Fortify Your Commercial Property Against Frightful Weather

12/27/2021 (Permalink)

No matter how mild the weather was leading up to Thanksgiving, we New Englanders have every confidence that cold weather is on its way. For those of us who own commercial property, it’s smart to stay ahead of any risks associated with the season of snow and ice. 

Check out these 8 Commercial Property Cold Weather Maintenance Tips; we’ve highlighted our top three below!

Rally Around Your Roof

There are two important tasks when it comes to your building’s roof in winter: first, make sure you’re keeping an eye on ice accumulation. Ice dams, which are build-ups of ice, often result in water damage to your property because they restrict the snow from draining properly as it melts. 

The next step really follows the first: always make sure your roof is clear of snow and any debris is removed from your gutters. Doing so will also help reduce your risk of water damage in the (likely) event of a bad storm. 

Prioritize Your Pipes

Do you know what happens when water freezes inside your pipes? Your pipes might actually burst, potentially causing all sorts of water damage beyond a simple leak or two. Avoid this costly scenario by keeping the heat in your building set above 55 degrees Fahrenheit -- whether or not you’re open for business. 

Protect Pathways for Patrons and Employees 

This seems like a no-brainer but did you know that in 2016 The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 20,520 slip-and-fall workplace injuries involved ice, sleet or snow? That means you can’t be too careful when it comes to safeguarding against wintry conditions on your property. 

It’s important that you make every effort to remove snow and ice, along with taking the time to spread salt and sand in order to lessen the chance that an employee -- or customer -- might slip while on your commercial property. 

Contact your local SERVPRO team for more commercial property expertise -- this season and year-round!