Prepare Your Business

Tips for Preparing Your Business for Winter Weather

Recently in our MIM blog, we've discussed winterizing your home, but what about your business? Let's not forget to prep the office as well by doing the following...

Outside: 

• Check your business property for downed tree limbs and branches. Weather, such as wind, heavy rain, ice and snow, can cause branches to fall, which could cause damage to the property and potentially cause personal injuries.
• Inspect property, especially walkways and parking lots, for proper drainage to alleviate flood hazard potential. Provide for prompt removal of ice and snow from sidewalks, walkways and steps.  Maintain accessibility to emergency exits, fire hydrants, and fire lanes. Control build-up of icicles and other snow accumulations from overhangs, rain gutters, and overhead fixtures. If not controlled, these accumulations could fall from overhead areas and strike pedestrians/customers. 

Inside:

• Inspect all handrails, stairwells and entryways to address and correct potential slippery or hazardous areas. Install mats or non-slip surfaces and post caution signs where water could be present.
• Install a programmable thermostat and properly set it to 68 degrees during work hours and to shut off when the building is unoccupied.
• Turn off lights in unoccupied storage rooms, restrooms and meeting rooms. Install motion detectors to do the job for you.  Replace incandescent bulbs with ENERGY STAR® qualified CFL bulbs.  Turn off overhead lights where natural light shines in.
• Purchase ENERGY STAR qualified computers, monitors, printers, fax machines and copiers and ensure they are properly programmed to “power down” after a period of inactivity. Install smart power strips to prevent mobile phone chargers, laptop adapters, and other office appliances from drawing power when not in use.  Use laptop computers and ink-jet printers, if appropriate. They consume less energy than desktop computers and laser printers.
• Hire a professional to perform scheduled maintenance on heating units and check duct and pipe insulation for damage.

Severe winter weather can affect your business in many ways. Water pipes, process equipment, and other building systems can all fail when the temperature drops below the freezing mark. It is imperative that your business operations do not become interrupted due to bursting pipes, building structural failure, or process shutdowns. Any such interruption could lead to financial difficulties and could affect your business in a negative way for long periods of time.  Winterizing your business may also help you lower your utility bills and save energy.