Author: MaintenX

The Importance of Infrastructure Maintenance

For the most part, we take infrastructure for granted. The structures that support our livelihoods and lifestyles are expected to run, but very rarely do we think about the maintenance that is required to do so. MaintenX understands this better than most. We see so many buildings that are on the edge of disaster because the infrastructures are not cared for on a regular basis. 

 

Your business’ facility is essential to your long-term success. By investing in the maintenance of your building (or in public works as it relates to local governing agencies), you can improve your own business and the community at large. Here’s why:

 

Infrastructure provides economic opportunities for rural areas. 

Increasing access to urban communities from rural areas can increase economic development in those areas. Good roads and new buildings can make it easier for smaller communities to attract economic opportunities, as well as bolster existing ones. Infrastructure that provides reliable electricity and internet can also improve the quality of life and economic opportunity for those in rural areas.

 

Infrastructure maintenance lowers costs for facility owners and renters.

By failing to provide adequate maintenance to existing infrastructure, the costs only surmount. Costlier repairs and complete rebuilds will eventually become necessary, and the costs trickle down to facility renters. This is equally problematic for public works, where the cost of poor maintenance is passed onto residents.

 

Infrastructure maintenance leads to increased productivity. 

When infrastructures such as electricity, fiber optics, and buildings themselves are not maintained, they often put the burden on facility renters to come up with temporary solutions. Investing in temporary solutions such as backup generators and waste disposal takes away capital that could be used for innovation. By keeping up with infrastructure maintenance, businesses can invest greater into the future rather than cleaning up the past. 

 

Public and private infrastructure is key to economic development for communities large and small. To learn more about what you can do to improve public or private infrastructure, contact us for preventative maintenance service details. 

Are You In The Clear for Hurricane Season?

2021 has already had its share of significant hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricane Ida wiped out much of New Orleans and surrounding areas, and there are others brewing in the Gulf, ready to make a path toward the mainland. Many MaintenX clients are calling to ask, “When will we be in the clear for hurricane season? And how do I prepare to minimize risk for my facility?”

 

What You Need to Know About The Hurricane Season

The 2021 hurricane season has been scary for many of us, and we won’t be in the clear for several months. However, there are ways to prepare to ensure your facility is less susceptible to damage and can open more quickly after a storm. 

 

  • Hurricane season isn’t over until November. While hurricanes are most active in late summer and early fall, you can expect them until November 30th every year. This means that you still need to be prepared for evacuations and emergency maintenance well into 2021. Don’t neglect your preventative care now, because we still have several months of stormy weather ahead. 

 

  • Expect a more active season. Most reports cite that 2021 will have above-normal hurricane activity in both the Atlantic and Pacific coastal regions.  This high activity is likely to continue into the late fall, so it’s best to review your hurricane preparation plan and ensure it is up-to-date before the end of the month. 
  • It’s important to secure any outdoor equipment before a storm. When preparing for a hurricane, the biggest danger is unsecured equipment and inventory outside. If you have an extensive outdoor showroom, equipment, or simply landscaping that includes furnishings, you need to secure these items indoors. This prevents them from flying around and damaging the interior or exterior of your building while hurricane-force winds are present. 

 

  • Don’t skimp on roofing maintenance services this time of year. Flying debris doesn’t just affect windows and landscaping during a hurricane. It most often damages or collapses roofing, especially if your property has trees surrounding it. Be diligent in your roofing maintenance this fall to prevent dead tree limbs or weak spots in your roofing from causing real damage to your facility. 

 

  • Make sure your employees have the resources to evacuate. Your building is important to protect, but your employees are even more important. Offer as many resources as possible — from transportation options to time off in advance — in order to help them evacuate before a major storm. As soon as an evacuation notice is in effect, you need to communicate your plan and put evacuations into effect for your staff. 

 

Hurricane season is scary, but preparation goes a long way toward protecting your assets and staff. To learn more about hurricane damage prevention, contact your local MaintenX team today. 

 

Best Roofing for Florida Businesses

Businesses on the Florida coast have to consider their roofing material much more carefully than other commercial facilities. Florida businesses are subject to salt spray, hurricanes, scorching sun, and extended summer heat that can all damage the roofing and make the interior more costly to cool. Therefore, it’s important to choose a material that will serve both the practical and aesthetic needs of your business. 

 

Below are the top four roofing options for Florida businesses that we often install at MaintenX. While there are plenty of options, these are the most common and most durable for Florida buildings: 

 

Concrete

Concrete is a popular option for facilities across America. Not only is it an excellent choice for flat roofing (which is advantageous for the installation of solar panels and rooftop HVAC systems), but it will hold up to wind, sea salt, and heavy rain. With correct flashing, you can prevent leaks in your concrete and create a strong boundary between your business and the elements. The only downside to concrete is that it can be more expensive than shingles or other types of roofing common for small commercial facilities. 

 

Cedar shakes

Cedar shakes are common in South Florida, both in the residential districts and for beachside commercial buildings. This is because cedar shakes are stylish, saltwater-resistant, and can withstand high wind speeds in the event of a hurricane. While they are considerably more expensive than asphalt shingles, they have shown to hold up better to Florida’s unpredictable weather and can make an aesthetic statement that impresses guests. 

 

Metal roofing

Metal roofing is becoming more popular for commercial facilities because of its long-term durability and aesthetic appeal. Options like aluminum are resistant to corrosion from water and salt, and will provide protection from strong winds and rain as well as excellent drainage. Metal roofing also comes in a variety of colors and styles to customize your building’s look. Drawbacks to metal include its price and noise level during storms, but overall, it is an excellent choice for Florida businesses. 

 

Rubber 

Rubber is an option that is often overlooked by businesses, but it shouldn’t be. Rubber is durable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly as it is often made from recycled materials. THe only drawback to materials like EPDM rubber is that it comes in a limited color palette. However, with the right paint, there is no reason not to install rubber roofing for a practical and affordable installation.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Rubber Roofing

Rubber roofing is one of the most economical and durable roofing options available to both residential and commercial facilities. While rarely seen on homes, it is becoming more popular for commercial buildings for its many long-term benefits. If you’re interested in rubber roofing, you should understand the advantages and disadvantages first before contacting your MaintenX roofing contractor for installation information:

 

Rubber roofing is highly durable.

Rubber roofs are substantially more durable to weather and falling debris from trees and storms. This is arguably its greatest advantage, as rubber roofing provides the following benefits that most commercial roofing does not: 

 

  • Rubber doesn’t chip or break like asphalt shingles or terra cotta
  • It’s made to be resistant to drying and cracking in the sun
  • Because the rubber is rolled out instead of being installed shingle by shingle, it is less prone to leaks
  • It is also fire-resistant
  • Rubber roofing will last up to 50 years with proper care 

 

However, limited contractors make installation services difficult to find. 

Because rubber isn’t as common of roofing material as shingles or concrete for commercial buildings, it can be tricky to find an experienced contractor in your area. However, MaintenX works with contractors who are capable of installing high-quality rubber roofing, so you don’t need to worry when you call us!

 

This roofing material is easy to repair.

This roofing material is easier to repair than most. You can use liquid rubber or a rubber tape to repair the roofing. However, it is unlikely that you’ll need to repair your rubber roof except for cases of severe building damage. These roofs are made to withstand leaks and weather damage. 

 

But, you have limited color options. 

Rubber roofing is almost always black, which limits your aesthetic choices initially. A black roof can heat up the building in the summertime, causing interior cooling costs to rise (though not to a significant degree). Luckily, this can be easily remedied with a rubber paint job. If you don’t like the look of a black roof or are worried about increased cooling costs, talk to your MaintenX roofer about paint options for rubber. 

 

Rubber is an eco-friendly option. 

Rubber roofing is often made of recycled materials and can be recycled once more if it is damaged or replaced. This makes rubber roofing more environmentally friendly than other types of manufactured materials. Fitting solar panels on a rubber roof is also simple. With the addition of solar panels, you can significantly reduce your energy costs (and decrease heat absorption), making your roof incredibly environmentally friendly. 

 

Rubber is inexpensive.

One of the main factors driving rubber roof installation is cost. Rubber roofing is light and easy to install, so typically the labor cost is significantly reduced when compared to shingles or terra cotta roofing. And because rubber is made of recycled materials, it’s a more affordable material than other types of commercial roofing. 

 

If you’re looking to replace or build a new commercial roof, contact MaintenX today! We can help you choose the right material for your needs and budget, and deliver superior service every time. 

Prepare for Fall In Advance With These Five Maintenance Tips

Cool breezes, changing colors, and holiday festivities are not far away. As the summer ends and autumn begins, you want to start changing your maintenance schedule to reflect the new season. There are some major differences between fall and summer maintenance, most importantly exterior maintenance scheduled. Below are five ways you can prepare your building for the season and lower maintenance costs through the winter. 

 

Plan for fall landscaping. 

Autumn is the perfect time to prune, plant, and prepare fresh designs for your landscaping. Whether it is the addition of new plants or the simple management of the current design as summer blooms start to fall, you want to be proactive in your landscaping to ensure your outdoor space looks just as fresh as it did in the summer and spring. 

 

Schedule a roofing inspection.

If you live in an area that experiences significant snowfall, you need to schedule a roofing inspection during the fall. You don’t want to wait until there’s a leak or sagging in the roof due to snow before you contact your MaintenX roofing professional. By practically scheduling roofing repairs in the fall, you can save yourself a lot of time and money. 

 

Plan a deep clean of the interior office spaces.

Autumn typically coincides with cold and flu season as more people spend time indoors and in close proximity. Now, it is more important than ever to ensure proper sanitization in the fall, as COVID-19 precautions ramp back up in many parts of the country. Schedule a deep clean and sanitization services throughout the fall and winter in advance to keep the cold and flu at bay. 

 

Schedule an electrical system inspection.

If you operate a large facility, you may utilize space heaters in certain areas to cut down on major heating costs. However, these have the potential to overload older outlets, causing circuit problems and potentially lead to electrical outages or fires. Before it gets too cold, contact your MaintenX electrician to schedule a tune-up. 

 

Service exterior faucets, plumbing, and irrigation.

You need to service exterior plumbing systems not to ensure they don’t freeze over the winter. Be sure to drain all exterior faucets, unhook hoses or replace them with freezeproof equipment, and check with your MaintenX plumber to ensure your pipes are insulated. Any plumbing work you can get done before the first freeze should take priority in the fall. 

 

MaintenX can help you prepare a fall maintenance schedule that is easy to handle and cost-effective. To learn more, contact your local MaintenX team or visit our resource center for more information. 

What To Do During a Plumbing Emergency

At one point during your facility management career, you are likely to come across a plumbing emergency for your facility. Whether it is a minor leak or a disaster that warrants a shutdown, as the leader of your maintenance team you want to be prepared for the unexpected. Plumbing emergencies not only compromise employee health but can be incredibly costly if not handled correctly. Below are five things you need to do as soon as you notice a plumbing problem at your facility: 

 

Turn off the water immediately. 

The first thing to do in a plumbing emergency is turn off the water source as soon as possible. This will stop the damage from spreading, or at least minimize the leak or pipe burst from causing extreme issues. While it may cause some short-term inconvenience, you’ll be glad you did this when your entire floor isn’t flooded. 

 

Call your plumber.

Once the water is turned off to prevent further issues, the next step is to call your MaintenX plumber. You shouldn’t wait to see if you can identify the issue or fix it yourself. In all likelihood, you’ll need to call your plumber no matter what, and the more time you wait, the longer you’ll be without water or restroom facilities. Call your plumber within minutes of realizing the emergency to ensure you get the fastest service. 

 

Turn off the water heater. 

Once the main line is off, you’ll also need to turn off the water heater to prevent overheating. The heater may even be the source of the issue, so it’s important to reach it or notify your plumber if you’re unable to do so as soon as they arrive. 

 

Call the city to determine if there’s an issue with the main lines.

Sometimes plumbing issues are caused by the city’s main water lines rather than the system within the facility itself. If you have not been notified of an issue yet, contact the city to determine if they are aware of any issues. They may cover the costs or even send their own plumber out to fix the issue. 

 

Backtrack to determine the cause of the issue. 

During a plumbing emergency, often information is difficult for the plumber to obtain. Facility managers can get flustered in the heat of the moment, but you need to provide as much background information as possible in order to help them diagnose the issue. Talk to employees and determine any prior plumbing issues that may have led to the emergency. With this information, you can help your plumber fix the issue sooner. 

 

MaintenX will always be there for your plumbing emergencies and preventative care service. To learn more about ways to prevent plumbing emergencies at your facilities, contact us today!

Increasing Facility Maintenance Safety With Proper Training

At MaintenX, safety is our #1 priority every day. We take the time to give our technicians the best training possible and ensure that the equipment they use and the protocols they follow are up to the highest industry standard. It is this commitment to employee and subcontractor safety that puts us at the top of the list for facility maintenance service nationwide. 

 

However, it’s often not enough for our contractors and technicians to be trained in proper maintenance safety procedures. We encourage all facility managers to train their employees for proper equipment usage and repair. Even simple maintenance tasks like cleaning out A/C vents or snaking a clogged drain can cause issues down the line for your facility’s health. 

 

Benefits of Maintenance Training for all Staff

Your staff may not be responsible for maintenance on a regular basis, but an understanding of the different systems and the maintenance needs of each can help maintain a productive facility. For example, if your staff knows what types of sounds and odors could indicate an HVAC issue, they will be more likely to report it. Below are some of the benefits of training your staff in basic maintenance and safety for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical system:

 

  • Increased reporting of potential issues
  • Ability to do minor cleaning and repairs, thus saving on maintenance service
  • Greater autonomy of staff within the facility (they don’t have to rely on a plumber to unclog a drain or an HVAC technician to replace an air filter).
  • Prevention of injury due to electrical issues

 

What Your Staff Should Know 

Depending on the skills and demands of your staff, different training is required for different positions. However, all staff within a facility should know these things about HVAC, plumbing, and electrical maintenance:

 

  • How to change vent filters near their desk
  • How to detect signs of mold or mildew within the facility
  • What chemicals are safe to use for a clogged drain vs. when to call a plumber
  • What common electrical symptoms could be signs of a serious electrical system fault
  • What sounds, odors, or visual cues could identify problems within any of these systems
  • When to report a more serious issue to the maintenance team

 

Maintenance training doesn’t have to be complicated for it to be effective. By simply training your staff to detect problems, you can increase the likelihood of catching problems early before they become emergencies. 

 

Contact MaintenX today or visit our resource center to learn more about HVAC, plumbing, and electrical maintenance care and prevention. 

Post-Summer HVAC Maintenance

In the summertime, your HVAC system is working overtime almost every day. If it is healthy and performing well, it can probably handle the added stress. However, even with a healthy HVAC system comes extra maintenance in the summer and early fall. At MaintenX, we encourage facility owners and managers to schedule time once the weather starts to cool to run a check-up on their HVAC system.

 

Before you begin scheduling repairs and preventative care services, it’s important to ask yourself a few questions about the state of your HVAC system and service over the summer: 

 

  • How many emergency service calls did I have to make this summer?
  • How much did I spend on emergency vs. preventative maintenance for my system?
  • Were issues resolved the first time, or did my maintenance team have to work on my system repeatedly to solve the same problems?
  • Is my equipment aged, overworked, or not maintained well enough to keep up with summer cooling demands? Or is it running as expected?
  • Is my equipment still under warranty?

 

Once you have the answers to these questions, you can then begin working with your HVAC repair team to determine what preventative care services should be scheduled throughout the fall and winter. If you experienced several issues with your system, it could be time to start saving for a replacement. However, if your system is in good health for its age, you should consider scheduling these services to keep it in tip-top shape: 

 

  • Clean air ducts and vents
  • Reset thermostat to reflect cooling temperatures
  • Inspect rooftop units for damage 
  • Analyze energy consumption to detect performance loss over time
  • Inspect electrical components
  • Check refrigerant levels and look for leaks or condensation within the unit causing water damage
  • Clean heating components in preparation for the winter

 

All of these tasks can be performed during your end-of-summer inspection, as well as any specific maintenance tasks recommended by your HVAC technician. If you’re ready to start prepping for fall, contact your local MaintenX today to get started!

Layered Goals for Preventative Maintenance

At MaintenX, our main goal for clients is simple: we want to help you create a safer and more efficient commercial space. We do that through both preventative and emergency maintenance services and by providing exceptional customer service every time. When our clients trust us, we can get the job done faster and more efficiently, learning our clients’ unique needs along the way. However, there is more to preventative facility care than simply getting the job done. 

 

Maintenance goals and strategies are often layered. Your goal to get your maintenance team on a set HVAC repair schedule is about more than improving the efficiency of the system. It’s about improving the building’s energy efficiency, reducing long-term costs, and educating your staff. As a facility manager it’s important to see the whole picture, so you can put the pieces together and create real change through preventative care. 

 

Below are some of the most common goals we set for our clients, each with their own set of higher resolution goals that can be effectively carried out by a maintenance team. As you can see, the everyday tasks you may think of as unnecessary are actually the most important actions you take to improve your facility’s performance: 

 

If your goal is to reduce stress on facility equipment, you need to:

 

  • Create a schedule for preventative maintenance that improves facility equipment without overservicing
  • Prepare for optimal times to replace equipment (when repair costs exceed equipment value)
  • Train employees on proper equipment handling and basic repair skills 

 

If your goal is to optimize facility productivity, you must first: 

 

  • Improve maintenance management processes such as maintenance dispatch and creating simple service request processes for employees
  • Facilitate work-order flow by investing in the proper technology
  • Improve facility maintenance checklists and preventative care schedules over time

 

If you want to optimize energy efficiency by the end of the year, your maintenance team needs to:

 

  • Implement clean energy sources when possible
  • Upgrade to energy-efficient equipment over time
  • Reduce usage of high-consuming appliances and equipment

 

You cannot reach lofty goals such as net-zero energy use without ground-floor action from your maintenance team. By working with MaintenX and communicating your goals, however, we can make it happen. To learn more about the benefits of preventative maintenance strategies, contact your local MaintenX team today. 

Why Janitorial Maintenance Is Essential For Employee Satisfaction

Trash cleaning, floor mopping, bathroom sanitization… the work of the janitorial staff is the hard labor that makes a commercial facility safe and healthy for others to use. This often thankless labor is obviously necessary, but it is not always seen as an integral part of a facility’s customer service or employee satisfaction. However, we at MaintenX understand the importance of janitorial work for our clients. 

 

Many of us don’t see janitorial staff or notice the hard work they do. However, after years of working alongside the janitorial staff of our clients, MaintenX has learned that they are key to the success of any commercial building. Our repair services help prepare you for the worst, but janitorial service is what curates a functional workspace on a daily basis.

 

Janitorial service helps to maintain employee health 

In the wake of COVID-19, janitorial services have increased to help stop the spread of disease. This has not only led to the minimization of COVID-19 cases but cases of cold and flu as well. Our janitors help us to reduce the spread of illness which cuts down on sick days. With the help of your MaintenX HVAC technicians who help keep your indoor air quality clean, the janitors are there to help every day to keep your employees healthy. 

 

A clean environment increases productivity

A clean environment at the start of the day is about more than just appearances. Tidy office spaces help employees to be more productive, especially those more orderly who are bothered by mess. When the office space looks neat and tidy, your employees can focus on the tasks at hand. It also helps to create a calming work environment for high-focus projects and assignments. 

 

Establishes company expectations

Most of us have likely worked at a company where the expectations were lax. It’s acceptable to call in unexpectedly, or leave a messy desk at the end of the day, or to not finish work on expected deadlines. These companies often had subpar cleanliness standards as well. In contrast, at a company where excellence is expected, the work is reflected in the appearance of the facility. When employees give their best, so does the management in keeping an office space that is clean and organized. If you want to raise the expectations of your company as a whole, start with janitorial maintenance. It makes a bigger difference than you think. 

 

Janitorial maintenance is a major contributor to company success. To learn more about regular maintenance and preventative care, contact your local MaintenX team today!