How to Prepare Your Building for Winter

The days are getting shorter and the air is getting cooler, and the lazy days of summer are quickly becoming a distant memory. In addition to the stores already stocking their shelves with holiday items, this means on thing. Winter is on its way. While this is something that happens every year, it’s still common for so many to go into it unprepared. One of the best ways to gear up for winter is to prepare your building, making sure it’s buttoned up and ready for the cold and snowy months ahead. If you think your building could use a little extra attention before the snow flies, keep reading. Here are some things to keep in mind that will hopefully keep things safe, warm and secure throughout the entire winter season.

Have a Plan for Snow Removal

While snow removal can be a time consuming, tedious and back-breaking chore, it’s also something that absolutely needs to be done. Proper removal helps avoid issues such as flooding and blockages, as well as ensuring safe traveling for both vehicle and foot traffic.

When it comes to your building’s roof, snow removal is no different — in fact, it’s even more critical that you keep up with it in order to prevent costly repairs such as flooding, roof damage or even catastrophic collapsing due to excessive weight. While this is frightening to think about, it does happen. Installing a snow load calculator would be a great way to stay one step ahead, ensuring consistent monitoring and maintenance to prevent such issues.

Make sure you have proper snow removal tools on hand well before the first snowfall of the year. This will ensure you’re prepared and not scrambling at the last minute.

Button Up Your Building for the Season

When heading into the winter season, it’s imperative to do a proper maintenance check throughout your entire building. This is a great time to catch and fix small issues before they become bigger and harder to manage.

Take this time to schedule an inspection for your mechanical systems if you haven’t already, because they will be working extra hard during the colder months. This is also a great time to do a thorough check-up on your building’s plumbing — frozen or burst pipes aren’t anything you want to deal with. Finally, do a walk-through to seal up any drafty areas around windows or doors to improve insulation.