Improvements Every Business Needs to Make for Winter

With winter on its way, there seem to be so many things for your business to do. While you want to make sure that you can end the year on a high note, it’s also important that you pay enough attention to preparing your building for winter. Thinking about specific aspects of your building’s maintenance can help you make an effective winter care plan.

 

Insulation

Checking your insulation is one of the best ways to ensure that your building stays comfortable during winter. But also, checking your insulation and adding more if necessary, will help you save a significant amount of money in utilities bills.

 

When it comes to checking your insulation, have your inspector pay special attention to the upper part of the building. Heat tends to exit up and out of a building. So having good insulation around your roof will make a big difference in ensuring heat stays inside the building.

 

Maintain Your Heat System

It’s essential that you check your building’s heating system before winter sets in. There is hardly anything worse to have to deal with than a broken heating system when it’s 15 degrees outside.

 

Even if you do not suspect that your heating system has any major damage or problems, it’s good to have it inspected before winter. Doing this allows you to identify any inefficiencies that may cause it to lose heat and thus lose money for you and your company.

 

Repair Leaks

As winter gets closer, repair leaks or other damage in the roof is essential. It’s important that you look for any missing shingles or any damage on the inside of the building’s ceiling that could have come from water leaking.

 

In addition to looking for leaks, you should also get your roof inspected to make sure that its drainage is functioning properly. Even if the roof is in good shape, if the drainage is not working well, you could end up having other major problems.

 

Protect Your Pavement

There are a variety of things to consider as you’re preparing your pavement for winter. You want to check the surface of the pavement for any potholes or other damage that may need to be corrected.

 

You also want to make sure that the pavement is properly sealed. This will ensure the concrete does not expand or morph during the winter as a result of cold temperatures. Sealcoating holds asphalt together and extends the life of your pavement.

 

Test Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

It’s also very important that you test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors before the winter sets in. Cold weather and cold temperatures can affect batteries. If you don’t check your smoke detectors and replace batteries regularly, you could have lots of false alarms during the winter. Because these detectors play such a critical role in assuring everyone’s safety, you want them to be fully functioning during all the months of the year. Checking them before winter sets in will just protect you from possibly turning the detectors off because of annoying beeping from faulty batteries.

 

Prepare Lobby Areas

Of all places in your business’s building, your lobby area is one of the highest trafficked. As you prepare for winter, consider your specific preparations to make sure this area stays safe and clean. You’ll especially want to pay particular attention to the flooring here. Is it damaged at all? How is the sealant?

 

You might need to reseal areas of the tile in the entryway to ensure you don’t have further cracking or problems as winter becomes more harsh. You also want to make sure that you have enough coarse matting in and outside your building to prevent damage but more importantly, to prevent injury.

 

It’s easy to make the mistake of not having enough mats around your lobby area. Sometimes, businesses will have some matts right in the entry area as clients and employees walk through the doors but before they enter the actual lobby. While it is essential to have mats here, you should also have mats outside the building and in the lobby area as well. Having mats in all these areas will ensure that your business stays safe and clean.

 

Make a Better Snow Removal Plan

It’s essential that you consider your snow removal techniques before winter comes around. If you want to prevent potential damage and ensure the safety of your guests and employees, planning to have someone from building maintenance shovel snow every now and then won’t be enough.

 

Start by considering the unique situation of your building. Are there areas of your building exterior that need particular attention? Maybe there are some areas of the walkway to your building that are more prone to ice because they are heavily shaded.

 

Or maybe there is a certain part of your parking lot that has a few potholes. After examining these areas of your building, make a plan. Maybe you’ll need to communicate with your building manager that you hope to have the shaded part of your walkway salted twice as often as the others. Maybe you’ll need to have potholes filled before winter really sets in. Doing these things can make a big difference in your building’s safety throughout the winter season.

 

Check Your Foundation and Walls for Mold

In addition to making a better snow removal plan, you should also think about inspecting your building’s foundation every now and then. When there has been water buildup over time, foundations and walls can start to develop mold. Mold can have negative effects not only for your building but also for client and employee health.

 

Preparing for the winter and holiday season can be busy enough. But even in the hustle and bustle of the season, you shouldn’t forget to make sure your business’s building is ready for winter. Thinking about these suggestions can help you get started with ensuring that your building will stay safe, clean and warm throughout the season.

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