Winters are especially tough for commercial buildings. Snow and ice can quickly accumulate and stress out your commercial buildings. And, damages like a roof collapse can literally empty your pockets overnight.
Even if you properly take care of your commercial buildings during the other seasons, Mother Nature isn’t always so forgiving. This is especially true in today’s climate where you never know how cold or how much snow will fall each year.
We want to lend a helping hand. Today, we’ll be covering 4 Winter commercial building maintenance tips that’ll help you save big in 2022.
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Repair The Roof
Roof maintenance may seem like a daunting task, but it is one that must be done. If there are cracks or damages on your roof, you’ll constantly lose heat while exposing your commercial building to natural elements. Even worse, damaged roofs have the tendency to collect excess snow and ice. Once it melts, there is the possibility of the water freezing again and creating ice dams that can tear off gutters, loosen shingles, and promote cracks.
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Don’t Neglect Roof Cleaning Too
While it’s quite clear that roofs need to be repaired, what about cleaning? What’s the point if the roof is going to be covered by snow anyways? Actually, there’s a really good reason to not neglect roof cleaning.
The stains and blemishes on roofs aren’t just aesthetic. They are caused by algae, fungi, or moss. These stains and blemishes weaken the life of your roof by deteriorating and rotting wood shingles. When shingles are rotten, it becomes easier for melted snow to slip inside the building and cause water damage. With a weaker roof, it’ll take less snow before your roof inevitably caves in and causes a giant mess.
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Seal Door + Window Gaps
The barely noticeable gaps found on doors and windows can leak out cozy (and expensive) heat while letting the cold creep in. This results in a HVAC system that’s running extra hard to keep your office nice and cozy. And, if your HVAC system is running at max capacity everyday – you’ll have to replace it sooner and the monthly electricity bill will be higher.
Check up on windows, frames, interior, and exterior walls to make sure warm air stays trapped where it belongs. Also keep in mind that you don’t need to renovate or hire a professional to seal door and window gaps. DIY supplies like caulk, weather tape, or even duct tape work well enough to seal doors + window gaps.
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Inspect Cooling Systems
While it might seem like a no-brainer to check up on heating systems, the same should apply to your cooling. Properly working cooling prevents the formation of ice inside your HVAC units. This is important because the presence of ice can make your HVAC system consume more energy than it needs to.
Before inspecting, turn off your chillers and cooling towers. Then, drain all units that aren’t in use and clear them of debris (and other present buildup).
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https://blackhawksupply.com/blogs/articles/winter-commercial-building-maintenance-tips-checklist