Author: MaintenX

Do you feel like you’re in “budget jail” as the facility manager of your property? Maybe you have strict upper management that doesn’t give you the money you want to expand programs. Or, maybe you’re in charge of setting the budget but aren’t sure how to do it so you’re saving instead of wasting resources. Budget jail doesn’t feel good for anyone in your shoes. However, there is a solution to break out and make your facility more efficient in 2021. 

Identifying Budget Jail

It’s possible that you’re not sure if the term “budget jail” describes your facility. Below are just a few characteristics of this limiting circumstance and how it manifests itself in the facility manager’s role: 

• The facility doesn’t use zero-based budgeting to account for new expenses and investments for the year
• The maintenance budget is reduced from last year arbitrarily, with no regard for the department’s needs or plans 
• Top management decides the budget and does not take into account expenses that are not on an annual cycle. For example, equipment with a ten-year service life cannot be budgeted for every year, but management does not look at the service log to determine the annual budget. 
• The budget has no room for planned investments, but has ancillary funds saved for emergency repairs; more room is reserved for reactive rather than preventative care
• Investments are only included if they provide a short-term benefit, but not if they aid in long-term sustainability.

The Solution

As the facility manager, it is your job to ensure that preventative maintenance is a top priority. Even budget constraints are not as important as this, because preventative and reliability-centered maintenance will always result in cost-savings. In order to break out of budget jail, you have to prove this to yourself (or the upper management making the budget). 

First, schedule an audit with your most trusted maintenance technicians and operators. Their perspectives will help you to determine the areas of improvement that are most needed, and which will provide the greatest value to your business. Then, you must take a bold move. You must make the decision to invest in preventative maintenance and equipment upgrades they recommend, even if it requires using your reactive maintenance resources. 

This is a risk, and one you should consult upper management with if needed. However, by breaking the budget with preventative maintenance improvements, you can easily reduce the number of accidents or emergencies occurring within the given year. Could this result in additional expenses if the right preventative measures aren’t taken? Yes; but if no preventative maintenance services are scheduled, you can count on emergencies happening throughout the year. 

MaintenX is here to help you break out of budget jail and put money into the maintenance services you need most. Our preventative maintenance programs help you save money over time and reduce facility downtime. Not sure about what preventative maintenance can do for you? Contact our team today to learn more!

 

Typically, your facility’s air ducts and HVAC system as a whole are “out of sight, out of mind.” Aside from changing the air filters and occasionally running a diagnostic, many facility managers invest no time in their HVAC maintenance. However, this is a poor strategy for many reasons. Your HVAC system is responsible for tenant comfort, health, and productivity. Without proper temperature control your tenants will be unhappy and your employees unable to perform at their best. Without proper ventilation, your facility will have stagnant air pollutants that are never filtered through properly (including germs and airborne viruses). The “out of sight, out of mind” approach is one of the worst to take for the care of your HVAC system. 

 

One of the most prominent ways this shows up is through the air ducts. The air ducts are like blood vessels running through the body. They supply your building with heated or cooled air, and ensure that air is properly circulating to ensure high indoor air quality. Your air ducts, therefore, are a critical part of your facility operations as a whole. Though they’re hiding out of sight, they can play a crucial role in the performance of your facility. 

 

One of the best ways to maintain the health of your HVAC system as a whole is to clean the air ducts regularly. Cleaning can help reduce dust buildup and the spread of odor in the facility. It will also extend the service life of the ducts, which can help reduce costly repairs down the line. Your HVAC system is only as healthy as your ductwork, so be sure to schedule regular cleanings as your HVAC technician recommends. 

 

For medical facilities and other buildings with strict health standards, air duct cleaning should be performed annually. Typically office buildings and retail stores, among others, should at least schedule an audit every year, with cleanings spaced out as needed every three to five years. However, these are only estimations. You should talk to your MaintenX HVAC technician for a plan customized for your facility needs. 

 

Be sure to schedule your air duct cleaning well in advance. Typically, this process requires pressurized air to be blown throughout the ductwork. Not only is this process noisy, messy, and a distraction, but it will cause dust and debris to be blown out through the vents. This process also requires the HVAC system to be shut off, so it’s best to do this after hours. Talk to your HVAC technician to determine how long the process will be based on the state of your current ductwork and the size of your facility. 

 

To learn more about ductwork cleaning options for your facility, contact your local MaintenX team!

As the novel coronavirus arrived on American shores, many of us panicked and went quickly into action to sanitize, close down, or implement other measures to stop the spread. However, most of us also thought that these measures would be temporary. We believed that after a few months of shutdowns and intense sanitization, business would go back to “business as usual.” However, as we reach the one-year anniversary of the discovery of COVID-19, business owners have realized this may be the new business as usual. 

 

If increased sanitization and reduced onsite labor are the new norm, what does that mean for our environmental and social impacts? Many businesses are investing in increased sanitization, but are failing to look closely at the environmental impacts that those products have. They may be utilizing remote working or reducing hours, but are not looking for facility solutions to decrease costs instead. 

 

In many cases, facility owners are abandoning the maintenance on their buildings in favor of cleaning and sanitization. While this is understandable, as they have many more responsibilities to juggle, there is a need for increased preventative maintenance at this time. HVAC systems are responsible for maintaining proper indoor air quality, which can help stop the spread. Bathroom maintenance and upgrades also play an important role in stopping the spread of COVID-19. These measures should not be sacrificed in favor of sanitization, especially if that sanitization is not done in an eco-conscious way. 

 

Your facility operations and maintenance play an important role in your business’ overall environmental footprint. Below are just a few ways in which you can invest in a greener, healthier building: 

 

Choose green sanitization products. 

As commercial disinfecting has become standard practice, and likely will be for the foreseeable future, it’s important to invest in products that are eco-friendly. This includes all spray cleaners, vapor sanitization, and other products used to wipe down surfaces. 

 

Invest in an energy-efficient HVAC system. 

Your HVAC system is responsible for maintaining proper indoor air quality. If your facility is not well-ventilated, the virus will remain stagnant in the air and likely spread to employees and visitors. However, maintaining an HVAC system is a lot of work. They can be expensive, and those that are not energy efficient can hurt your facility performance as well as the environment. If you’ve been thinking about making the switch to an Energy Star-rated HVAC system, now is the time to do it. 

 

Plan for bathroom maintenance. 

COVID-19 has also spurred many facility owners to take a second look at their bathroom setup. The mist of toilet flushes and close proximity of tenants washing hands can cause major issues for reducing the spread of COVID-19. Many business owners are rethinking their bathroom setups, and some may even undergo reconstruction to better meet the needs of the pandemic. While you’re looking for ways to make your bathroom safer, it’s also wise to think of ways to make it greener. Low-flow faucets and toilets, hands-free hand drying stations, and other energy-efficient upgrades can make your facility safer and greener along the way. 

 

If you’re interested in upgrading your facility to green technologies, talk to your local MaintenX team today. We offer a variety of installation and preventative care services that can make your switch to green that much easier.

Unfortunately, we are nearing the one-year mark of the novel coronavirus being discovered in Wuhan, China. In December 2019 it was first reported, and by January 30th it had been declared an international health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since March of 2020 it has been classified as a pandemic, and we are still a long way from complete economic and social repair. 

 

This pandemic has hit American businesses especially hard. Some had to close down, while others had to support essential workers as they stayed open for business despite increased health risks. While many of us have been able to open again, the increased health precautions have at best complicated our operations, or in more severe cases increased costs exponentially. However, 2021 offers hope for small businesses to regain their grounding in a post-pandemic world. 

 

Until we reach that point, there are still changes your facility can make to create a safe environment without raising costs. Below are just a few ways you can make a difference in your community by following safe COVID-19 business practices: 

 

Invest in exterior maintenance. 

Many studies have shown that the spread of coronavirus is minimized in outdoor settings. Typically, outdoor areas make it easier to maintain social distancing guidelines, and some research hypothesizes that UV light may help reduce the effectiveness of the virus at the molecular level. While the research has not determined whether or not this hypothesis holds true, it is safe to say that outdoor events and activities are deemed safer than those in enclosed indoor areas. By maintaining outdoor showrooms, eating areas, and other spaces for your customers to use, you can better protect them while still keeping your doors open. 

 

Maintain proper indoor air quality. 

COVID-19 is an airborne virus, meaning that it can spread when a person coughs, sneezes, talks, or even breathes. Because of this, it is recommended that all employees and visitors in commercial buildings wear facemasks to prevent the spread. However, face masks do not fully prevent individuals from spreading the disease. Your HVAC system plays an important role in circulating the air and not letting germs sit inside the building once they become airborne. In order to maintain proper ventilation, be sure to schedule regular preventative maintenance services for your system and change their air filters regularly to prevent dust buildup in vents. 

 

Invest in hands-free technology. 

Though coronavirus primarily spreads through the air, it is presumed that the virus can linger on surfaces for several days. While disinfecting measures are critical to prevent the spread, you can make it easier on customers by investing in hands-free sanitization, checkouts, and even ordering options. People are looking for ways to go back to normal in their shopping and entertainment; therefore the responsibility of safe shopping lies on businesses. If you invest in these sanitization and hands-free services, your customers will thank you for it. 

 

Coronavirus may have changed the world, but as business owners, we can change with it. To learn more about ways you can maintain a safe and healthy facility, contact your local MaintenX team today.

In today’s tech-fueled business culture, many companies are investing in equipment that can help automate their operations. From streamlined manufacturing to integrated IoT systems in office buildings, the process of automation is a complex but worthwhile one. This is especially true when it comes to facility maintenance automation.

 

Most of a facility’s maintenance services fall under the category of reactive or preventative maintenance. Reactive maintenance services are the issues you address after a failure has occurred. For example, reactive maintenance would include exterior repair services after a storm, or repairs when your HVAC system suddenly goes out. Preventative maintenance, on the other hand, is the type service you schedule in advance to avoid reactive repairs. Tune-ups, equipment cleaning services, and annual audits on equipment performance are all done to reduce unexpected failures. 

 

However, these services are all done solely by maintenance staff. Typically, preventative maintenance is scheduled by manufacturer recommendations and technician experience. This is where IoT automation can be useful in preparing a better preventative maintenance plan for your facility. 

 

Facilities use IoT sensors to collect data on individual facility equipment pieces and systems. Instead of guessing or using manufacturer recommendations to schedule preventative maintenance, your team can analyze that data to predict when repairs are actually needed. This reduces redundant preventative repairs, and can further reduce the likelihood of emergencies. There are a number of other benefits to IoT and cloud-based maintenance automation:

 

• Reduced downtime
• Reduced emergency maintenance costs
• Ability to extend the service life of critical assets
• Increased system and facility performance
• Greater efficiency in preventative maintenance planning year after year
• Improve air quality by monitoring humidity, temperature, and presence of contaminants

 

Automation happens in stages. Begin with elements such as a smart thermostat or smart lighting, and move forward to more advanced monitoring as cost savings increase. If you invest little by little, you can save tremendously on maintenance expenses. The process of automation is one of the best steps you can take toward enhancing facility performance overall. 

 

To learn more about maintenance automation and preventative services, contact us today!

Are you looking for a place to start in a new career? Perhaps you’ve just graduated high school and are unsure of what steps into adulthood to take next. Or, you may be tired of your current line of work and are looking for something more stable, lucrative, and personally fulfilling. If this sounds like you, maintenance technician work may be right for you. 

 

Many people have been looking for technical jobs since the COVID-19 recession hit. Maintenance technician jobs, including plumbing, electrical work, HVAC repair, and construction, offer recession-proof career opportunities in most cases. Even during COVID-19, many tradesmen have kept their jobs, especially if they worked in commercial specialties. 

 

However, becoming a maintenance technician requires hard work. You will need to complete technical school training in most cases or pass a certification course in your state to become licensed. These training programs will give you real-world experience in the trade of your choice and better prepare you for a long-lasting career. Beyond the initial training, you’ll need to gain experience under the leadership of another technician in the field before starting your own business. 

 

Do these job benefits and requirements sound appealing to you? If so, you may be the perfect fit for a maintenance technician’s career: 

 

• Do you like working outdoors or with your hands rather than in an office? 
• Do you enjoy physical work as part of your daily routine? 
• Are you looking for a low-cost educational option to advance your career quickly? 
• Do you want to be able to set your own hours and earn based on your results rather than your hours put in? 
• Are you a people person? Do you like working with others and do you have strong customer service skills? 
• Do you have an eye for design? (This can come in handy when doing renovations, flooring, and other installation work)
• Are you okay with working long hours when necessary, including nights and weekends?
• Do you have a strong work ethic and are you willing to put your best foot forward every day?
• Are you a fast learner, easily adaptable to unexpected circumstances?
• Do you have a natural inclination toward fixing and repairing things around your house, and would you like to turn those skills into a lucrative career?
• Is long-term financial stability a priority to you over short-term comforts? 

 

If you answered yes to several of these questions, work in the maintenance field may be right for you. There are many options, from HVAC repair to flooring and roofing installation, and so much more. If you enjoy working with your hands and with other people, there is likely a maintenance specialty out there for you. With some training and the right opportunities, you can create a lucrative and stable career. 

To learn more about careers in the maintenance field, visit our career resource center.

Customers may love the wintery scenes of December, but as a facility manager, you understand the maintenance hassle and hazards that snow causes. Snowfall causes issues with parking lot maintenance, roofing repairs, and the general safety of tenants and guests. However, the task of removing it is no simple one. 

 

OSHA has very strict standards when it comes to safe snow removal on commercial properties. This service causes serious injuries annually, which is why safety equipment requirements and safe practices are so complex. While the snow removal process may be hazardous, the buildup of snow on your facility is even more so. 

 

Snow and ice are major slip and fall hazards. The buildup of snow on tree branches can also cause hazards if a tree branch is to snap under the weight. Ice in parking lots is another known danger, as are icicles and snow buildup on the edge of roofing and other structures. Each of these threats should be addressed with your snow removal team to ensure a safe working environment at your facility. 

 

You have the option to perform snow removal yourself. Your onsite maintenance staff will need to be trained in OSHA standards for snow removal, and you will need to invest in snow blowers and other OSHA-approved snow removal equipment for roofing and landscaping. Ice and snow removal in parking lots is typically less dangerous and can include the use of a simple salt spreader and shoveler equipment, or include more large-scale snow plows. 

 

If you choose to perform snow removal yourself, follow this checklist to prepare: 

 

• Invest in proper snow removal training for your maintenance staff
• Make a plan for snow removal based on snowfall times
• Invest in proper snow plows, blowers, salt spreaders, and other equipment
• Contact tenants and inform them of procedures for reporting snow and ice-related hazards, as well as winter safety protocols
• Place weather mats near all entrances 
• Look for a contractor in the event of snowstorm damages

 

If you do not have an onsite maintenance staff, or if you would prefer to hire a professional, talk to your local MaintenX team. We offer a variety of landscaping and roofing maintenance services for winter including snow and ice removal. We not only comply with OSHA standards but can help perform other preventative maintenance tasks for your roofing and parking lot. 

 

MaintenX is here for you through every season. Contact us today to learn more about our services!

Winter is a busy time for many commercial and retail facilities. The busy holiday season demands a lot from your business, and you are likely juggling multiple tasks at once every day. During this busy season, it can be easy to let something like roofing maintenance slip through the cracks. However, there are many reasons why we at MaintenX recommend facility managers make this a top priority in the winter. 

 

Roofing maintenance isn’t simple. It requires regular cleaning, inspections, and removal of snow and ice in the wintertime. While it may not seem like a big deal to let snow accumulate over several days, this can cause several issues: 

 

Shingle cracks widen during freeze/thaw cycles

As snow melts, the water will seep into the cracks of your shingles. If the cracks are severe, water can get between the shingles and the felt, causing them to fall off in the spring. Roofing typically has flashing to prevent this, but if your roofing is older or not well-maintained, melting snow can eventually cause leaks inside. To prevent this, it’s important to conduct thorough roof maintenance in the fall and schedule regular snow removal for your roof. 

 

Damage to roof flashing. 

As mentioned above, flashing is the primary barrier between your interior and the outside world. It is an essential part of the roofing structure to ensure that damaged shingles do not turn into serious leaks inside your facility. However, if roofing inspections are not scheduled in the fall, it may be too late when you realize you have damaged flashing underneath your shingles. Avoid this issue by inspecting flashing and other roof sealants before the first snowfall. 

 

Buildup of snow and debris in the gutters. 

Snow buildup in gutters may not seem like a big deal, but it can cause the debris underneath to rot and create barriers to melted snow through. Snow and organic debris buildup can also put extra weight on your gutters, causing them to put stress on the roof itself. This can cause further damage to the roofing as a whole, or at the minimum will deteriorate your gutters more quickly. When you schedule snow removal, be sure to address the gutters, drains, and downspouts as well. 

 

Higher energy costs due to inefficient roofing systems. 

Your roof is a major player in maintaining overall energy efficiency in your facility. It helps to insulate the interior and prevents the flow of air between your heated interior and the outdoors. By investing in energy-efficient reflective coatings and proper insulation in the fall, you can better control your winter heating expenses. 

 

Roofing maintenance can be a great asset in improving facility performance in the winter. To learn more about your winter roofing maintenance options, contact your local MaintenX today!

If you live in an area that experiences heavy snow in the winter, you’re probably used to shoveling it from your front yard and driveway at home. At a commercial facility, this can be even more of a chore. You may have invested in a snow blower or other snow removal equipment if your facility is large enough. However, smaller businesses may not want to invest in equipment that they’ll only use for a few months out of the year. 

 

Snow removal isn’t just a chore, however. It’s an important aspect of keeping your facility safe for tenants in the winter. The snow that isn’t removed can put a burden on surrounding trees, causing limbs to snap and damage your building. Melting snow can also overflow septic systems, resulting in unsafe conditions in and around your facility. By removing snow as it starts to pile up, you can keep your building safer and tenants happy. 

 

Snow removal is crucial to winter facility maintenance, but it’s not the only concern. Ice can be an even bigger problem on commercial grounds. Ice is incredibly dangerous in parking lots, and icicles can easily cause hazards for tenants or guests entering your building. By safely removing ice from your facility, you decrease the likelihood of onsite accidents throughout the winter. 

 

One of the best ways to combat snow and ice problems in the winter is to schedule snow removal services early by a reputable contractor. If you do not want to handle snow removal on your own or invest in the equipment necessary to do it onsite, a maintenance contractor can help you maintain the property for an affordable cost. 

 

A snow removal service can help you remove safety hazards and keep your parking lot free of snow and ice. They’ll ensure snow from your roof, trees, and other hard-to-reach places is removed to avoid buckling under the weight of several days’ snowfall. They can also schedule repeat services on days after a heavy snowfall is predicted to ensure it doesn’t accumulate and cause problems as it melts. 

 

MaintenX offers comprehensive lawn care and snow removal services for businesses of all sizes. We understand the importance of snow removal from a total facility maintenance perspective. When you take proper care of snow and ice in the winter, your critical facility systems such as your plumbing and roofing are in better shape for the summer. We believe that preventative care is the #1 step you can take toward a safer facility year-round. 

 

If you’re interested in learning more about our preventative care services, contact your local MaintenX team today!

Commercial chillers are a vital part of many industrial operations, including facilities for injection molding, semiconductor processing, tool and die-cutting, food and beverage production, and more. This piece of machinery is critical to maximizing performance and reducing reactive maintenance costs across time. Because many are water or water/glycol-based, they can freeze during the winter. This can cause major issues for your facility as a whole, and can even cause a shutdown in severe circumstances. 

 

Preventative maintenance can help reduce your chances of a critical chiller failure during the winter. It can also help increase energy efficiency in the spring and summer months when your chiller must work harder to maintain a proper operating temperature. Below are just a few ways to care for your commercial chiller during the cold months: 

 

Check and adjust water, oil, and refrigerant levels. 

Winter is the ideal time to check on your chiller levels since it won’t be working at peak performance. Compare manufacturer recommended levels to your current levels and top off as needed. Water in the chiller should also be tested for pH and mineral or chemical impurities. 

 

Clean chiller tubes and cooling towers. 

The tubes and cooling towers are the most critical components of your chiller as a whole. They easily collect mineral deposits and can develop algae growth over time. This can reduce the operating efficiency of your chiller by up to 30%, so it’s important to clean these components regularly. Take advantage of the winter to perform thorough cleaning and maintenance. 

 

Check for leaks. 

Chillers will develop small cracks and leaks over time. While these don’t cause immediate damage, they can eventually let harmful refrigerant leak. Use the winter downtime to perform preventative maintenance on any leaks or cracks in your chiller system. This will help protect you from long-term damage and facility hazards. 

 

Create a PM plan for spring and summer. 

One of the most important aspects of preventative maintenance for any critical facility equipment is to log services and create a plan for future maintenance. By tracking service history, you can plan for manufacturer-recommended services and upgrades as needed. Preventative maintenance planning can also help you plan for chiller maintenance expenses in 2021. 

 

MaintenX is here to help you perform all chiller maintenance functions throughout the winter and into 2021. If you’re interested in learning more about our services, contact your local MaintenX technicians today!