What should I look at in a dry cleaner’s boiler, compressor and steam equipment?
Look at age, condition, service records and who maintains each unit, then watch them run through a full production day. A dry cleaner stops when the boiler or compressor fails, so ask about downtime, spare parts and the cost of replacement before you commit.
Start with a list of each unit: boiler, compressor, steam lines, presses and finishing equipment. Ask the age, make and who services them. Request maintenance logs, repair invoices and any reports from qualified technicians. Ask whether any units are leased or financed, and what is owed on them. Ask about the last time something failed and what it cost.
Then see them in use. Watch the boiler and compressor through a full day, noting noises, leaks, pressure changes and how quickly steam recovers during busy periods. Ask staff what they worry about. They often know which machine acts up on cold mornings. Ask your accountant or an equipment appraiser to help you work out replacement planning, and ask a qualified technician for an independent check.
Ask about safety and records in a general way: who is trained to operate the equipment, where operating notes are kept and how problems are reported. Do not assume papers exist, and do not assume an old unit that runs is a good one. Ask whether replacement parts are still available and how long a shutdown would last. Consider how financing might help replace equipment later, and ask what a planned replacement would involve in a busy season.
Key takeaways
- List every unit with age, make and service history.
- Watch the equipment through a full production day.
- Ask staff which machine causes trouble.
- Get an independent technician’s view before you rely on the records.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentEquipment valuation: How to do it
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
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