One of the most important aspects of maintaining your property’s laundry room is conducting regular inspections. Addressing issues promptly improves resident satisfaction and boosts revenue. Ensuring your laundry room equipment is functioning properly can be a daunting task, especially when it’s unclear which machines require the most attention. In this blog, we’ll explain the importance of monthly preventative inspections and highlight which laundry room equipment to prioritize to maximize savings.
Why Do Preventative Inspections?
You may be wondering how preventative inspections can save you money over time. Why is it more cost-effective to repair your equipment before a critical failure rather than after one occurs? There are three key reasons why preventative maintenance is a smarter financial decision:
1. Preventative Maintenance Saves Money for Big Repairs
Rather than waiting for machines to break down completely before making repairs, it is far more beneficial both operationally and financially to catch major issues early. According to The Laundry Resource, property owners should develop a maintenance schedule tailored to their specific needs and perform cleanings at the same regular intervals. This proactive approach can save money on everything from costly replacement parts to avoiding full equipment replacements. Reducing the need for annual or biannual machine replacements ultimately protects your bottom line.
2. Boost Resident Experience
Your residents will appreciate having reliable machines available when they need them. Keeping your laundry room equipment in full working order allows residents to focus on their chores and busy schedules instead of submitting maintenance requests. Maintaining well-functioning machines helps foster a positive relationship with your residents, which is always beneficial for your property as well as tenant retention.
3. Saving Money on Energy Costs
If your machines are not running at optimal condition, you might be losing money on your energy bills. An article from Dwellent highlights the importance of such preventative maintenance, citing that the longevity of your machines will improve. They also state that your energy costs will go down, as your machinery will run more efficiently and use less electricity.
Which Laundry Room Equipment Is Most Important?
Now that we’ve explained why preventative inspections are essential to protecting your bottom line, let’s review the most critical areas to focus on during inspections.
Before diving in, be sure to leverage data and technology to your advantage. Tracking tools in your laundry rooms can help you stay informed about maintenance issues and potential malfunctions. Maintenance tracking software like LaundryConnect™ allows you to monitor requests and problems in real time. Use these tools alongside regular inspections for the best results.
With that in mind, here are the three most important areas to check during your inspections:
1. Washer and Dryers
The most important part of your inspections should be checking your washing machines and dryers. Check the drum and barrel for any buildup or obstructions. Make sure the buttons and terminals are in working order. Ensure that the latch mechanism shuts properly, and deep clean your machines at least once a month. Conducting an inspection at least once a month and deep cleaning at that same frequency will prevent future issues for your laundry room equipment. If you’re using a software like LaundryConnect™PAY, it would be beneficial to ensure your tap points are in working order as well.
2. Card/Refill Stations
If you have laundry card stations or manual coin stations for refilling a laundry card, you should conduct inspections on these as well. Are the coin slots jammed or damaged? Is the internal mechanism not dispensing credits as it should? If you’ve had reported issues with your refill station, be sure to conduct a thorough investigation to weed out any issues. This also goes for an app, if your property uses one to conduct contactless payment.
3. Electrical Equipment And Miscellaneous Malfunctions
Make sure that you conduct a thorough check of all electrical paneling and sockets. Make sure that your wires in your laundry room are not frayed, damaged, or sparking. Ensure that your circuit breaker is not experiencing any issues. This goes for all of your laundry room equipment, payment terminals included. If you’re experiencing these issues that might interfere with your property’s electrical safety, make sure to contact maintenance to fix these malfunctions promptly and safely. The American Coin Op suggests that you check exhaust ports, drainage and other laundry machine parts to ensure their safety and efficiency.
These three facets of inspections cover the most important aspects of your property’s laundry room, keeping your resident’s experience and safety in mind.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve explored various ways you can prevent major maintenance issues from popping up, we hope that we have assisted you in providing a higher level of service for your machines and your residents. Performing your preventative maintenance will not only help your residents, but also take a weight off your shoulders as well. If you need extra support with your laundry room equipment, contact Automatic Laundry today.
