Your business depends on reliable power. Lights gotta stay on, computers gotta work, equipment needs to run. But most business owners dont think about electrical maintenance until somethings already broken and theyre losing money.
Last week I got a call from a cafe in Addington. Their power went out middle of lunch rush on a Saturday. Coolroom stopped working, coffee machine dead, tills not working. Turned out a main breaker failed cause the connections were corroded from years of no maintenance. Cost them thousands in lost business plus emergency callout fees. Wouldve been way cheaper to just do regular maintenance.
Why Commercial Maintenance Matters
So why bother with electrical maintenance? If everythings working why spend money on it? Cause preventative maintenance is way cheaper than emergency repairs and way less disruptive to your business.
Commercial electrical systems work harder than residential. Your running equipment all day every day. More use means more wear. Connections loosen from vibration. Dust builds up. Components age and fail.
Regular maintenance catches problems before they cause breakdowns. Loose connection we spot during inspection might not cause issues today but could fail next week when your busiest. Better to fix it during scheduled maintenance than deal with emergency downtime.
Had a retail shop in Riccarton on a maintenance contract. During routine inspection we found a circuit breaker getting hot. Wasnt tripping yet but heading that way. Replaced it during after hours maintenance. Customer didnt even know there was a problem cause we caught it early.
Maintenance also keeps you legal. Commercial premises have compliance requirements. Regular testing and certification shows your meeting safety standards. Important for insurance and if theres ever a incident.
What Commercial Maintenance Includes
Proper commercial electrical maintenance covers heaps more than just changing lightbulbs. Heres what should be happening during scheduled maintenance visits.
We start with visual inspection of your switchboard. Check for signs of overheating, corrosion, physical damage. Look for any DIY modifications that shouldnt be there.
Test all safety switches and circuit breakers. Make sure theyre actually tripping when they should. RCD testing with proper test equipment not just pushing the test button.
Thermographic scanning shows hot spots before they become problems. We use infrared cameras to find overheating connections, overloaded circuits, failing components. Stuff you cant see with your eyes.
Check and tighten all connections in the switchboard. Connections loosen over time from thermal cycling and vibration. Loose connections cause voltage drops and heat which damages equipment.
Emergency lighting gets tested monthly and annually depending on requirements. Make sure exit signs work, emergency lights come on when mains power fails, batteries are still good.
Did thermographic scan at a office in Fendalton and found a main incoming cable connection running 40 degrees hotter than it should. Tightened the connection and temp dropped to normal. Couldve failed catastrophically if we hadnt caught it.
How Often Should Maintenance Happen
Maintenance frequency depends on your business type and how hard your electrical system works. No one size fits all answer but heres some general guidelines.
Most commercial premises should have maintenance every 6-12 months minimum. Offices and retail usually fine with annual. Restaurants and industrial need more frequent cause they work their systems harder.
High use equipment like commercial kitchens, workshops, factories - these should be quarterly. Your running heavy loads constantly and breakdowns cost serious money.
Some stuff needs monthly checks. Emergency lighting, critical systems, anything thats safety related. We can do monthly visits or train your staff to do basic checks between our visits.
After any electrical work or modifications you should have inspection and testing. Make sure new works integrated properly and hasnt created problems elsewhere.
We look after several cafes around Christchurch. Service them quarterly cause commercial kitchen equipment is tough on electrical. Coffee machines, ovens, fridges, dishwashers - all pulling heaps of current. Quarterly maintenance keeps everything running and catches wear before it fails.
Maintenance Contracts vs Ad Hoc Service
You can either have a maintenance contract or just call when you need something. Contracts work way better for most businesses and heres why.
Maintenance contract means scheduled regular visits. We come whether you think you need it or not. Catches problems you didnt know existed.
Priority service when you do have problems. Contract customers go to front of the queue cause were already looking after your systems and know your setup.
Predictable costs. You know what your paying each year for maintenance. No surprise bills when somethings breaks.
Better record keeping. We track whats been done, when, what needs watching. Build up history of your systems which helps diagnose problems faster.
Discounted rates on additional work. If something does need fixing contract customers get better pricing than one off callouts.
Customer in Merivale switched from ad hoc to annual contract. First year we found and fixed three issues during scheduled maintenance that wouldve become expensive failures. Contract paid for itself first year.
Testing And Tagging Requirements
If youve got staff using electrical equipment you probly need test and tag. This is the inspection and testing of portable appliances and leads.
Test and tag requirements depend on your workplace type. Offices usually need it every 5 years. Construction sites need 3 monthly. Hostile environments like workshops might need monthly testing.
We test equipment with proper test gear. Check insulation resistance, earth continuity, polarity, all the safety stuff. Equipment that passes gets a tag showing test date and next test due.
Failed equipment gets taken out of service til its repaired or replaced. Cant just stick a tag on faulty gear and hope for the best.
Records gotta be kept. We provide register of all equipment tested showing results and test dates. Important for compliance and insurance.
Did test and tag at a warehouse in Hornby. Out of 150 appliances we failed 12 - damaged leads, faulty earths, broken casings. All stuff that couldve caused shocks or fires. Business owner had no idea cause everything still worked but wasnt safe.
Emergency Lighting Compliance
Commercial buildings need emergency lighting so people can get out safely if mains power fails. This needs regular testing to make sure it actually works when needed.
Exit signs gotta be illuminated whenever buildings occupied. Either constantly on or emergency powered if mains fails.
Emergency lights provide minimum lighting levels on exit paths. Stairs, corridors, exits all need emergency lighting.
Monthly testing means switching off mains power and making sure emergency lights come on and stay on for required duration. Usually needs 90 minutes minimum.
Annual testing is more thorough. Full discharge test of batteries, check all fittings work, verify lighting levels meet standards.
Records of testing gotta be kept on site. Building warrant of fitness requires proof of emergency lighting testing.
Office building in the CBD we maintain had emergency lights that never got tested. When we did first proper test half of them didnt work. Batteries were dead, some fittings had failed. Building was non compliant for years. We replaced the failed units and set them up on proper testing schedule.
Switchboard Maintenance
Your switchboard is heart of your electrical system. All the power comes through there. Regular switchboard maintenance prevents most electrical problems.
We open up the switchboard and inspect everything. Look for loose connections, signs of arcing, damaged components, corrosion, moisture damage.
Tighten all terminations. Cable connections, breaker terminals, busbar connections - everything gets checked and tightened to proper torque.
Clean out dust and debris. Switchboards accumulate dust over time which can cause tracking and short circuits. We vacuum it out carefully.
Check breaker operation. Test that breakers trip at correct current and reset properly. Old breakers can fail to trip when overloaded.
Verify labeling is accurate. Breakers should be labeled showing what they protect. Updates get done when modifications change circuits.
Thermographic scan shows any hot connections or components. Hot spots indicate problems before they fail completely.
Restaurant in Papanui had never opened their switchboard in 15 years. When we did first proper service it was full of grease and dust from kitchen extraction. Connections were loose and corroded. Amazing it hadnt failed. We cleaned it thoroughly, tightened everything, replaced damaged components. Whole system ran better after.
Lighting Maintenance
Commercial lighting is more than just changing bulbs. Proper maintenance keeps lighting efficient and reduces energy costs.
We check all light fittings for damage, loose connections, signs of overheating. Failed ballasts in fluorescent lights cause flickering and waste power.
LED upgrades often make sense during maintenance. Old fluorescent tubes use way more power than LED. Upgrade pays for itself in power savings.
Clean light fittings and diffusers. Dirty lights lose heaps of output. Cleaning can improve light levels 20-30% without replacing anything.
Check sensors and timers if you got automated lighting. Make sure motion sensors work properly and timers are set right for your hours.
Exterior lighting needs special attention. Weather damage, corrosion, water ingress all affect outdoor lights. Security lighting gotta work reliably.
Retail shop in Bishopdale complained about poor lighting. When we inspected half the fluorescent ballasts were failed causing lights to flicker or not work. We upgraded to LED - better light quality, lower power bills, no maintenance for years. Customer was stoked.
Data And Communications Systems
Modern businesses rely on data networks as much as power. Network cabling and equipment needs maintenance too.
We check patch panels and data cabinets. Make sure cooling is working, cables are neat and labeled, no damage or loose connections.
Test critical network points. Verify data sockets are working properly and getting good speeds. Bad cabling causes network problems.
UPS systems for servers and network gear need regular battery testing. UPS batteries only last 3-5 years. Need replacing before they fail.
Check cable routes for damage. Data cables running through ceiling spaces can get damaged by other trades or pests. Water leaks damage cabling.
Document everything. Network topology, cable runs, IP addresses. Makes troubleshooting way easier when problems happen.
Office in Sumner kept having network dropouts. When we inspected the data cabinet UPS had failed batteries and wasnt protecting equipment. Plus half the patch panel connections were loose from people unplugging stuff roughly. We sorted both issues and network problems stopped.
HVAC Electrical Maintenance
Heat pumps and air conditioning work hard in commercial environments. Electrical side needs checking as part of overall HVAC maintenance.
We check compressor electrical connections. High current connections can loosen from vibration and thermal cycling causing failures.
Test capacitors that help start compressors and fans. Weak capacitors make motors work harder and fail sooner. Testing catches this before failure.
Verify control systems work properly. Thermostats, timers, building management system integration. Commercial HVAC often has complex controls.
Check supply voltage and current draw. Under voltage makes compressors overheat. Over current indicates mechanical problems or failing motors.
Inspect contactors and relays. These switch high currents and contacts can burn causing failures. Preventative replacement before they fail saves breakdowns.
We maintain HVAC at several office buildings in the CBD. Quarterly electrical checks on all the systems. Found and replaced aging contactors, failing capacitors, loose connections. Keeps everything running through summer when AC is critical.
Compliance And Certification
Commercial electrical work needs proper certification. This proves your systems are safe and compliant with regulations.
Certificate of compliance gets issued after any electrical work. New installations, modifications, repairs - all need COC.
Electrical warrant of fitness for buildings over certain size. This requires regular electrical inspections and testing to maintain.
Records of maintenance and testing must be kept. Building owners and managers need documentation showing compliance.
Insurance companies want proof of proper maintenance. If theres a fire or incident and you cant show regular maintenance was done insurance might not pay out.
We handle all the compliance paperwork. Issue certificates, keep records, make sure everythings documented properly.
Common Commercial Electrical Problems
Some problems come up heaps in commercial premises. Knowing what to watch for helps catch issues early.
Overloaded circuits from adding more equipment over time. Businesses grow and add computers, printers, equipment but electrical system wasnt upgraded. Circuits trip, equipment runs poorly.
Power quality issues. Voltage sags, spikes, harmonics from electronic equipment. Affects computers and sensitive gear. Can need power conditioning or circuit improvements.
Failed neutral connections. Loose neutral causes voltage imbalance and equipment damage. Scary cause everything still seems to work til something expensive fails.
Aging infrastructure. Older buildings have old wiring and switchboards that struggle with modern loads. Sometimes needs full electrical upgrade.
DIY modifications. Business owner or handyman adds circuits or equipment without proper knowledge. Creates safety issues and compliance problems.
Warehouse in Sydenham kept blowing equipment. Computers failing, machinery control boards burning out. We found the main neutral connection had failed causing huge voltage imbalance. 180 volts on some circuits, 280 on others. Damaged heaps of equipment before they called us. One inspection wouldve caught it early.
Cost Of Maintenance vs Cost Of Failure
Business owners always ask what maintenance costs. Real question should be what does failure cost cause thats way more expensive.
Annual maintenance contract for small commercial premises might be 800-1500 depending on size and complexity. Quarterly contracts for heavy use businesses might be 2000-4000 per year.
Compare that to emergency callout. After hours electrician might be 200 per hour. Plus you got downtime costs - lost sales, staff standing around, customers going elsewhere.
Equipment damage from electrical problems costs heaps. Computers, POS systems, refrigeration, machinery - all expensive to replace and often not covered by warranty if electrical problem caused it.
Insurance excess for electrical fire could be 5000-10000 plus increased premiums. Not to mention lost stock, building damage, business interruption.
Regular maintenance is cheap insurance. Catches small problems before they become expensive disasters.
Choosing Commercial Electrician
Not all electricians are the same. Commercial work needs different skills and experience than residential.
Make sure theyre licensed and registered. Commercial electrical work requires proper qualifications. Ask to see their practicing license.
Experience with commercial systems matters. Three phase power, high current installations, commercial switchboards - different from house wiring.
After hours availability. Commercial maintenance often needs to happen outside business hours. Make sure they can work evenings or weekends.
Good record keeping and reporting. You need proper documentation of work done for compliance and insurance.
References from other commercial clients. Talk to businesses theyve worked with. Are they reliable? Do they understand commercial needs?
Why Choose WeDo For Commercial Maintenance
We do electrical maintenance for commercial businesses all over Christchurch. Offices, retail, cafes, restaurants, warehouses, industrial - we work on all types.
All our electricians are fully licensed with commercial experience. We understand business electrical systems and compliance requirements.
We offer maintenance contracts tailored to your needs. Monthly, quarterly, or annual visits depending on your business type and requirements.
After hours and weekend maintenance available. We work around your business hours so maintenance doesnt disrupt operations.
Emergency support for contract customers. If you got a problem we prioritize your callout cause were already looking after your systems.
Proper documentation and certification. We keep detailed records and provide all compliance paperwork you need.
Give us a call to discuss commercial maintenance for your business. We can assess your needs, recommend maintenance schedule, quote everything properly. Preventative maintenance is way smarter than waiting for failures.