10 Fall Businesses Maintenance Tips
The leaves are changing, there is a crispness in the air, and the smell of pumpkin spice fills your coffee cups. Yes, autumn is here, and with it comes a very lengthy list of things you should do as the days grow shorter and temperatures start to drop. Luckily, your Krywolt Insurance experts are here to share their top autumn maintenance tips for businesses.
Business owners know that while all you want to do at this time of year is to cuddle up with a sweater and hot drink, there are plenty of things to do at your place of business. Fall maintenance tips by the professional brokers at our insurance company can help you take a proactive approach to what preventative maintenance tasks need to be done at your commercial property to keep it functioning and welcoming while preparing for the colder weather ahead.
Our top autumn maintenance tips for businesses include:
Repair Outdoor Walking Surfaces
While summer may have been the days of patios and outdoor fun, an important autumn maintenance tip for businesses is not to neglect your outdoor walking paths and surfaces. Walking outdoors as the colder months set in can be hazardous enough with snow and ice, but when you factor in damaged pavement or other issues, it can be a serious safety risk. Make sure you repair and perform maintenance on your outdoor areas, so everyone can stay safe walking around this winter.
Inspect the Furnace or Heating System
Before the temperature drops, make sure to get your building’s heating system serviced, repaired, or replaced if needed. You want your customers and employees alike to be comfortable indoors, so this fall business maintenance tip ensures your furnace or heating system can do just that, and you’re not at risk of it conking out mid-winter.
Another autumn maintenance tip for businesses is to consider if you need additional HVAC upgrades or services, such as air filters, new furnace filters, smoke detector and smoke alarm inspections, water heater, or other services by an HVAC professional.
Inspect Your Roof
Whether you have a stand-alone building or an attached property, getting your roof checked out is an important business fall maintenance tip for safety. Not only will this ensure your roof is in good condition going into winter, but this autumn maintenance tip for businesses can also help you take care of any potential issues before the snow starts falling.
Clear Out Leaves and Debris
As autumn progresses, trees change colour and start dropping leaves. A good autumn maintenance tip for businesses with outdoor spaces is to clear out any fallen leaves and other debris that may have accumulated during the warmer months, taking care of the exterior of your commercial building, your gutter system, patio or deck space, and fence line. Neglecting this business fall maintenance tip can lead to clogged gutters, tripping hazards, wood rot, and potential pest infestations as winter approaches.
Do Window and Door Maintenance
The last thing you want is higher energy bills because pressure heat is being lost outside your windows and doors. So a good autumn maintenance tip for businesses is to make repairs to and maintain your windows and doors. This includes examining the frame, glass panes, and inserts for signs of damage, replacing worn weather-stripping, and calling professionals for repair if needed. Following this business fall maintenance tip will not only help keep these units in better condition longer but also improve your property's energy efficiency.
Landscaping and Groundworks
Remember all that hard work you’ve put into making your grounds look pretty in the summer? Why this business fall maintenance tip revolves around you undergoing a bit of that hard work, although for good reason. As the weather cools, plants begin to die back in preparation for the colder months. As that occurs, it can create quite a mess on your property. Hence, this autumn maintenance tip for business: don’t neglect your landscaping. Removing any dead plants, cleaning up garden beds, packing up outdoor furniture, and continuing with lawn care will not only boost your property’s curb appeal but will also help prevent larger landscaping jobs in the spring.
Check Out Your Lighting Situation
With the coming of Autumn comes short days, so it is crucial to ensure you have adequate lighting on your commercial property. Having an electrician come out and examine your existing lighting and doing a walk-through to determine if you need to upgrade or add lighting to an area is an important safety tip as well as crucial fall business maintenance. Tips and advice from your electrician, groundskeeper, or property manager can also help you identify potential problem areas and ensure everyone can see where they’re doing and going as autumn progresses.
Gather Supplies for Cold Weather
Even if snow isn’t expected for another few months, a good safety and autumn maintenance tip for business is to start gathering any necessary tools and supplies and ensuring they can be easily reached if a severe weather event should occur. This means ice and snow removal equipment for walkways, such as shovels or ice salt, winter emergency kits for commercial vehicles, and other supplies. Your Krywolt Insurance broker will be happy to discuss and share business fall maintenance tips for supplies with you as part of your fall preparedness plan.
Make an Emergency Plan
One of the most important autumn maintenance tips for businesses is to make plans in case of emergencies and ensure every member of your team knows what to do in case of such an event. Whether it’s something small such as who is responsible for clearing sidewalks after snowfall, or larger issues, such as what happens if a snowstorm prevents you from going to/leaving work or procedures when the power goes out, having an emergency plan can ensure that your workplace remains safe for everyone as the weather changes. Your insurance expert will be able to help you craft this plan and provide business fall maintenance tips to help ensure your workplace is prepared in case of an unforeseen event.
Consult with Krywolt Insurance Professionals—Contact Us Today
If you don’t know where to start in preparing your business property for fall, speak to your local Krywolt Insurance representatives. We can provide expert autumn maintenance tips for business owners and property managers to help you prepare for the winter months and minimize any risks in your business space. Whether you need practical business fall maintenance tips or advice or a thorough commercial inspection on how to mitigate risk. Our insurance team is here for you. Contact us today!