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Keep Your Team Informed
This is our 4th Newsletter and we have received some terrific comments from you, our clients. You tell us you think it has real educational value, so...
We want to send this publication to all your key people. Soon we will contact you for the names of those we should add to the list. But don't wait for us. Call now and give us any appropriate names & we'll add them to the list for future mailings. |
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A Special Note To Those With Empty Buildings
 It is always hard... and expensive... to have an empty building. Yet, in the property management/ownership world, a building not producing revenue still has costs -- loan costs, insurance costs, maintenance costs, etc. Not the best situation at all!
In our emergency power world we see this play out by attempts to avoid on-going maintenance costs. This is smart -- but not if taken too far. Because, among all things...
Your need to preserve the value of your assets.
You need to have a functioning property to take to market.
What does this have to do with your emergency (standby) power system? Can't it just be ignored if it is not needed? The answer is an emphatic NO! For the 2 reasons given above:
1. You Must Preserve The Value Of Your Asset.
Equipment of this kind is deteriorating continuously from the day it is installed. Your on-going maintenance program slows the deterioration -- it "flattens" the deterioration "curve" and gives it a full life of 20-30 years.
Neglect the maintenance and your equipment will quickly become unreliable and deteriorate much more rapidly. In fact, you could shorten its life by as much as 1/2!
Maintain it and preserve its value.
2. You Must Have A Functioning Asset to Market The Property.
Any prospective tenant, needing backup power, will pass on a property without a well-functioning emergency power system. Don't limit your prospects to those who don't need this capability.
Recommendation: Discuss your situation openly and frankly with us. Let us devise a plan to accomplish these goals as inexpensively as possible.
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Using Biodiesel... Not A Good Idea!
We receive regular calls from our clients wanting to know if they can use Biodiesel to fuel their generator set. This usually stems from a corporate-wide effort to go "green" with, sometimes, a push from top-management or an inside "Green Team."
The short answer is...
Can you do it? YES.
Should you do it? NO!
Why not? Isn't this the wave of the future? Won't this help the planet? Isn't biodiesel just as good as "regular" diesel fuel oil? Won't we be good citizens by doing this?
This is too important a topic to present without a full treatment. Therefore, we have used this Newsletter to introduce the topic.
The next (May) Newsletter will explore this topic in greater detail. Bear with us until then.
Biodiesel In Generator sets... Not A Good Idea! in Next Issue |
The 10 Biggest Maintenance Mistakes:
No. 4: Not Performing a Transfer Test at Least Every 6 Months
In our last Newsletter, we introduced the NFPA 110 standard to you. This standard establishes "best practices" for our industry. You can review that article in our March Newsletter here. We strongly urge you to purchase this standard for your library.
This standard calls for testing the functionality of your entire emergency (standby) system each month. This is accomplished by performing a transfer test (at Electro-Motion, we call this a Building Transfer Test).
Here's the problem. This test involves 2-4 short interruptions of electric power to the circuits your equipment "backs up" and this may be unwelcome by some employees. Remember, for instance, any computer work not "saved" at the time of a power interruption will be lost. Obviously, it's important to notify everyone when this test will take place.
In spite of this small problem, this test is critical! If you don't do this test periodically, you have no way of knowing if your system will perform during a power outage. Another thought... if you put all of your maintenance budget into the generator set, but your switch fails for lack of testing, have you paid too much for too little?
NFPA 110 calls for this test every month. This is an optimal program. If, however, this interval is difficult to arrange, we suggest you perform it every 6 months.
This test is really inexpensive, yet delivers so much value. Schedule this test to be done during our next visit.
Note: Mistakes 1-4 can be reviewed here
Mistake No. 5 in Next Issue. |
| Featured Client: Alta Mesa
We have had the privilege & pleasure to serve Alta Mesa for more than 12 years. It's been a great relationship!
As part of an extensive construction & remodeling project, they recently replaced their diesel generator set with a new natural gas unit. After this installation was completed, they immediately signed a new agreement to keep it in top shape. We appreciate the confidence this show in our work and our commitment to preserving their asset's value & dependability.
Marilyn Talbot, General Manager, personally authorizes & supervises our work. We are pleased to support Alta Mesa and their outstanding program. | |
Team Spirit
The man whose job it was to pump the old cathedral organ declared after one service: "We performed well today."
"We performed? said the organist raising her eyebrows. "It
was I who performed."
A week went by until the next service, which began beautifully. Then the music suddenly stopped. "Why aren't you pumping?" the organist cried. "How can I play?"
The man peered out from behind the organ. "Don't you mean how can WE play?"
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Quick Links
phone: 650-321-6169
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Quick Tip #4
Housekeeping is Important!
As you inspect your emergency (standby) equipment each week, pay attention to the area immediately around the equipment.
Generator Set
1. Keep the area clear for 3' around the unit.
2. Sweep up all debris/dirt.
Transfer Switch
1. Keep the area clear for 3' in front of the switch.
These few simple things will help your equipment function well & head off potential extra work. |
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"Electro-Motion is the most reliable generator maintenance company I know of. They return phone calls, are 'spot on' for periodic maintenance and remove the brain damage and inherent liability issues that come with generator maintenance."
Alan Webber
Senior Vice President
~ Menlo Equities Management Company |
Contact Information About Your Company
We are in the process of updating our contact information for your company. This is important to us both. Why?
To effectively serve you, we must be able to contact the correct individual...to schedule work, to send proposals, to send invoices, etc.
We intend to make this process as painless as possible by sending you a PDF file with as much of your current information filled in as possible. You will be able to enter or correct information directly on this PDF file and send it directly back to us.
Please help us complete this project quickly. The information you provide will allow us to serve you better!
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Next Issue
Maintenance Mistake #5
Featured Client
Quick Tip #5
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Electro-Motion has been maintaining emergency power (generator set) equipment since 1967. We are now one of the largest generator maintenance/service companies in the Bay Area. We are also the oldest generator service/maintenance company in the Bay Area...enjoying our 43rd anniversary in 2010!
We are particularly known for 3 things:
First, we are the only generator company that also provides maintenance of the Automatic Transfer Switch, which is crucial for a comprehensive program. This means all the equipment in your emergency systems will be taken care of...reducing the anxiety of having only a partial job done. Second, we are committed to being close & responsive to our customers. This means we will, if called upon, respond quickly when you call. And arrive quickly in an emergency. This is difficult for other companies located in San Leandro, Stockton, etc. who, perhaps, have a lesser commitment to serving. Third, we tailor our maintenance programs to the specific needs of our clients. We do not try to "sell" them a "cookie-cutter" program that may, or may not, be suitable for their unique needs. This means you get exactly what you want and need...no more and no less. |
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