Commercial Facilities Maintenance
Importance of Building Maintenance
Performing regular maintenance of your building is vital for several reasons. It can help you understand the overall condition of your building, and it ensures you can address any issues before they compound and cause any further damage. This allows you to minimize repair costs, eliminate safety hazards, and ensure your building is running at maximum efficiency. It can even help keep your energy costs down.
PLUMBING MAINTENANCE
Even a small leak that goes unnoticed can cause thousands of dollars in water damage and days worth of labor to repair it. By conducting regular inspections of your plumbing, you can ensure any leaks, and any bills, are contained.
- Leaks: Leaks may not always be easily visible, but they can still cause extensive—and expensive—problems if the issue is not immediately addressed. You should inspect your property at least once annually for leaks, especially around plumbing and window seals.
- Bathroom fixtures: Bathroom fixtures that see regular use should be maintained and checked for broken gaskets and leaks. Listen for unusual noises when running the plumbing that may be caused by leaks or problems with water pressure. Sink faucet screens should be cleaned periodically to ensure proper water flow.
- Drinking water: Random sampling and testing should be done annually to check water for contaminants.
- Water heater: If your heater uses a pilot light, make sure to check it regularly, especially if you are noticing any issues with your heater. Always notify an expert immediately if you smell gas. Take temperature checks of the water if your unit appears to be experiencing issues. Also, conduct regular checks on the unit’s efficiency.
ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE
- Poorly maintained fixtures can be a drain on energy efficiency and cause poor light quality. Always be sure to take necessary safety precautions and contact an electrician when necessary.
- Electrical outlets: Perform random sampling of electrical outlets to determine if there is an energy drain or bad connection.
- Burned-out bulbs: Check regularly for burned-out bulbs and replace with the correct wattage. Use energy-efficient bulbs to lower your electricity costs.
- Exit signs and emergency lights: Ensure all exit signs are functioning and properly lit. Also verify that they are clearly visible and are unobstructed from all areas of the room, so people can quickly evacuate in case of an emergency.
- Fire alarms: Regularly check that fire alarms are functioning and replace batteries when necessary.
- Electrical panels: Ensure your electrical panel does not have frays, double tapping, or electrical inconsistencies. Always turn off electricity before doing anything that could involve contact with electrical components, using a meter to confirm power is off before starting any tasks. Contact an electrician if you are unsure.
MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE
The mechanical parts of your building are constantly working to make sure your operation is running smoothly. Make sure to conduct regular maintenance to keep them humming along. If you don’t, issues can pop up unexpectedly and cause problems for everyone using the building.
- HVAC: If your HVAC system malfunctions, it can start causing problems within hours. To avoid being caught in freezing weather without a working heater, regularly test the condition and quality of your unit at least twice a year. Conduct start-up checks and preventative maintenance. Filters should be replaced every quarter in most units, though in heavy industrial areas, they should be replaced monthly. This helps keep the unit clean and sustain good air quality. Outside air dampeners should be set at a position that allows outside air but also maintains energy efficiency.
- Thermostats: Regularly make sure your thermostat is set to the proper temperature and is functioning properly. If your thermostat uses a schedule to change the temperature, be sure to regularly update it with changes in your own schedule. Your fan should be set to AUTO.