Preparing for a Cold Snap

1/29/2019 (Permalink)

Property managers should have HVAC systems inspected and cleaned regularly to keep it running efficiently and to save time and money in the long run.

A cold snap is making its way across the country, and while there's no risk of freezing here in the Los Angeles area, this winter has brought its share of chilly temps.

If you're in charge of a commercial property, whether an office building, retail location or warehouse, now might be a good time to ensure you're prepared to heat things up inside, safely, while temperatures drop outside.

Air Ducts and HVAC Cleaning

A friend of ours (not a customer) turned on their heat in response to complaints from patrons of their business that it was unbearably cold in their building. This heating system hadn't been used in longer than the building's manager could remember. So along with the blast of heat came wisps of smoke and an acrid odor, necessitating a call to the fire department and evacuation of the building.

This unfortunate incident could have been avoided if they'd asked us to come inspect and clean the HVAC system.

Over time, dust, dirt and other contaminants build up and hide in air ducts and other elements of your HVAC system. Having it inspected and cleaned on a regular basis improves air quality, helps it operate at peak energy efficiency and extends the life of your equipment, maximizing your investment and minimizing the inconvenience of problems arising during business hours.

Space Heater Safety

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires are associated with space heater use annually. So while employees might desire the added warmth from a nearby radiating space heater, some commercial buildings restrict or ban their use completely.

There are no federal workplace safety rules that prohibit space heaters, so if you decide to allow them to be used in your building, be sure to document and communicate the specific rules for use to your employees.

Building managers should inspect both the space heaters themselves as well as their placement to ensure they do not pose a health or safety hazard. And, as always, your commercial property should be equipped with up-to-date fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems to mitigate the risk of fire damage to your property.

Inspect Insulation

Because it's made to last for a very long time (up to 100 years in some cases), your building's insulation is usually out of sight, out of mind. Still, you should have it inspected from time to time to make sure it's still doing its job as intended. Age and pests such as rodents can wear insulation and create enough gaps to cause problems.

More importantly, if you've discovered leaks in your roof during recent rain storms, not only should you have the storm damage repaired, you should also have your insulation inspected for mold and mildew growth. While the insulation itself may be mold resistant (e.g. fiberglass), dirt and other contaminants can support mold growth if the necessary moisture is also present.

And should you need help preparing for cold weather and storms, or cleaning up following one, SERVPRO of North Hollywood is always just a phone call away. Whether it’s a fast response to a disaster or a less urgent, but no less important, inspection and cleaning of your commercial property, we're here to help you keep your business operating at peak efficiency, warm or cold, rain or shine.