Don’t Get Left Out in the Cold: Winterize your Building

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!