Much of Texas got its first
glimpse of old man winter during the past few days, which may have taken maintenance
personnel and operations staff by surprise. Freezing temperatures, sleet and
snow flurries are rarely seen before Thanksgiving in Texas, but just like a
house and car need extra attention to withstand the cold weather, so does a
commercial building. Your occupants will thank you ̶
after all, it’s difficult to type or write wearing gloves and teeth
chattering!
It should come as no surprise
the biggest energy users in commercial buildings are HVAC equipment and
lighting, which account for approximately 70%. While this is true year-round, one
of the biggest concerns during winter is frozen water pipes, which can burst
and cause tremendous damage, not to mention a large expense to repair. Facility
managers must be prepared in order to keep tenants warm and toasty, but still
be energy efficient and avoid equipment failure.
How-to
winterize your commercial building checklist:
1. Have the heating plant/boilers
inspected and cleaned, including furnace
filters, oil bearings on pumps and motors, blower belt and making sure blower
doors are replaced properly.
2. Empty the condensation pan on all HVAC units
to remove any excess water.
3. Insulate exposed pipes and irrigation
system lines.
4. Inspect
roof for any leaks.
5. Check all exterior walls for leaks, stains,
or cracks in brick and missing mortar. Seal these areas to keep warm,
conditioned air inside and cold air out.
6. Caulk
around pipes where they enter the building to prevent warm air escaping.
7.
Clean
gutters and downspouts to insure proper drainage and less ice build-up.
8.
Check mixed air and outside air temperature
sensors, damper and actuator function to be sure your system is ready to
capitalize on free cooling opportunities.
9. Set thermostat at 68 degrees to keep tenants
comfortable and minimize heating costs.
Although Texas winters are
typically mild, facility managers must be ready for a winter blast…as the
saying goes, “If you don’t like the weather in Texas, wait a minute and it will
change!” Take care of your building and you won’t get left out in the cold!
