As September comes to an end, it’s time to finalize your fall facility maintenance checklist. When winter arrives later in the year, it brings its own unique challenges to your building, so handling issues like keeping unwanted pests away, updating or repairing equipment, and identifying upcoming expenses will help you stay prepared.

Here are a few other items to check off your list and help keep your building in great shape all season long:

Clean your gutters

This is often an out-of-sight-out-of-mind part of your building but it leaves and debris trap water in your gutters, which worsens with ice and snow accumulation. With fluctuating winter temperatures and the freeze-thaw cycle, this water can overburden your gutters, stopping them from doing their job: keeping water away from your building.

Take care of your sprinkler systems

Outdoor sprinkler systems need to be turned off and drained so that underground pipes don’t crack and break during that winter freeze-thaw. Indoor fire sprinkler systems need attention too, as they can also freeze in areas where your building gets the coldest, like warehouses and bays. Look for cracks or damage and plan for extra heat in these areas when temperatures become extremely low.

Audit your HVAC

Your HVAC system works hard all year to heat and cool your building, so make sure it’s working at maximum efficiency for the winter. Check things like filters, coils, water damage, and valves to save you the time and money it could take for an emergency repair, a shutdown, or increased costs from less efficiency.

Plan for snow removal

If you handle your own snow removal, you need a plan. Assess and service your equipment so you know you’re ready to clear your parking lot and walkways in that first snowfall. Snow strategy can be tricky to budget, but consider things like the manpower, mid-season equipment servicing, time, and supplies required. This will help give you an approximate idea of how much each snowfall will cost and you can use your record to get an idea for next year’s budget.

Having a fall checklist for preventative building maintenance will get you ready for winter and make it easier for your building to thrive well into the spring.