How often should I check my UPS?

Checking every 6 months is a good minimum. In practice, two levels help: a quick look every month and a more thorough check every six months.

Every month, see whether the display or indicator lights show normal operation, whether there are any alarms and whether the load percentage stays at a reasonable level. Every six months, run the battery self-test from the menu or the software, make sure the vents are free of dust and the connections are secure, and that the room temperature is close to 20–25 °C. Lead-acid batteries lose life much faster at high temperatures.

UPS batteries are usually replaced every 3–5 years, depending on temperature and use, and regular checks help you see it coming before they let you down during an outage. Practical tip: keep a simple log with the date and result of each check. The usual mistake is assuming the UPS is fine because it "switches on", while the battery may have lost much of its capacity without any visible sign.