A new season adds new maintenance tasks on your commercial property to-do list. Similar to residential maintenance, the spring commercial checklist typically involves cleaning and beautifying the property to wipe away the cooped-up feel following a long, cold winter. Additionally, there are quite a few areas that will simply need a checkup to make sure they’re still up to snuff after the havoc Mother Nature may have wreaked. And last, it’s an absolute must to get warm-weather based mechanicals in working order after having sat unused through the cold spell.

With so many things to address, are you floundering on where to start first? If so, try our handy task list to help lead the way.

Commercial Spring Cleaning

Wash windows. Tenants will be craving the spring and summer sunshine after a stretch of cabin fever, so make sure to let the light in. Clean all of the building’s windows, which may be marred from snow, ice, and debris. If applicable, swap out storm windows for screens, or tend to screens that stay up all season. Mend holes and defects, or replace the screens altogether.

Clean down low. Floors take a beating during winter weather with all the snow, ice, salt, and other muck to make its way indoors. Do a deep cleaning on flooring, carpeting, and door mats to freshen up the space. This may require hard surfaces to be stripped, scrubbed, shined, or waxed; and carpets and rugs to be shampooed. Conducting this level of floor maintenance every spring can extend the life of your flooring, and save you money by avoiding costly repairs and replacements.

Sanitize the restrooms. While you or your janitorial staff may be carrying out daily cleaning of the commercial restrooms, a seasonal deep cleaning is highly recommended. Take the extra time to tackle germs and debris that have built up in hard to reach places, sanitizing all surfaces, floors, fixtures, and walls. This kind of cleaning is also a good opportunity to inspect for leaks, cracks, and other minor issues that could turn into major repairs.

Go green. Winter made a mess outside, so landscaping needs to be cleaned up, too. Improve the first impression of your property’s outside space by raking up debris, planting new grass where patches have burnt out, trimming trees and bushes, and adding perennials and annuals to provide a pop of pretty color. Additionally, inspect sidewalks and parking lots, cleaning up litter that may have collected and repairing any holes or cracks that could become safety hazards.

Conduct a Spring Checkup

1. Look up. Inspect the roof for damage caused by high winds, heavy snow, ice dams, or building age.
2. Stay dry. People think of spring as the wet season, but don’t ignore the water that winter delivers. Check the property for standing water, leakage from gutters and roofs, cracks in the foundation, water spots in the ceiling, and eroded landscaping areas that need to be regraded.
3. Eye up the exterior. Winter winds, snow, and rain can wear down a building’s exterior, as can building age. Look for signs repair is needed, included cracks around doors and window, chipped paint, siding or masonry destruction, and hanging gutters.
4. Prevent pests. Bugs and rodents enjoy spring, too, and may take advantage of the season to hang out in your commercial building. Consider spraying the perimeter of your property to keep out ants, roaches, and other insects. Block off gaps, cracks, and holes where pests can creep in. And inspect for damage that pests may have already created, so that you tend to the problem before it persists.

Make the Most of Your Mechanicals

The A/C of your heating, ventilation and air condition (HVAC) unit likely didn’t see much action during the cold season. However, even though spring may still have a nip in the air, the summer heat will be here before you know it. Make sure your building’s A/C is ready for the heat wave by doing the following.

• Conducting a thorough cleaning to remove dirt, sludge, grime, and debris that may have built up during the winter.
• Run a test of the thermostat, electrical wires and connectors, unit’s air flow, run capacitor, and operating efficiency.
• Inspect the air ducts, condensation drain pan, blower motor and wheel, compressor, and refrigerant pressure.
• Make sure drain openings are clear and free of blockages.
• Ensure the safety of the total unit.

The spring season is a busy one for a commercial property owner or manager. However, by conducting this routine maintenance, you’ll save yourself time, money, and stress, which makes the extra effort entirely worthwhile.

Commercial Preventative Maintenance Planning

To be fully prepared for any disaster, it is essential that you create a plan outlining what needs to be done in advance. Getting your property back together as quickly and efficiently as possible, with the least interruption to your business workflow, is what the DRS process aims to do. A Preventive Maintenance Plan helps secure and recover your property’s specific requirements. Applying the Preventive Maintenance Plan is a way to help try to prevent a loss from occurring, by seeing the weak spots and correcting them before they have a chance to cause destruction.