Preparing you building for summer weather

Signs of summer are all around as temperatures heat up, flowers bloom and the grass grows. It also means those in charge of Senior Living building maintenance need to be ready to change right along with the season to avoid equipment downtime, maximize efficiency and contain costs. We’ve compiled some best practices and tips from industry professionals as you prepare your building for summer.

In order to prepare your building for the summer, we recommend predominantly focusing on these six areas: 

• HVAC & plumbing
• Thermostats 
• Emergency repair plans
• Equipment rental contacts 
• Exterior maintenance
• Health & safety

This approach can go a long way in ensuring whole-building health during the hottest months.

6 tips on how to prepare your senior care facilities for summer

You can help minimize the stress on your equipment (and your patience) that comes with increased temperatures when you implement six of the most critical suggested maintenance activities for your building.

How to prepare your building for summer

1. Check your HVAC and plumbing. Ensure your HVAC equipment has been inspected to ensure proper operation. At a minimum, check to make sure filters are changed regularly and coils are cleaned. Inspect your plumbing system by looking for cracks or leaks, and be sure to check the sewer lines if you’ve had a lot of rain in the spring.
2. Check your thermostats. Replace any old or worn out thermostats. Consider smart thermostats that can help with energy efficiency and temperature management.
3. Plan for emergencies. Make sure you have a reliable, go-to source for emergency repairs. HVAC and refrigeration equipment may fail unexpectedly during warmer months and heat waves, and you don’t want to be left high and dry. If you’re in doubt, TELS® Building Services specializes in fast, reliable service in a pinch.
4. Know who rents equipment. Make sure you know where you can get rental equipment for cooling. If a wait time for a repair technician is too long, you may need to arrange for temporary cooling for your residents.
5. Review landscaping. Make sure your landscaping contractor is meeting your expectations and your irrigation system is running at optimal performance. Plan and implement any landscaping enhancements as early as possible.
6. Review health & safety procedures. Check your CO2 alarms, replace any old batteries, refill fire extinguishers and review emergency preparedness plans.

How preventive maintenance in spring can save you money in the summer

Brushing up on these preventive maintenance tips may seem like a no-brainer right now, but it’s still good to go over why it’s so important and how you can keep your facility running in optimal condition. Preventative maintenance may:

• Reduce energy bills
• Extend longevity of your equipment
• Cut back on needing emergency services (and emergency costs)
• Reduce staff impact by freeing up their time for other tasks