An electric motor preventive maintenance schedule lists the checks and jobs done on the equipment at fixed intervals, how long each takes, and in what order of frequency, so problems are found before the electric motor fails. This page gives the schedule used in the PlantOps360 task library for electric motor (lt induction), which follows common industry practice for general-purpose equipment. It is also searched for as induction motor, LT motor, squirrel cage motor, slip ring motor.
The maker’s manual and your site safety procedures always come first where they differ. Intervals set by law differ by state.
Electric motor preventive maintenance schedule and checklist
| How often | Task | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | Check for abnormal noise, vibration and overheating | 3 min |
| Weekly | Clean motor body and cooling fan cover | 10 min |
| Monthly | Measure running current and compare with nameplate | 10 min |
| Quarterly | Grease bearings as per OEM schedule | 20 min |
| Half-yearly | Check terminal box connections and earthing | 30 min |
| Annual | Measure insulation resistance (IR test) and record trend | 45 min |
Electric motor maintenance frequency and yearly workload
At the estimated times, one electric motor needs about 32 hours of preventive maintenance a year. The biggest single job is “Measure insulation resistance (IR test) and record trend” at 45 minutes, done annual. Multiply by the number of units you have to see the workload for your plant.
| Frequency | Tasks | Time per round | Hours per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | 1 | 3 min | 18.3 h |
| Weekly | 1 | 10 min | 8.7 h |
| Monthly | 1 | 10 min | 2.0 h |
| Quarterly | 1 | 20 min | 1.3 h |
| Half-yearly | 1 | 30 min | 1.0 h |
| Annual | 1 | 45 min | 0.8 h |
What goes wrong on an electric motor without preventive maintenance
- Bearing failure from heat or over-greasing
- Winding insulation breakdown
- Loose terminals and overheating
- Blocked cooling airflow
What to watch between services
- Winding and bearing temperature
- Current against nameplate
- Vibration and noise
Safety and statutory notes for electric motor maintenance
Isolate and lock out the supply before any work, and prove it dead. Motors in hazardous areas need the correct protection type maintained.
Where an electric motor preventive maintenance schedule is used
An electric motor is found in almost every industry. The industry guides below show how it fits into the wider schedule of each one:
- Preventive maintenance schedule for pharmaceutical plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for food, dairy and beverage plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for automotive plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for chemical, fertiliser and petrochemical plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for cement, glass, ceramics and building materials plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for steel, foundry, forging and metal plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for textile and garment mills
- Preventive maintenance schedule for thermal and hydro power plants
See all industry preventive maintenance schedules.
Related equipment maintenance schedules
- High-tension motor preventive maintenance schedule
- Variable frequency drive preventive maintenance schedule
- Soft starter preventive maintenance schedule
- DC / servo motor and drive preventive maintenance schedule
- Industrial gearbox / speed reducer preventive maintenance schedule
- V-belt, chain and coupling drives preventive maintenance schedule
Browse the full list of equipment preventive maintenance schedules (317 types).
Run this electric motor schedule in maintenance software
In preventive maintenance software, each row above becomes a recurring task on the asset with its checklist, time estimate and parts. Tasks can be triggered by calendar date, running hours, meter readings or production cycles, each completed task is recorded with the person and date, and a failed check can open a work order. For the method behind it, read the guide to the preventive maintenance schedule, or use the free generator to get a 12-month plan for your whole equipment list.
Build my preventive maintenance schedule (free Excel)
Frequently asked questions
How often should an electric motor be serviced?
In our schedule an electric motor has 6 tasks: 1 daily, 1 weekly, 1 monthly, 1 quarterly, 1 half-yearly, 1 annual. The biggest job is “Measure insulation resistance (IR test) and record trend”, which is done annual. Always follow the maker’s manual where it gives a different interval.
What is included in electric motor preventive maintenance?
It covers routine checks and jobs such as “Check for abnormal noise, vibration and overheating”, “Clean motor body and cooling fan cover”, “Measure running current and compare with nameplate”, up to the annual overhaul or inspection. The full list with times is in the table above.
How many hours of maintenance does an electric motor need per year?
About 32 hours per unit per year at the estimated times in our library, including the daily checks done every day. Use it to plan workload, not as a benchmark.
Is there a free electric motor maintenance checklist?
Yes. The table on this page is a ready checklist. The free preventive maintenance schedule generator turns it into a 12-month Excel schedule for your list of equipment, with monthly workload hours.