For Chicagoland commercial property owners, Wednesday’s forecast of historically low-temperatures is frightening. Below freezing temperatures create a wide assortment of real estate hazards. If not properly handled cold weather will cause major long-term property damage. The most significant and often occurring vulnerability associated with extreme cold is frozen pipes and vital safety systems. Frozen plumbing including fire protection systems can be extremely costly for property owners. In the worst-case scenario, sprinkler pipes can burst to result in substantial damage to buildings, furnishings, and electrical equipment.
5 Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes
Frozen piping is not something that anyone wants to occur in their commercial property. However, without taking preventative action in extremely cold conditions, frozen pipes are a common occurrence. Therefore, use these 5 commercial property management tips to prevent frozen water pipes, and keep your property and its occupants safe this winter.
#1 Insulate
Exterior Piping
The most vulnerable pipes in a commercial building run along the building’s exterior. Inspect the building and find exterior piping or any interior piping unheated spaces. Thoroughly wrap pipes with a sleeve or electrical heat tape.
#2 Inspect Your Property on a Regular Basis
Next, have a commercial property management team regularly inspect your property. Your maintenance staff should look for any signs of small leaks or fatigue before and during periods of below-freezing temperatures. Early discovery of leaks, fatigue or freezing pipes can allow for preventative action and save thousands of dollars in damage.
#3 Relieve Pressure on the Pipes
In extreme cold, by running water at a slow drip a property owner can relieve pressure on their pipes and prevent a catastrophic failure.
#4 Check Shutoff Valves and Levers
In case of a burst pipe it’s key that you act quickly to prevent further damage. Correspondingly, check all shutoff valves and levers to make sure they are in pristine working order.
#5 Turn Up the Thermostat
If you are managing vacant units it’s important to understand the cost of low utility expenditures in extreme cold is vastly offset by the cost of frozen piping. As a result, it’s important to maintain a well-heated property during periods of extreme cold.
In the Event of a Pipe Burst!
While you can take all the above steps to prevent pipe bursts, occasionally being prepared is not enough. In the case of a burst pipe the key is to act quickly to minimize damage. First, turn off the main water supply. If that is not possible, contact a plumber immediately. Second, if you notice water seeping in from the ceiling or walls, shut down the power supply at the meter box and call an electrician immediately. Third, further, mitigate damage by covering any documents and electronics to prevent additional loss. Moreover, open doors and windows in all wet areas to allow for faster drying. Finally, contact an emergency clean-up service immediately! The sooner you act the quicker and less costly the repair will be.
If you would like to find out more about commercial property management or Van Vlissingen and Co. you can subscribe below.