Top Tips to Winter Proof a Property – Business & Home

For home and property owners taking steps to winter proof a property is becoming an essential preparatory task before the seasonal extremes of winter weather. If you run your business from a separate discrete property this is essential to protect your commercial assets. And naturally you need to protect your home also. In this article we review a number of top tips to help you protect your commercial property against the extremes of unseasonal weather, and most of these tips can be applied to home property also. Read on to learn more.

Top Tips to Winter Proof Your Business Property Before Winter

To get your business building ready for winter, you need to look at the things that break in cold weather. The roof, plumbing, fire sprinklers, heating system, and outside doors are the most important. You should have these checked in the fall. To winter proof a property, any property it is essential to fix any small issues before the first freeze. It’s good to plan for snow removal and holiday shutdowns. This will keep your building safe, help people who work there, and protect your profits.

For a business, winter problems can be hard. It is not only about the cost to fix things. A burst pipe or a loading dock door that does not open can stop your work. Inventory can get ruined, and you could lose customers to other places.

A commercial building is not like a house. A commercial building is bigger, so the impact of any damage will also be bigger and more dramatic. Plus there are more systems to worry about. There are more doors, and higher traffic because more people use them every day.

Facility managers who do well in winter have one thing in common. They use fall as the time to check things. They do not just ignore what is coming. This guide will help you know what to look for in your building. You will learn which warning signs to watch for. You will also see when it is best to get help from a pro to winter proof a property and get ready for freezing weather.

Why Cold Weather Costs Businesses More Than Homeowners

When stuff breaks down in winter, a business pays twice. You pay to fix the thing. You also lose time and money since people are not able to do their job. A plan that you use for your home may not work well in a warehouse, office, or store. You need a stronger plan for these places.

Downtime Is the Hidden Winter Expense

• Every hour that the building is closed can lead to lost sales. Staff may not have work to do. Deliveries can be missed as well.
• If repairs are needed during a storm, they may take more time. This happens because all the contractors are busy.
• It can be more tough to replace stock, equipment, or records than to fix the building.

Bigger Buildings Mean Bigger Weak Spots

• Flat roofs, long pipes, and big doors can let a lot of cold air and water come in.
• You will see that stockrooms, mechanical rooms, and warehouses are often colder than the main area.
• Having more entry points can make it hard to spot right away if something is not working.

Liability Grows With Foot Traffic

• Customers, employees, and delivery drivers can get hurt when there is ice on the ground.
• Slip-and-fall claims are very common winter lawsuits that businesses face.
• Property owners have to do the right things to keep walkways safe.

To Winter Proof a Property Protect Your Commercial Roof From Snow Load and Ice

Most commercial buildings have flat roofs or roofs that are not very steep. A flat roof does not let heavy snow slip off like the roof of a house that leans more. When heavy snow stays on the roof, or water and ice gather, it adds a lot of load on the roof. This can cause weak spots to appear.

Understand Commercial Roof Snow Load

• Wet, packed snow is heavier than dry, fluffy snow, even if they are the same depth.
• A ceiling that sags, cracks in the wall, or doors that will not open or close right could mean the roof has too much weight from snow.
• It is best to use the building’s design limits to choose when to do snow removal.
• A team with training should do roof snow removal. Shoveling can damage the roof’s covering.

Keep Roof Drains and Scuppers Clear

• When your drains are clogged, water from melting snow or ice will not go away. Later, this water can freeze and turn into thick ice.
• Take out leaves, trash, and other things from your drains, scuppers, and gutters before winter. This way, water can flow out and not get stuck.
• Look out for water that stays in the same place for more than two days after it rains. This can show a problem with your drains.

Safeguard Plumbing and Fire Sprinkler Systems

A frozen sprinkler line can be a huge problem. It can lead to flooding if the pipe breaks. You may also lose fire protection. The commercial plumbing in many buildings is in the ceilings and walls. Some of these spots are not heated. This makes it hard to notice issues before things get bad.

Check Fire Sprinkler Freeze Protection

• The sprinkler pipes in loading areas, attics, and stairwells can freeze the most when there is cold weather.
• Dry-pipe systems need all water taken out from low-point drains before cold weather comes.
• A licensed fire protection contractor should check the system. This must be done as local fire codes say.
• Do not turn off a sprinkler system to keep it from freezing. Doing so can break the code and make your insurance not work.

Find Pipes in Unheated Areas

Unheated parts of a building are among the most vulnerable to freezing conditions. So when you winter proof a property you absolutely much check any pipes or exposed areas in these unheated zones.

• Go into storage rooms, mechanical closets, and check exterior walls to find pipes that are not covered.
• See if there are pipes close to vents, windows, or doors. These places can let in cold air.
• Putting insulation or heat tracing on the lines at higher risk can stop most pipes from freezing up.

Know Your Shut-Off Points

• Put clear labels on the main water valve and the zone valves. This will help any staff member find them fast.
• Test the valves before winter. This helps you make sure they do not get stuck.
• Water damage cleanup in commercial buildings often costs several thousand dollars. This is true even for small leaks.

Keep Commercial HVAC and the Building Envelope Working Together

Your heating system and the outside walls of your building work as a team. If there are cracks or holes, cold air can get in. The HVAC system then has to do more work. This makes the heating system use more energy. It can also break down sooner. Checking your HVAC system is a vital step when you winter proof a property.

Book Commercial HVAC Maintenance Early

• You need to check rooftop units before the cold weather comes. Don’t wait until they break.
• Technicians examine the heat exchangers, belts, burners, and controls. They look for signs of damage.
• A commercial HVAC tune-up will cost between $200 to $500 for each unit.
• Be aware of warning signs. Look for uneven heating, strange smells, and higher energy bills.

Seal Air Leaks Around the Building Envelope

• Check if the caulk has any cracks around the windows, storefronts, and where things go through the walls.
• Look for drafts by the electrical boxes, pipes, and near the roof edges.
• Sealing up leaks will keep heat inside the place and stop moisture from getting in. This helps the walls stay safe from mold.

Watch Energy Use as a Warning System

One of the early warning signs in any building that there might be an issue is a rapid rise in energy use. Monitor energy bills carefully, and by zone in the building if that is possible. And when you find the area with an issue take action immediately to winter proof a property.

• A big jump in your utility bill may mean that the unit is failing or there is a large air leak.
• Building automation systems help managers see if there is a drop in temperature in some areas.
• Set alarms for low temperature in server rooms, storage spots, and machine rooms.

Prepare Loading Docks and Overhead Doors for Heavy Winter Use

For many businesses, most things are done at the loading dock. The loading dock can also be where a lot of heat loss happens in the building. A door that gets stuck in cold weather can stop shipping and receiving work quickly.

Inspect Dock Seals and Dock Shelters

• Look for pads that are ripped, flat, or missing. These pads leave gaps around trailers.
• These gaps let cold air, snow, and water get inside the building when a truck backs in.
• Bad seals also make floors near the dock slippery. This can put workers at higher risk of harm.

Keep Commercial Overhead Doors in Working Order

• Cold weather can cause springs and cables to get stiff. This can make door openers slower.
• Listen for grinding noises, loud banging, or if the door stops halfway.
• Check if the seals at the bottom and the weatherstripping are pressed tight against the floor and frame.
• Plan for Garage Door Maintenance in the fall. This helps you spot worn springs, rollers, and cables before they break.
• A local expert, like a trusted Commercial Garage Door Company in Nashville, TN, can fix doors that open and close many times a day.

Know When an Upgrade Makes More Sense

• If your doors have dents, let in drafts, or break down a lot, you may spend more money on them than if you just get a new one.
• A proper Garage Door Installation with insulated or faster doors helps stop heat loss. It also lets people and vehicles move in and out more quickly.
• Fixing overhead doors at work usually costs about $300 to $800. The exact price depends on what part needs repair and how large the door is.
• Dock levelers should be checked as well. Ice and other things can build up and keep them from working right.

Make Parking Lots and Walkways Safe for Everyone – When You Winter Proof a Property Exteriors Count Too

The first thing that people look at is the path leading from their car to your door. Ice on this path can be dangerous. It might also get you in trouble with the law. Because of this, you need a good plan to keep it clear. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to handle it.

Line Up a Snow and Ice Removal Contract

• Sign a contract before the season begins. Make sure you do this while the crews still have open spots.
• Write down when plowing will start, like when there are two inches of snow. Also, note how fast the lots will be cleared.
• Ask them to give a written log each time they come. This can help if someone later says they slipped.

Fix Pavement Problems Before They Freeze

• Potholes and cracks let water in. When freezing happens in winter, these holes and cracks grow bigger.
• Water stays in dips on the road. At night, it freezes and makes ice.
• Sealing cracks during fall is not costly. Fixing roads after winter in spring costs a lot more.

Improve Lighting and Entry Mats

• Bright, working lights let people see the ice in the dark during winter nights.
• Heavy-duty entrance mats keep snow and water from getting on the floors.
• Put wet-floor signs near doors when it is stormy outside.

Plan for Holiday Shutdowns and Empty Buildings

Many shops close for several days or even weeks during the holiday season. A quiet building can be where frozen pipes, heating problems, or break-ins go unnoticed for a long time.

Build a Winter Shutdown Checklist

• Set the heating to a safe low level in every space, not just the main office.
• Unplug things you do not need and lift items from the floor in places that might flood.
• Lock and secure every outside door, overhead door, and roof hatch.
• Check your insurance policy to see what happens when buildings are empty.

Set Up Remote Monitoring

• Water leak sensors that are placed by water heaters, sprinkler risers, and in restrooms can send you alerts right away.
• Low-temperature sensors alert you before pipes freeze.
• Monitored alarm systems and cameras can help to stop theft. They also show what happened if there is an incident.

Assign a Point Person

One of the key steps you can take to winter proof a property is to assign a point person for a building or indeed a zone within a building. They can help you monitor and manage the situation on site.

• Choose one staff member or property manager to check the building in person every day or two.
• Give them a list of emergency vendor numbers and access codes.
• Include a go-to provider for garage door repair in Nashville, TN, or your area, since an overhead door stuck open during a shutdown leaves the whole building exposed.
• Agree on which repairs they can approve without waiting for the owner.

Final Thoughts on How to Winter Proof a Property

Stay Open, Stay Warm, Stay Ahead of the Storm

A business that gets ready for winter can keep going when others might need to close or fix things quickly. First, check the roof and look over the plumbing. Make sure the heating system is working. Seal the outside of the building well, so the cold stays out. Get your docks and doors ready for heavy use. Make a clear plan for dealing with snow and days off during holidays. The steps you take now in fall will help make January better for all people at work.

Check Externals Too

Your loading docks and overhead doors are in use all winter. It is smart to check them before the cold starts. BT1 Dock and Door can help you inspect, fix, and improve your commercial doors and dock equipment. The team makes sure you are set for anything winter may bring. A winter inspection helps your business keep running well, even when it gets cold outside. Book your pre-winter inspection now, and stay ready as the weather cools down.