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto and Ottawa.
Key facts
- Fan replacement: Every six years; estimated life not less than seven years (Liebert EXM2 manual)
- Bus capacitor replacement: Every six years (Liebert EXM2 manual)
- VRLA battery, 5-year design: Replace at three to four years; inspect every six months (Liebert EXM2 manual)
- Thermal scan: Every three months (Eaton recommendation)
- Air filter inspection: Every month (Eaton)
- Two visits a year vs none: MTBF 23 times higher (Vertiv data)
What a maintenance visit covers
- Visual and thermal inspection. We look for heat damage, corrosion, swelling and leaks, and scan cabinets and connections with an infrared camera under load.
- Battery testing. Block or cell voltages, internal resistance or impedance, terminal condition and cabinet temperature, compared with the last visit.
- Wear parts. Fans, DC bus and AC filter capacitors and air filters are checked against their age and the manufacturer's replacement interval.
- Connections. Power terminations are checked for tightness. Vertiv's EXM2 manual calls for routine tightening at least once a year.
- Event log and settings. We download alarms and transfers since the last visit and confirm firmware and settings.
- Transfer tests. Static bypass and maintenance bypass operation, where the site allows it.
The full checklist is in our three-phase UPS preventive maintenance guide.
Wear parts and their replacement intervals
Manufacturers publish service lives for the parts that age. As an example, the user manual of the Liebert EXM2 (100 to 250 kVA) gives these figures:
| Part | Estimated life | Proposed replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Fan | Not less than 7 years | 6 years |
| Bus capacitor | Not less than 7 years | 6 years |
| VRLA battery (5-year design life) | 5 years | 3 to 4 years |
Other families publish their own intervals, and a hot room shortens all of them. We track every part's age in the report so replacements can be budgeted instead of discovered.
How often to schedule a visit
Once a year is the minimum for any UPS protecting a critical load; twice a year is better for large systems and for sites with a warm or dusty room. Vertiv's reliability study found that units maintained twice a year had a mean time between failures 23 times higher than units with no maintenance, and concluded that two or more visits a year substantially increase reliability.
Some checks are worth doing between visits. Eaton recommends a thermal scan every three months and a full mechanical review of the UPS and battery cabinets each year, and says air filters should be inspected every month.
Plans
- Annual visit: one full inspection and battery test a year.
- Twice-yearly plan: a full visit and a battery-focused visit six months apart.
- Multi-site plan: one schedule, one report format and one invoice for every site in the country.
- Maintenance with batteries: visits plus planned string replacement when the batteries reach their replacement window.
Plans are written as maintenance contracts with the response times and parts terms spelled out.
The checklist behind these visits is laid out item by item in this description of a preventive maintenance program for UPS systems. Smaller rack and tower fleets are also covered by UPS maintenance plans for single-phase units.
The report you receive
Every visit ends with a written report: battery readings per block or cell, thermal images of anything abnormal, the event log summary, parts replaced, the age of each wear part and a prioritized list of recommendations. Readings are compared with the previous visit so trends show up early. Facility managers use it for budgets; auditors use it as maintenance evidence.
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Common questions
How often should a UPS be maintained?
At least once a year, and twice a year for large three-phase systems or warm, dusty rooms. Vertiv's data shows a mean time between failures 23 times higher with two visits a year than with none.
Does a maintenance visit interrupt the load?
Usually not. Inspection, thermal scanning and battery testing are done with the load running. Tests that need a transfer to bypass or a shutdown are scheduled with you in advance.
What is replaced during a visit?
Air filters are cleaned or replaced on the spot. Fans, capacitors and batteries are replaced when they reach the manufacturer's interval or test poorly, after you approve the quote.
Do you maintain units under the manufacturer's warranty?
Warranty work stays with the manufacturer. Many owners still add their own inspections, or hand maintenance over to us when the warranty ends.
Do you maintain single-phase UPS as well?
Yes. Rack and tower units get a shorter visit focused on the battery, fans and event log, often grouped with the three-phase systems on the same site.
How quickly can you schedule a first visit?
We reply with a quote within 4 business hours. Planned visits are booked around your operations; emergencies are dispatched the same day in Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto and Ottawa, and within 24 to 48 hours elsewhere.
Sources, checked October 4, 2026:
- Vertiv Liebert EXM2 User Manual, 100 kVA to 250 kVA UPS, SL-71070 Rev B (06-23), pp. 163, 165
- Vertiv Liebert EXM2 User Manual, 100 kVA to 250 kVA UPS, SL-71070 Rev B (06-23), Table 11.1, p. 164
- Eaton, Top five UPS components that require preventive maintenance
- Vertiv white paper: preventive maintenance, remote monitoring, critical power system reliability, pp. 2, 5
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