ForConstructionPros.com

A Daily Commitment to Service
In Marcus Thompson's line of work, preventive maintenance is critical to keep machines running smoothly. Thompson works with his father, Hiram, his uncle, Glen, his brother, Tyson, and his cousin, Paxton, at Thompson Wrecking, a third-generation demolition/asbestos abatement firm headquartered in Augusta, GA.

The types of jobs the company performs can be tough on excavators. For example, crews are currently tearing down a hospital in Georgia, as well as an incinerator plant in South Carolina that was used to burn medical waste.

"We try and compensate for [tough jobs] by putting a good preventive maintenance program in place," says Thompson. "We have a couple of full-time mechanics who keep our excavators serviced."

Frequently changing air filters is one of the most important things the company does do to keep the engine clean, he adds. "It helps the oil last longer so we don't contaminate the engine. We're getting a lot of trouble-free hours for the maintenance we do," he states.

Air filter maintenance includes a change-out every other time the oil is changed. However, the filters are checked every day during the pre-inspection program conducted before the engines are fired up. Typically, they are blown out at least two to three times a week because of the dusty working conditions.