When it comes to data protection, many people think of encryption and ransomware detection but fail to consider data center preventive maintenance. Unfortunately, even the most sophisticated data center will fail if the physical space isn’t properly maintained.

Data loss and downtime can cost companies thousands, if not millions, of dollars. To avoid them, it’s important to understand the necessary steps to keep a data center running smoothly.

Why Preventive Maintenance Matters

Preventive maintenance is essential for the long-term success of a data center facility. Critical hardware requires a constant supply of power, appropriate temperatures, a lack of dust, and protection from natural disasters like fires.

When a data center fails, it can have devastating consequences. In 2020, the Uptime Institute surveyed IT managers and found that the majority of data center outages had cost more than $100,000, and nearly a third of respondents reported costs at or above $1 million. Fortunately, outages can often be prevented with planning and regular maintenance.

Systems that Require Preventive Maintenance

Data centers rely on the same systems as other facilities, but special attention must be paid to their condition. If even one of these systems is improperly maintained, it can lead to hardware failure.

HVAC

Data centers run on servers, which generate significant heat. For this reason, HVAC maintenance is of the utmost importance.

A few key steps can optimize HVAC system performance, preventing outages and reducing energy costs.

• Perform recommended preventive maintenance for HVAC air handlers, including cleaning coils to achieve energy efficiency.
• Consistently change filters to prevent dust accumulation.
• Schedule preventive maintenance for chillers, including checking for leaks, oil and pressure levels, and electrical components.
• Regularly inspect equipment for the buildup of limescale or other deposits.
• Inspect the subfloor plenum to look for problems that could interfere with the HVAC system’s ability to function.
• Look for and clean any dust or debris accumulations under or around the air conditioning unit.

While it’s impossible to prevent every HVAC failure, a maintenance schedule helps detect and fix minor issues that could become big problems.

Floors

Raised floors make room for expansive systems of cables and wiring and allow for sufficient airflow and cooling. Data center raised flooring preventive maintenance includes annual inspections to ensure that they are structurally sound, replacement of warped or delaminated panels, and rotating panels in high-traffic areas.

In addition, raised floor cleaning is essential. This includes daily vacuuming to remove dust and debris. You should also schedule professional quarterly cleaning of the raised floor and subfloor plenum cleaning at least twice a year.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

Failed power systems are one of the most frequently cited causes of data center downtime and data loss. Unfortunately, many businesses experience UPS failure because they have not maintained and serviced the system properly.

To avoid a potential power outage, it’s vital that you perform preventive maintenance for UPS systems, including:

• Monitoring battery life
• Conducting physical inspections
• Testing capacitors
• Calibrating equipment

Even if your UPS system has never been used, the battery life will still diminish over time. Continue to perform preventive maintenance for battery backup systems regardless of how frequently they have been used.

Generators

Generators are also key to protecting a data center in the event of power loss. There is a long list of tasks for preventive maintenance for generators and diesel fuel, but some of the most important ones are:

• Monitoring oil and coolant levels and inspecting for leaks
• Inspecting exhaust pipes and air filters
• Checking the fuel supply level and refueling when necessary

Well-maintained generators can mean the difference between a lengthy period of downtime and an operational data center.

Fire Protection

Although data center fires are rare, it is worth the effort and expense to ensure that your business is properly protected from them. No matter what sort of system you choose to install, preventive maintenance for fire detection and suppression measures is critical.

Among the tasks you will need to complete are maintaining your sprinklers, verifying the functionality of fire alarms, testing smoke detectors, and ensuring that all fire extinguishers are in working order.

Cleaning

While many elements of a preventive maintenance plan may occur annually or every six months, you should have a daily routine for data center cleaning preventive maintenance.

More specifically, your routine should focus on eliminating contaminants like dust and ferrous metal. If left unchecked, they can cause disk errors, overheating, and server failures.

Basic daily cleaning significantly improves the stability of your data center hardware. This, in turn, helps avoid service interruptions, which can be extremely detrimental to any business’s long-term success.

Seeking Maintenance and Cleaning Services

Properly maintaining your data center might seem like an overwhelming prospect, but there are resources available to help. You can partner with third-party providers for each of your data center’s systems and rely on the expertise of professional data center cleaners.

While maintenance and cleaning may seem like an unnecessary investment, in reality, they save significant amounts of money by preventing data loss and downtimes.