As we've all heard countless times before from our favorite sports coaches, the best offense is a good defense, and readying your multifamily property for winter is no different. A preventative weatherization program will help you catch small problems before they blossom into huge problems, thus saving you thousands of dollars and hours of headaches in the coming weeks of winter. On the other hand, ignoring regular maintenance checks and repairs can lead to dangerous and completely avoidable emergency situations, especially during the winter season.
But if you prepare your multifamily property following these tips, you'll be more than ready for the snow, ice and winds of winter.
Schedule your facilities maintenance team to perform preventative maintenance checks on your property at regular intervals throughout the year. At a minimum, completing them semiannually – in the fall and spring to prepare for the impending winter and summer, respectively – is a great idea.
Most of these tasks, especially those involving seals and mortar, should be done after the baking of summer but before the freezing of winter because of the expansion and contraction factor inherent in thermal cycles. Also, if you discover that you need to bring in a professional repair crew, it may take them weeks to complete the job, and it's crucial that you give them enough lead time to get it done right before the hard weather hits.
That being said, the time to prepare for cold weather is now.
Winter keeps maintenance professionals busy no matter the type of property, as the cold weather and freezing temperatures create tasks both inside and out. Be sure to pay specific attention to these areas.
Throughout the winter, your HVAC system will likely be your main source of warmth. Knowing that this machine will be central to your comfort as the cold months go by, give it the TLC it deserves.
Follow this HVAC System Preventive Maintenance Checklist (or this PTAC Preventive Maintenance Guide) to keep your heat in tip-top shape. While doing so, keep in mind that most HVAC units have a lifespan of about 10 to 15 years. So if you find yourself doing a ton of expensive repairs on a regular basis, then you may need to swap your current HVAC unit for a newer model.
Also, change out your air filters regularly to increase the efficacy and efficiency of your HVA C heating system, and help it do its job even better by insulating it as well. Maintaining and fine-tuning this integral piece of machinery will help your residents save a bunch on their energy bills and drastically increase their comfort throughout the winter.
Should the inevitable winter storm swirl its way into town, you'll want to have an emergency plan in place and the right emergency supplies on hand. Extreme cold, winter storms, deep snow, and ice can seriously impact cities and businesses, knocking out power and heat services for hours or days.
Check out our Winter Storms Emergency Preparedness Guide for more advice on how to help your property and residents prepare, respond and recover. Be sure to pay close attention to the items below.
By being proactive, weatherizing, and preparing for whatever the winter may bring, your multifamily property will be able to better weather the season and any storms it may blow in.
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