---
title: "Preventive maintenance checklist"
description: "A preventive maintenance checklist for rotating equipment, such as motors, pumps, belts, and drives, grouped by how often each check is due."
---

[Back to Templates](/templates/) Template

# Preventive maintenance checklist

A preventive maintenance checklist for rotating equipment, such as motors, pumps, belts, and drives, grouped by how often each check is due.

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## Daily

| Task | Required | Photo required |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Before work | | |
| Lock out and tag out: shut down, isolate, lock or tag, release stored energy, and verify isolation. | Required | No photo required |
| Confirm the guards on belts and pulleys are in place. | Required | No photo required |
| Inspect | | |
| Check that the equipment runs and its safety systems are in place. | Required | No photo required |
| Listen and feel for unusual noise or vibration. | Required | No photo required |
| Check for oil, water, or air leaks. Photograph any leak, for the repair order. | Required | No photo required |
| Close-out | | |
| Refit the guards, remove the locks, run the equipment, and check it. | Required | No photo required |
| Record the maintenance and the parts replaced. | Required | No photo required |

## Weekly

| Task | Required | Photo required |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Before work | | |
| Lock out and tag out: shut down, isolate, lock or tag, release stored energy, and verify isolation. | Required | No photo required |
| Confirm the guards on belts and pulleys are in place. | Required | No photo required |
| Inspect | | |
| Check motor temperature or vibration against its baseline. | Required | Photo required |
| Close-out | | |
| Refit the guards, remove the locks, run the equipment, and check it. | Required | No photo required |
| Record the maintenance and the parts replaced. | Required | No photo required |

## Monthly

| Task | Required | Photo required |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Before work | | |
| Lock out and tag out: shut down, isolate, lock or tag, release stored energy, and verify isolation. | Required | No photo required |
| Confirm the guards on belts and pulleys are in place. | Required | No photo required |
| Drive | | |
| Check belt tension and alignment. | Required | Photo required |
| Inspect belts, pulleys, and couplings, and keep them in good working condition. | Required | No photo required |
| Lubrication | | |
| Lubricate bearings to the manufacturer's recommendation. | Required | No photo required |
| Mounting | | |
| Check and secure the mountings. | Required | No photo required |
| Electrical | | |
| Check that terminal connections are tight. | Required | No photo required |
| Cleaning | | |
| Remove dust and dirt so the motor can cool. | Not required | No photo required |
| Close-out | | |
| Refit the guards, remove the locks, run the equipment, and check it. | Required | No photo required |
| Record the maintenance and the parts replaced. | Required | No photo required |

## Annual

| Task | Required | Photo required |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Before work | | |
| Lock out and tag out: shut down, isolate, lock or tag, release stored energy, and verify isolation. | Required | No photo required |
| Confirm the guards on belts and pulleys are in place. | Required | No photo required |
| Wear | | |
| Inspect bearings and drive belts for wear. Adjust or replace them. | Required | No photo required |
| Electrical | | |
| Check that the three-phase supply is balanced and the voltage is within the motor's rating. | Not required | Photo required |
| Close-out | | |
| Refit the guards, remove the locks, run the equipment, and check it. | Required | No photo required |
| Record the maintenance and the parts replaced. | Required | No photo required |

This checklist covers rotating equipment, such as motors, belts, pumps, and fans, in one set of tasks grouped by how often each is due. Where the equipment’s maker’s manual gives a different interval or value, follow the manual.

For how to write a checklist for equipment that has no manual, read [How to write PM checklists for hundreds of machines with no manuals](/blog/how-to-write-pm-checklists-without-manuals/).

## Sources

- [US Department of Energy, Federal Energy Management Program, *O&M Best Practices: A Guide to Achieving Operational Efficiency*](https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2020/04/f74/omguide_complete_w-eo-disclaimer.pdf)
- [Compressed Air & Gas Institute, *Reciprocating Air Compressor Maintenance*](https://www.cagi.org/assets/documents/pdfs/news/ReciprocatingCompressorMaintenance.pdf)
- [National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors, *Suggested Maintenance Log Program*](https://www.nationalboard.org/PrintPage.aspx?pageID=240)
- [US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 29 CFR 1910.147, lockout/tagout](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.147)
- [US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 29 CFR 1910.219, mechanical power transmission apparatus](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.219)

## Import it into FixAhead

Upload this file in FixAhead's maintenance procedure import, as a signed-in owner or manager. Each frequency loads as its own procedure, with its sections, tasks, and each task's Required and Photo required marks. If your account already has a procedure with the same name, this one is skipped and the existing one stays as it is.

Maintenance procedures are on the Pro plan, as [pricing](/pricing/) shows.

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