Category: Winterization

Will Winter Affect Your Building?

Is your facility prepared to weather winter storms?  Power loss, cold temperatures, snow, wind, ice, and a host of other potential problems need to be considered and addressed now to ensure your facility will run safely and smoothly through the winter season. Here are some tips to keep your building in great shape year-round.

HVAC System Inspection

When temperatures get colder, your building needs to be kept warm enough to keep people comfortable and assets protected. Now is the perfect time to make sure your facility’s HVAC systems are prepared to handle the stresses of the coming winter months.

The best way to make sure the system is efficient is to hire an HVAC maintenance company familiar with commercial systems, like MaintenX, to inspect and optimize the system before the coldest months of winter hit.

Don’t Waste Heat

In addition to checking the heating system, have your facility checked for drafts, leaks, and cracks — all of which allow heated air to escape buildings. Taking care of these will limit wasted energy throughout the cold weather months while saving you money.

Roof Inspection

Roofs take a lot of damage in the winter. Flat roofs, which are typical on commercial buildings, require routine inspection and maintenance. Make sure the roofs don’t have areas where ice or heavy snow can build up. After the preliminary inspection, schedule weekly or monthly inspections for the entire winter season. During these inspections, look for built-up water, ice, and snow, and if you find it, dispose of it immediately.

Tips to Keep Your Employees Safe During Winter

Working in cold conditions isn’t just uncomfortable, it can also be quite unsafe. Frostbite, numbness, dehydration, and hypothermia are very real dangers and should be taken seriously. If you or your employees are performing work tasks outdoors during the winter, be aware of the dangers and follow these tips.

Dress for the Weather

Workers should avoid exposure to extreme cold whenever they can. When they must confront the cold, follow these clothing recommendations:

  • Wear multiple layers of loose clothing.
  • Remember that some clothing can hinder movement and result in an accident.
  • Wear waterproof, insulated, slip-resistant shoes.
  • Wear a hat.
  • Wear insulated gloves or mittens whenever possible.
  • Always wear socks in cold weather. High wool socks are best at trapping heat in cold conditions. Avoid socks that limit circulation.

Potential Hazards

Frostbite and hypothermia can develop from overexposure to cold. If you suspect either, get medical attention immediately.

Warning Signs:

Hypothermia 

  • Shivering
  • Lack of coordination
  • Drowsiness
  • Slurred speech

Frostbite

  • Cold skin that turns numb
  • Blisters or swelling
  • Joint stiffness

Cold weather is a normal event, so it is easy for workers to forget that it can be very dangerous if not properly prepared for. Make sure to take into account these cold weather safety tips while working in winter conditions to protect yourself and your employees against the elements.

To learn more about winter safety precautions, contact MaintenX today.

Preparing your Building for Snow and Ice

Keeping track of facility maintenance problems can be a real headache—especially if you have multiple buildings to maintain. That’s why having a solid maintenance plan for each season can be a lifeline for facility managers and business owners.

The safety and security of your occupants is certainly an important issue, but as facility management evolves, it is getting much easier to track and maintain the status of buildings year-round. Here are some tips to prepare your facility for the winter months:

Think Ahead

 As a facility manager, it’s vital to have an emergency plan in place and on paper and to train your employees on how to enact it. This should include preventive measures and procedures, as well as a list of critical shut-off locations for utilities, such as:

  • water
  • electrical mains
  • emergency generators
  • fire protection systems

Preventive Maintenance

 Ensure that your facility’s water heater and HVAC systems inspected and maintained on a regular basis. These systems must work especially hard during the winter and summer.

Clear Walkways

 Always keep walkways clear of snow and ice. You can use salt, chemical pellets, or sand. It’s always a smart idea to put out caution signs when needed.

Emergency Generators

 Check the fuel oil supply for your emergency generators in case of an outage. Also, make sure to maintain and inspect your generators on the schedule recommended by their manufacturer.

For more information on preparing your office building or facility for a snowstorm or winter weather, please contact MaintenX.

What Services are offered at MaintenX?

Facility Maintenance

MaintenX is a full-service Facility Maintenance company serving 14 states across America, including major restaurants and Fortune 500 companies.

With just a call or click, we can take on a project, schedule preventative maintenance, or jump into action on an emergency service call in many locations in the U.S.

We offer 24/7 professional Facility Maintenance service and repair, including:

– Air conditioning

– Refrigeration

– Plumbing

– Electrical Work

– Roofing Repair

– Backflow Programs

– General Contractor Needs

– Rapid Disaster Response

– Preventative Maintenance

– Floor Maintenance

– Snow Removal

– Landscaping

– Dark Closed Stores

– Property Management and Maintenance

– Extensive Self-Performing Facility Maintenance & Repair

MaintenX is one of the largest Facility Maintenance service companies in the U.S. We are always expanding our service area.

Our extensive system of more than forty-five thousand contractors lets us to provide quality Facility Maintenance work throughout the United States. To maintain the standards for our self-performing technicians, contractor selection is not based simply on price, but also quality, experience, consistency, dependability, and service history, coupled with proper preparation and certification.

Green Power Incentives

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 and other federal laws have provided tax incentives for certain energy management projects that exceed the minimum energy consumption benchmarks. Certain utilities companies and state energy offices also have demand-side management rebates and low interest loans to help foster sustainability and energy conservation projects. At MaintenX, we encourage you to look into these Green incentives, as they could be used towards your next project.

Planning for Winter Weather

Here in Florida, temperatures aren’t that cold yet but around the country, the weather is getting colder and if you didn’t do it already, it’s time to take a look at facility management and maintenance for the winter months.
 
Here are some useful resources for you to get started:
 
Plan Ahead for Winter Weather
 
Start taking precautions to minimize the impact the cold weather will have on your business. The location of your operation will influence the amount of planning ahead you need to do, but freak winter storms can pop up even in mild climates. All businesses should take some basic precautions to avoid being caught unprepared.
 
Learn more >>>
 
Winterize Your Roof
 
Bad things can happen when snow accumulates on a roof!
 
roof collapse roof collapse
 
Winterizing The Roof – Best Practices
 
Learn more >>>
 
The Dangers of Rooftop Snow
 
rooftop-snow

Learn more >>>