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Tips for Maintaining Your UPS
Why Winter is a Stress Test for Your UPS
Winter storms, freezing temperatures, and power outages—these seasonal challenges can spell disaster for your critical electronics and data if your UPS isn’t prepared. Imagine working on an important project or running vital business operations when an unexpected outage strikes. Without a reliable UPS, your equipment could shut down abruptly, risking data loss, downtime, or even permanent damage.
How Winter Affects Your UPS
Your UPS is a silent protector, ready to spring into action when the power fails. However, winter weather poses unique threats that can compromise its effectiveness:
Temperature Extremes: Cold weather can reduce battery efficiency, shorten its lifespan, or even cause it to fail entirely.
Moisture and Condensation: Drastic temperature changes can lead to condensation, damaging internal components.
Power Surges: Snowstorms and icy conditions often cause voltage spikes from downed lines or utility repairs.
Increased Usage: With more frequent outages in winter, your UPS is put to the test, and any weak spots are more likely to show.
Winter-Proof Your UPS with These Tips
To ensure your UPS performs reliably this winter, follow these key steps:
Check UPS and Battery Health:
If you don’t have a service contract and you are unsure of the status and overall health of your physical backup infrastructure systems, then it is advisable to book one in, particularly if the systems are 5 years or more old. Continu can carry out the health checks to determine level of redundancy, map out dependencies, as well as address problems that could undermine your backup power.
Control the Environment:
Place your UPS in a dry, temperature-controlled area. Large fluctuations can play havoc with your IT equipment and affect the lifespan of your UPS batteries. Is the area clean? Dust and other debris can also cause problems to your I.T. equipment and shorten the lifespan of moving parts.
Avoid Overloading and Stay Consistent:
Overloading your UPS reduces battery runtime, leaving you vulnerable during extended outages. In addition to protecting from outright power failures, the UPS is also crucial to ensuring power quality is consistent, with no voltage variations, transients, spikes, or the like which are harmful, especially to sensitive equipment
Install Remote Monitoring:
Remote monitoring (‘EcoStruxure IT’ by APC) provides an efficient alternative to having an engineer physically on your site. This service uses real time monitoring of your assets. During the winter months, your IT or facilities manager may not be able to reach the site. If you have remote monitoring software installed, this provides instant information about the health of your system, often leading to a faster and more efficient resolution
A Reliable UPS Is Your Winter Ally
Winter’s unpredictable power conditions make a properly maintained UPS more important than ever. By taking proactive steps now, you can ensure your UPS is ready to protect your devices, data, and peace of mind. Remember: the investment of time and effort in UPS maintenance pales in comparison to the cost of downtime, lost work, or damaged equipment. Don’t wait for a power outage to test your system—prepare today and power through winter with confidence.
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