You’ve pulled your sweaters out of mothballs and found your mittens at the bottom of the coat closet, so you’re set to stay warm But what about your suite?? Is it prepared for the cold months ahead?
You’ll be a lot more comfortable in the coming months if you have prepped for Old Man Winter.
With the help of several experts, Crest boiled down your autumn/winter to-do list of the top 5 things to review for the season:
1. Block those air leaks
One of the best ways to winterize your suite is to simply block obvious leaks, both inside and out.
First, find the leaks: On a breezy day, walk around inside holding a lit incense stick to the most common drafty areas: recessed lighting, window and door frames, electrical outlets.
Then, buy door sweeps to close spaces under exterior doors, and caulk or apply tacky rope caulk to those drafty spots. Outlet gaskets can easily be installed in electrical outlets that share a suite’s outer walls, where cold air often enters.
Another thing that does cost a little money — but boy, you do get the money back quick — is adding insulation even to the existing insulation above your ceiling tiles. Regardless of the climate conditions you live in, in the (U.S.) experts suggest a minimum of 12 inches of insulation above ceiling tiles.
2. Check the HVAC units
First, turn your heater on now, to make sure it’s even working before the coldest weather descends. A strong, odd, short-lasting smell is natural when firing up the furnace in the autumn; simply open doors to dissipate it. But if the smell lasts a long time, shut down the heater and call a professional.
In most leases it is required for the Tenant to have HVAC units cleaned, tuned & serviced semi-annually (Spring & Fall) and filters changed monthly depending on your use. The HVAC professional should do the following, among other things:
Get manufacturer, age, size, serial number, & condition rating (1-10) to gauge the life left on the unit so you know how to budget for the future.
| Change out belts | Clean coils and system | |
| Freon charge and check for leaks | Full functionality testing | |
| Visual inspection | Clear out condensate and drain lines | |
| Safety checks electrical, gas, & air-fuel mixture |
NOTE: A dirty filter impedes airflow, reduces efficiency and could even cause a fire in an extreme case.
3. Get your ducts in a row (again have your HVAC professional check these items usually not part of the normal maintenance so you must specifically ask – a little money upfront can save in heating and cooling charges)
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a suite can lose up to 60% of its heated air before that air reaches the vents if ductwork is not well-connected and insulated, or if it must travel through unheated spaces. That’s a huge amount of wasted money, not to mention a chilly space.
Ducts aren’t always easy to see, but you can often find them exposed in a hard duct along the roof deck or above the ceiling grid. Repair places where pipes are pinched, which impedes flow of heated air to the suite, and fix gaps with a metal-backed tape (duct tape doesn’t stand up to the job over time).
Ducts also should be vacuumed once every few years, to clean out the abundant dust, animal hair, and other gunk that can gather in them and cause respiratory problems.
4. Wrap those pipes
A burst pipe caused by a winter freeze is a nightmare. Prevent it before Jack Frost sets his grip: Before freezing nights hit, make certain that the water to your hose bibs is shut off inside your space (via a turnoff valve), and that the lines are drained. In climes such as Texas where freezing nights aren’t commonplace, you can install Styrofoam cups with a screw attachment to help insulate spigots,
Next, go looking for other pipes that aren’t insulated, or that pass through unheated spaces such as above ceiling grid and roof deck areas. Wrap them with pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation, available at hardware stores. If you’re really worried about a pipe freezing and want to go above and beyond you can first wrap it with heating tape, which is basically an electrical cord that emits heat. NOTE: Make sure this is done by a professional with appropriate material, so it doesn’t start a fire.
5. Finally, check those insurance polices
This is a great time to check the policies and coverage you have in place —worst news you can hear from an insurance age is “You’re not covered”. With the freeze Texas had in February 2021, several pipes burst causing a lot of damage to stores and businesses. Agents want to earn your business and though one may appear cheaper, doesn’t mean you are adequately covered. Our rule of thumb is to have anywhere between $150,000 – $200,000 in Business Personal Property insurance (BPP). This will help not only with loss of inventory and equipment but with the reconstruction of your space (ie: toilets, walls/drywall/paint, ceiling tiles, flooring, lighting fixtures, HVAC units, and much more that you wouldn’t otherwise think about
Bonus Tip: Reverse your interior fans “Reversing your ceiling fan is a small tip that people don’t often think of,” By reversing its direction from the summer operation, the fan will push warm air downward and force it to recirculate, keeping you more comfortable. (Here’s how you know the fan is ready for winter: As you look up, the blades should be turning clockwise)
