Winters are especially tough for commercial buildings. Snow and ice can quickly accumulate and stress your building. And damage like a roof collapse can literally empty your pockets overnight.
Even if you properly take care of your building 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 it will get or how much snow will fall each year.
We want to lend a helping hand. Here are four winter commercial building maintenance tips that will help you save big in 2022.
1. Repair the roof
Roof maintenance may seem like a daunting task, but it is one that must be done. If there are cracks or damage on your roof, you'll constantly lose heat while exposing the building to the elements. Even worse, damaged roofs tend to collect excess snow and ice. Once it melts, the water can freeze again and create ice dams that tear off gutters, loosen shingles, and promote cracks.
2. Don't neglect roof cleaning
Roofs clearly need repair, but what about cleaning? What's the point if the roof is going to be covered by snow anyway? There is a good reason not to skip it.
The stains and blemishes on a roof aren't only cosmetic. They are caused by algae, fungi, or moss, and they shorten the life of the roof by deteriorating and rotting shingles. When shingles are rotten, melted snow slips inside the building more easily and causes water damage. With a weaker roof, it takes less snow before the roof gives way.
3. Seal door and window gaps
The barely noticeable gaps around doors and windows leak out expensive heat while letting the cold creep in. The result is an HVAC system running extra hard to keep the office comfortable. If your HVAC system runs at max capacity every day, you'll replace it sooner and pay a higher monthly electricity bill.
Check windows, frames, and interior and exterior walls to make sure warm air stays where it belongs. You don't need to renovate or hire a professional to seal door and window gaps. Caulk and weather tape work well enough.
4. Inspect cooling systems
It might seem obvious to check heating systems, but the same should apply to cooling. Properly working cooling prevents ice from forming inside HVAC units, and ice makes the system consume more energy than it needs to.
Before inspecting, turn off chillers and cooling towers. Then drain any units that aren't in use and clear them of debris and other buildup.
Source: Blackhawk Supply's winter commercial building maintenance checklist.