We often do a series of small things to prep our homes for the cold season. We pile firewood in the garage, break out all the fuzzy couch blankets, and switch out sandals for boots in the foyer. We cover drafty windows and replace the bottom seals on our front doors, and then we repeatedly argue with our partner on which cold day is the day we’ll finally turn the furnace on.
As a business owner, you should be doing the same thing you do at home at your work-home. It’s your baby; you put a lot into it. Winter weather can take a toll on overhead costs and storefront entryways, and you end up spending way more in springtime repairs than if you had simply protected your building in the first place. All it takes is a few simple tasks and a handy checklist. So we did the checklist part for you:
13 Ways to Winter-Proof Your Commercial Building
- Ensure your roof is properly insulated and leak-free. As you can imagine, a drafty roof can have a huge effect on your energy costs.
- Check the weather seals on all your business’ exterior and overhead doors. They’re super easy to replace, and an important piece of any weather-proofing process.
- Inspect your business’ doors for any signs of wear and tear. This includes checking for loose hinges, damaged seals, and broken.
- Lubricate your hinges and locks to keep your storefront doors operating.
- Clean the doors and frames to prevent dirt and debris from accumulating. The less cleaning you have to do in the cold the better.
- Make sure any storefront windows are properly sealed or replaced before it gets wet and chilly.
- Prep any work vehicles for winter with a tune up, oil change and new tires, if necessary.
- For outdoor vehicles and/or inventory, move sensitive items to a covered area.
- Get your HVAC system inspected a few months before it starts to get cold. It’s always best to have someone take a look at the plumbing as well so they can insulate any necessary pipes.
- Make a preparedness plan for winter storms with your employees and get everyone on the same weather app so the whole team gets notifications about weather advisories.
- Get a generator and/or stock up on power-outage supplies like flashlights, blankets, cell phone chargers, extra Rx medications for workers with health conditions, etc.
- Stock up on road salt. When it’s wet, even temperatures a bit above freezing can make sidewalks slippery.
- Make sure there are remote backups for everything on your network. You should also set up a contingency plan in case people have to work from home.
If you come across any issues, want a professional set of eyes, or want us to put in the elbow grease for you, just ask! When the weather lets up and it finally starts to get warm and sunny again, you won’t have to worry about a raincloud of repair costs ruining it.