Winter checklist for your commercial buildings

12/4/2023 (Permalink)

Preparing your commercial property for winter is an essential part of maintaining your building!

Preparing your commercial property for winter is an essential part of maintaining your building(s)! As you know, harsh winter weather can take a toll on your property, so make sure to check off each of the items below before our Maryland winter weather goes into full swing:

-Check your building’s winter inventory! Do you have all the necessary winter snow removal supplies such as a salt spreader and snowplow? Are they in good repair? Make sure these items have adequate fuel, too!

-If you do not plow your own snow, see that you establish a contract with a snow removal service company.

-Make sure your building is safe for customers! This means removing snow from walkways and entrances, adding slip-resistant flooring as shoes tend to get wet from snow this time of year, and ensuring all areas of your building are well-lit. During the winter, we see less daylight, so it is crucial to ensure good lighting for the safety of all!

-Clean snow piles from the roof or hire a professional company to do so. Also, check for loose shingles or any other damage to your roof that can be caused by the high winds or ice that winter brings.

-Keep the building temperature above 45 degrees Fahrenheit to protect plumbing (mainly to avoid frozen pipes). Regularly check both interior and exposed pipes. Insulate pipes and seal cracked ones to avoid broken pipes.

-Inspect your HVAC system. Look for cracks and leaks and listen out for any strange sounds originating from the system. The wintertime can give your system a real workout! 

-Check for large icicles, especially when in harm’s way. Icicles can become quite heavy and very dangerous. Be sure to remove large icicles that have the potential to fall on someone or onto a car. 

-Prevent power outages in your building by investing in backup generator(s) and inspecting nearby powerlines and the surrounding trees. Weak tree branches often cause outages by falling onto telephone poles and powerlines.

We hope you stay safe and are prepared for Winter 2023, which kicks off Dec 21!

SERVPRO of Laurel & Greenbelt/Beltsville is here to help 24/7 should you need cleanup & restoration from storm damages. 301-323-8862.