Winter Maintenance Tips For Commercial Buildings

2/4/2022 (Permalink)

Stay safe this winter by keeping your commercial building prepared for the cold!

The end is near for our current Iowa winter & even though groundhog day predicted 6 more weeks of winter earlier this week, many people already spend their days fixated on warmer ones ahead. With that being said, our homes and commercial buildings still have to withstand the freezing temps for just a little bit longer. The season where all you want to do is hunker down and hibernate until Spring is almost over. It is important to make sure that your commercial building is ready for the cold winter weather. Here are several tips to make sure that your building is winter safe:

Inspect your Heating Systems:  When the weather changes and you turn on your heating system it is important to have it inspected and that all maintenance is done.  If there is a buildup in the flue-pipe or vent than there is a chance of carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep your customers and employees warm in your building, so if your furnaces are over 10 years old, consider replacing them for efficiency and safety.

Setting your Thermostats- It is important to make sure that your employees are warm during the winter, but it’s also imperative that your building stays warm too. Blistering winds can freeze pipes especially if your heating system isn’t working. Also, by calibrating your thermostats, you’ll make sure your heating systems are operating efficiently, which saves you money on your heating bill.

Inspect Doors and Windows– If you have gaps in your doors or windows it is a good idea to use weather stripping.  Doors and windows are prime entrance ways for cold, water and pests to enter your building and can cause damage to your interior items. The warm air can also escape causing your heating bill to rise.

Entrance Mats- It is cost efficient to have proper winter weather mats at all entrances and exits of your building. Did you know 80% of the dirt found in buildings such as offices and shopping spaces was tracked in on people’s shoes? The cost to have carpets cleaned or floors stripped and waxed can cost a lot of money.  A good guide is that people entering should have three steps on a mat with each foot. The mats should give a little traction and should be rubber underneath to alleviate potential slip hazards.

Salt your sidewalks– One of the biggest hazards during the winter may happen outside your office and that is the icy, slippery sidewalk and driveway that poses a slip risk for employees and customers.  You should consider de-icing options, such as rock salt or deicing liquid. Be sure to follow the directions, otherwise you might end up damaging areas around your building.

Following these safety tips will help keep your building, employees and customers safe from emergency weather situations this winter season. If you are needing a commercial cleaning and restoration company to clean your winter grime, call SERVPRO of Ames today at (515) 233-4544 or send us a message on Facebook anytime at SERVPRO of Ames.