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September 20, 2022

Tips for Winterizing Your Commercial Property

The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder, which means it’s time to start thinking about what you need to do to protect and prepare your commercial property from Old Man Winter.

At Ashton Gray, we offer property management for a variety of commercial properties around the country. We asked our lead property manager, Tandell Veleker, what advice she offers property managers and commercial building owners during the upcoming winter weather.

How to Winterize Your Commercial Property

Water Lines

Water lines are one of the most important areas of your commercial property to winterize. Low temperatures can cause the water line to freeze and burst, resulting in not only a very wet headache but also costly repair bills.

Here’s what to do to keep your water lines and plumbing system intact during the winter months:

  • Keep the water moving. Turn on your faucets just enough to allow water to trickle through your pipes during particularly cold stretches of winter or overnight.
  • Disconnect, drain your garden hoses, and place them in storage if possible.
  • Locate your water main, in case it needs to be shut off.
  • Shut off the water supply to the outdoor faucets, open the taps to drain any excess water, and insulate the bibs with styrofoam insulators.
  • Open cabinet doors that contain piping to allow warm air to circulate.
  • If you leave for vacation or the building is going to be vacant, set your thermostat to at least 55 degrees.
  • Shut off and drain any sprinkler systems.

Heating and Cooling Systems

If not properly maintained, HVAC systems can become a costly liability. Keep your systems up and running well throughout the winter and beyond by following some easy-to-do tips:

  • Replace your A/C and furnace filters every 60 days. This is one of the easiest ways to ensure that your HVAC system works efficiently, saving you money in energy bills, and preventing future costly repairs.
  • Make sure to clear any obstacles in front of your vents that may inhibit airflow.
  • Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans to push warmer air down.

Snow and Ice

For your safety and others, it’s important to maintain safe walkways and driveways.

  • Keep your walkways as dry as possible, at all times.
  • Keep proper signage on hand to warn patrons of icy conditions and wet floors.
  • Hire a snow and ice removal company for parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks, if you live in an area where that’s to be expected.

Holiday Planning

Holidays can disrupt the routine flow of property management and maintenance. Be sure to:

  • Prepare for increased holiday traffic.
  • Inform your customers, vendors, landlords, or any other person that may visit your business during the holiday season if your business will be closed.

Daylight Savings

  • Determine whether your parking lot and exterior are equipped with light cell monitors or timers
  • Try to test these prior to the time change

Conducting proper property maintenance is one of the best ways to keep your assets safe, your customers happy, and keep your investments stable and secure. For more commercial building property management help, talk to the team at Ashton Gray.