Meteorologists predict the winter snowfall will be heaviest at the beginning and end of winter this year. Winter weather can cause dangerous conditions, frozen pipes, treacherous footing, collapsing roofs, slippery roads, and more.
Our Special Services team can help create a plan to avoid cold-weather disasters and costly repairs.
The following are tips and general guidelines that apply to most properties:
Salt and Shoveling. We understand your concern for the safety of customers and employees, particularly in preventing slips on ice or snow around your workplace. We recommend keeping salt on hand so your day-porter can apply it as needed. If you're not directly responsible for overseeing salt and shoveling, ensure that the person in charge avoids excessive application. Accumulated piles of ice melt or sand in one area can be counterproductive and may be tracked into your workplace. It's important to spread ice melt, salt, and sand evenly and use them only when needed. When there is precipitation such as snow, sleet, or freezing rain, and the ground temperature is 32°F or colder, ice can form on streets and surfaces. The reason for using salt on roads and other areas is straightforward—salt reduces the freezing point of water, preventing the formation of ice.
Thermostat Control. A temperature-controlled thermostat will save you money and prevent your pipes from freezing. Set your thermostat to 68° degrees when the workplace is occupied, and 60-65 degrees or off after business hours. To prevent winter freezing for unoccupied properties, set your thermostat no lower than 50° and no higher than 60°.
HVAC Maintenance.
It’s important to remember that the HVAC system provides air-quality control throughout the building. It works hard all year. In winter, the system is put into overdrive. Here are a few tips to prepare your HVAC system for winter:
Check all and replace them if needed.
Inspect for broken parts and repair them.
Cover all outdoor air-conditioning units.
Inspect for holes or leaks
Inspect the ventilation system.
Call us. We will help you with HVAC maintenance.
If you discover your HVAC heat needs to be turned on or repaired in the winter during freezing weather: Temporarily keep a steady drip of cold water running at an inside faucet. This keeps water moving, making it less likely to freeze.
Plumbing.
Our remediation and emergency response teams are called most of the time due to frozen or broken pipes causing floods to occur. It can be costly and time-consuming to repair. We recommend working with our Special Services team to inspect your property to avoid plumbing disasters. The inspections include but are not limited to controlling internal thermostat settings, checking and repairing cracks, and inspecting alarms and freeze-protection devices.
Roofing.
With heavy snowfall predicted this winter, it is critical to do a roofing inspection to prevent leaks and avoid expensive repairs. During the inspection, our team will 1) look for holes and damage that could cause leaks with snowmelt, 2) check for loose shingles, and 3) make repairs necessary to ensure the roof is structurally sound for winter.
Be prepared. Colorado winters are unpredictable. To avoid property damage and costly repairs, the Rocky Mountain Janitorial Special Services Team is readily available to assist you with a wide range of services, like winterizing your property.
Contact us for information:
Crystal Le'
VP, Client Services
Danielle Dooley
Sr. Administration Manager, Special Services
About the Author
Crystal Le', VP of Client Services
Crystal is a highly experienced professional with over 15 years of property management in residential and commercial real estate. She excels in managing client relationships and implementing strategic initiatives for business growth.