As the weather cools down, it’s important to prepare your facility to stand up to the potential threats to safety caused by lowering temperatures. These preparations become harder to take care of as temperatures drop, so be sure to take a good look at your facility’s needs before ice and snow make repairs and preparation too difficult.
Winterize pipes
Prevent frozen and bursting water pipes by checking the state of your insulation and investing in new insulation materials. Keep quick solutions for pipe repair on hand in case of an emergency breakage.
Inspect your roof
Look for damage as well as pooling water, blistering materials, and cracks that can be signals of damage to come. Patch problem spots and tighten loose screws. Fixing these defects while they’re still small can prevent debilitating damage later, as well as save you money in energy costs. Small air leaks can result in big losses in energy.
Assess energy and lighting needs
Powering a building during the winter requires more energy than in the summer. The days are shorter, so lights need to stay on longer. Replace dull or dead bulbs and be sure you have replacements ready in case of emergency. Heating a building also requires more energy, but you can save money by developing a plan. A conference room used a couple times a week may not need to be heated as actively as a larger office space.
Slips and falls
Icy surfaces outside and slick floors inside should both be addressed. Keep salt on hand to melt icy walkways and invest in slip-resistant mats to ensure tenants and employees can safely enter the facility.
Snow removal
Built up snow and ice are more than just a slipping hazard. Although Ralphie shot his eye out with his Red Ryder BB gun in A Christmas Story, his mother wasn’t wrong when she said, “Those icicles have been known to kill people”. Make sure your snow removal equipment is working and have shovels on hand. Remove ice and snow from the roof before it causes damage to your facility, and before it becomes a liability to employees and customers.
Personal protective equipment
Proper PPE is essential when dealing with extreme weather. Insulated work gloves, heavy-duty boots, hard hat liners, eye protections, and non-slip traction devices can be extremely useful when working outdoors. Be sure to keep a supply of proper safety equipment in your facility to ensure employee safety for the winter months.
Prepare a WET kit
A WET kit, or Weather Event Tools kit, is essential for any facility. Invest in a broom, a mop and bucket, a “Wet Floor” sign, and snow melt, and keep replacement and repair materials in stock that are compatible with your plumbing and heating needs. Need inspiration? Shop our website to see what we keep in our WET kit.
Don’t get caught in the cold! It takes some preparation and a little bit of an up front cost, but the cost of prevention is much less than the cost of post-disaster recovery. The safety of your employees and customers and the state of your facility are of the utmost importance, so get an early start on evaluating your winter need.
Whether you are in the market for repair faucets, flushometers, or any plumbing products, Best Plumbing Specialties is here to help ease the stress.
If you are unsure about which part you need, visit www.bestplumbingspecialties.com or contact our sales representative.
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