Commercial facilities require frequent weatherproofing, HVAC system checks, and grounds maintenance to maintain their aesthetics, cleanliness, productivity, and functionality. Besides the wear and tear on appliances and the vegetation growth on the grounds, you must also be concerned about bad weather and extreme temperatures.  

Facility managerial procedures change for each season due to the differences in weather, temperature, and climate. If you do not execute the appropriate maintenance tasks to prepare for seasonal changes, it could hinder the operational capabilities of your facility in the future.  

Below are the specific maintenance tasks to carry out before each of the following seasons. 

1) Winter Season

Weatherproofing

The freezing winter temperatures put significant strain on a commercial facility. If you do not “winterize” your building effectively, your facility could suffer frozen water pipes, weak insulation, damaged gutters, and low energy efficiency.

First, conduct a full inspection of the roofing, doors, windows, and exterior walls of your commercial facility. The objective is to look for signs of damage or deterioration, such as cracks, holes, gaps, and any openings that could cause leakage or poor insulation. If you find any imperfections like these, you need to repair the damage and seal the cracks and gaps to prevent anything from getting through them. 

One of the bigger issues your facility may face is frozen pipes during the winter. So, prepare your plumbing before the brutal cold temperatures arrive. This process could involve insulating your pipes with a thermal-resistant material, draining the water heater, and flushing out your pipes with antifreeze. 

HVAC Systems Checks

Make sure your HVAC systems are fully functional before the winter cold arrives. The last thing you would want to happen is for your HVAC systems to malfunction when you need them the most for generating heat. Test your HVAC systems and inspect all their components to look for signs of damage or deficiency. If you see any poor-quality components, replace them immediately. 

Other tasks include changing the air filters and cleaning the air vents to ensure there are no obstructions that could stop the flow of heat coming into the rooms of your building. 

Grounds Maintenance

Grass and vegetation do not grow as fast in the winter. So, if you regularly mow the lawn outside your facility, the grass should stay short throughout the winter. Just make sure you bring your potted plants indoors and cover all other outdoor plants with mulch to protect them. Also, please turn off your irrigation system because you won’t need to use it during the winter. 

What you really need to look for are tree branches hanging over your building, parking lot, or other areas where people go on your property. The weight of snow and ice on the tree branches could potentially cause them to snap and fall onto people or property. For this reason, trim or remove all tree branches hanging over sensitive areas of your building and property.

2) Spring Season

Weatherproofing

Inspect the building, plumbing, and roof to look for damage caused by the past winter season. Make the necessary repairs to the roof, exterior siding, fixtures, and pipes. Clear the debris from the gutters if there is any.  

HVAC Systems Checks

Inspect the outdoor HVAC units to look for signs of damage. You should also test them to ensure they are functional. Replace all worn-out components and make other necessary repairs if needed. 

Calibrate the settings on the HVAC systems to maintain a slightly cooler indoor temperature to accommodate the somewhat warmer spring weather. The best temperature depends on how much heat your facility’s machines and computers normally generate. Some facilities may need cooler temperatures in the spring for that reason alone. 

Grounds Maintenance

Turn on your irrigation system because you will need to start watering your grass and plants again. Set an automated watering schedule to ensure your landscaping gets the adequate amount of water it needs. 

Take all the potted plants that you previously took indoors and put them outside in their rightful spots. 

Use a power washing unit to remove all the dirt, grime, and other debris from your building’s parking lots, exterior siding, and sidewalks. 

3) Summer Season

Weatherproofing

Check the insulation around your windows and doors to ensure it is airtight. If you see any damage, cracks, holes, or other gaps in your windows or doors, repair them to ensure that no indoor cool air can escape. You should also repair any damage to your window screens so that bugs do not get inside your facility. 

HVAC Systems Checks

Check your HVAC systems to verify that they can produce sufficient air conditioning for your facility. Summers are getting hotter every year, so you don’t want your workers to feel the impact of a heat wave if the HVAC systems are not working. That would reduce productivity in the workplace. If there are issues with the HVAC system, fix them before the summer heat comes.

Adjust the thermostats to a cool and comfortable setting. Change the air filters and clean the air ducts as needed. 

Grounds Maintenance

Continue to cut the grass, trim the hedges & trees, clean the parking lot, and regularly fertilise and irrigate the landscaping. You should also be on the lookout for annoying pests because they could potentially target your plants if you don’t have pest control methods in place. 

4) Fall Season

Weatherproofing

There isn’t that much weatherproofing you need to do for the fall season other than inspecting the roof and making repairs if you see any damage. The normal room temperature is usually pretty good on its own in the fall.

HVAC Systems Checks

Test your HVAC systems to see if they survived the summer heat without any damage or adverse impact. Remove any debris that may have gotten onto the HVAC units outside. Clean the air vents to ensure they remain clear as well. 

Grounds Maintenance

Rake all the fallen leaves to prevent them from damaging the lawn or causing people to trip on the ground. Check the gutters regularly and clear away leaves to prevent them from getting clogged. 

Hire Local Facilities Management Services 

Do you need assistance in conducting the proper maintenance tasks on your commercial facility for each season? Tier1 Facilities Management Ltd is a local facilities management service provider with professionals who understand how to sufficiently prepare facilities for the seasonal changes they will face and the challenges associated with them. Call 0330 127 0421 to learn more.