December 21 brought the first day of winter. While some areas of the country never see winter weather, most will experience cooler temperatures. As the seasons change, it is important to perform regular maintenance around your home or workplace. Regular maintenance not only protects your assets and keeps things in working order, but it can prevent damage or bigger issues.

Maintenance Tips

Below are some maintenance tips we suggest you complete as the temperatures start to cool off!

• Tuning and cleaning of heating system – It is important to make sure that your furnace and its components are in top working order for when temperatures cool off. Regular cleaning and tuning can also help extend the life of your heating system and prevent costly repairs.
• Protect pipes from freezing – Make sure you disconnect any outside hoses and drain outdoor faucets. Place an insulated cover on your outside faucets as well. Wrap faucets or pipes in rubber foam insulation to help prevent freezing and potential bursting of pipes. Also, make sure you fill in or patch any holes that may allow cold air to reach the pipes.
• Check batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors – It is also a good practice to test them monthly to make sure they are in good working order and change batteries as needed.
• Trim any bushes, shrubs or trees – If the limbs are long enough and stretch over a roof or gutters, there is a chance they can cause damage. Any type of winter weather can cause a branch to weaken and break, falling onto a roof or gutters. Regular trimming will help prevent further damage to your property.
• Repair any steps or handrails – Repairs now makes it easier and safer for when ice and snow may arrive.
• Seal any cracks, especially around windows and doors – Cracks allow cold air in and will not only drive up your heating costs but can also prevent moisture from building up.

Octagon Building Care can help your business with maintenance services. Please contact us today to see how we can help you and your business prepare for the season ahead.

Octagon Building Care is a leader in commercial cleaning and building solutions for Fort Worth, Arlington, and Dallas. Follow us on Facebook for more great information.