Dust Collector Maintenance: DIY or Outsource?

Should you maintain your dust collector in-house, or should you outsource dust collector maintenance to the pros? There are a number of considerations, including the complexity of your dust collection system and the resources and skill level of your maintenance team. For many businesses, outsourcing dust collector maintenance to factory-trained professionals provides peace of mind, reduces the burden on in-house staff, and ensures safety and compliance. A service contract can help manufacturers predict costs and minimize maintenance downtime. 

The Importance of Dust Collector Preventive Maintenance

Regular dust collector maintenance tasks include emptying the dust bins (daily to weekly), changing filters, inspecting and servicing the pulsing system, and cleaning and calibrating the system as a whole. Maintaining dust collectors is crucial for a safe, efficient, and regulation-compliant work environment. A poorly maintained dust collector puts facilities at risk for unplanned downtime and an unhealthy work environment. Potential problems include: 

• Poor air quality due to particulate escaping past damaged or loaded filters, putting workers and processes at risk.
• An increased risk of dust collector fires and explosions.  
• Decreased system efficiency and greater wear-and-tear on the motor and blower, potentially shortening the equipment lifespan. 
• Increased risk of equipment failures, resulting in costly repairs or replacements and unplanned production downtime.
• Non-compliance with environmental and safety regulations, potentially leading to fines and legal issues. 

Factors to Consider in Maintenance Decisions

There are several factors to consider when deciding between in-house and outsourced dust collector maintenance. Ultimately, maintenance is a strategic business decision that must be made with your organization's specific needs and capabilities in mind. Consider: 

• Expertise and Training: Assess whether your in-house team has the necessary skills and knowledge for maintenance. If not, consider the costs and feasibility of training versus the specialized expertise offered by outsourcing.
• Frequency and Complexity of Maintenance: Consider how often maintenance is needed and the complexity of the tasks. Frequent, simple maintenance such as emptying dust bins might be more manageable in-house, while complex, less frequent tasks like a full PM service could be better outsourced.
• Compliance and Risk Management: Determine your ability to comply with safety and environmental regulations in-house. Outsourcing often ensures adherence to these standards, transferring some maintenance-related risks to the service provider.
• Operational Focus and Resource Allocation: Reflect on how maintenance aligns with your core business activities. Outsourcing can allow your team to focus more on primary operations, while in-house maintenance might require diverting resources from core activities.
• Cost Implications: Evaluate both the immediate and long-term costs of each option. This includes the upfront investment in tools and training for in-house maintenance versus the recurring costs of a service contract for outsourced maintenance.

The Case for Outsourcing Dust Collector Maintenance

Manufacturers should plan to perform daily and weekly dust collector maintenance, including emptying dust bins/trays as needed, monitoring filter pressure, and checking alerts on the control panel for emerging issues that require attention. However, many companies benefit from outsourcing formal PM service to factory-trained professionals. Outsourcing dust collector PM allows your team to stay focused on core business activities while ensuring that the dust collector is operating in peak condition. 

In addition to saving time for your team, professional dust collector service can help you extend the life of your dust collection system and reduce the risks of expensive repairs or downtime. Factory-trained maintenance professionals can spot and resolve emerging problems during your PM. A qualified service provider will not only change dust collector filters but also thoroughly inspect and test equipment, check system settings and calibrate the system for optimal performance, and replace worn parts or schedule proactive repair if issues are developing. 

That's why professional dust collector service usually saves both time and money in the long run. Maintenance is provided on a predictable schedule to prevent small problems from escalating into major issues. Outsourcing dust collector PM can help you:

• Reduce time and training costs for your in-house team. 
• Ensure business continuity and prevent costly production shutdowns.
• Optimize dust collector performance to save energy and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. 
• Extend the life of your dust collection equipment. 

Count on the Factory-Trained Professionals at RoboVent 

When you contract for dust collector maintenance with RoboVent, you can count on factory-trained professionals who know your dust collection system inside and out. We have local teams across North America who have gone through our stringent training process, which includes both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in industrial dust collector maintenance and repair. 

We also offer extended service contracts tailored to your equipment needs and usage. Here's how it works: 

• We schedule PM service at regular intervals (e.g., monthly or quarterly) based on your usage rates. 
• Our factory-trained teams conduct a thorough inspection of your equipment, including hours on, filter status/filter pressure, pulsing system, containment system, motor/blower, spark arrestance and/or fire suppression systems, safety stops, and control systems.
• We change filters if necessary. 
• If there are any alerts, we resolve and clear them. 
• If parts need to be serviced or replaced (e.g., motor bearings, fan belts, etc.), we take care of it on the spot when possible or schedule a repair service. Our technicians carry most common parts with them for same-day service. 
• Service is performed for a predictable flat rate, plus the costs of filters, parts and consumables. 

Contact us to schedule dust collector service or ask about our extended warranty program today.