Winter is over. Is your facility ready for the heat?
As the snow melts and temperatures begin to rise across the Midwest, facility managers face a critical transition period. Winter takes a heavy toll on commercial buildings—salt corrodes metal, freezing temperatures stress pipes, and heating systems run overtime.
Spring isn’t just about cleaning; it’s about recovery and preparation. Neglecting post-winter maintenance can lead to costly cooling failures in July or, worse, undetected safety hazards.
At Pronto MS, we help businesses stay ahead of the curve. We’ve compiled the ultimate commercial facility checklist to ensure your building is safe, compliant, and energy-efficient for the season ahead.
HVAC/R: The “Switch-Over” Strategy
The most common mistake facility managers make is waiting until the first 80°F day to turn on the AC. If your units have been dormant or running in heat mode for months, they need attention before they carry the summer load.
- Clean the Condenser Coils: Winter storms fill outdoor units with debris, leaves, and dirt. Clogged coils force your system to work harder, spiking energy bills and risking compressor failure.
- Check Refrigerant Levels: Low refrigerant leads to freeze-ups and poor cooling. A spring pressure check ensures you are ready for peak demand.
- Belts and Pulleys: Cold weather makes rubber brittle. Inspect fan belts for cracking or excessive slack and replace them now to prevent snapping later.
- Change Air Filters: Clogged filters are the #1 cause of HVAC inefficiency. Start the season fresh to improve indoor air quality (IAQ).
Fire Safety: Inspecting for Freeze Damage
Fire protection systems often suffer silent damage during deep freezes. As pipes thaw, small cracks or compromised seals can reveal themselves.
- Inspect Fire Sprinkler Piping: Walk your property to check for signs of corrosion or leaks in exposed piping, especially in unheated areas like loading docks or attics.
- Test Fire Hydrants: Ensure outdoor hydrants are accessible, cleared of any lingering snow/debris, and functioning correctly after months of disuse.
- Emergency Lighting Check: With spring storms comes the potential for power outages. Perform your 90-minute load test on emergency exit lights to ensure batteries haven’t degraded over winter.
Kitchen Ventilation: Degrease for the Heat
For our clients in the food service and hospitality sectors, spring is the time to tackle grease buildup. Warmer outdoor temperatures combined with hot kitchen exhaust can increase the risk of duct fires if grease has accumulated.
- Rooftop Fan Inspection: Check your upblast fans. Winter winds can loosen hinges or damage grease containment boxes, leading to rooftop grease spills that ruin roof membranes.
- Duct Inspection: Schedule a professional scraping and cleaning (NFPA 96 compliance) to ensure airflow is unrestricted before the busy season hits.
Exterior and General Safety
- Roof Drains and Gutters: Spring rains are coming. Ensure all drains are clear of winter debris to prevent standing water on your roof, which causes leaks and structural stress.
- Walkways and Parking Lots: Freeze-thaw cycles create potholes and cracks. Inspect your pavement to prevent trip-and-fall liabilities.
The Cost of Reactive vs. Preventative Maintenance
It is always cheaper to schedule a maintenance visit in April than an emergency repair in July.When you rush to fix a broken AC unit in the middle of a heatwave, you pay premium rates and face potential downtime. By running through this checklist now, you extend the lifespan of your equipment and keep your operating costs predictable.
Need a Professional Walkthrough?
You don’t have to handle this checklist alone. Whether it’s comprehensive HVAC maintenance, fire system testing, or kitchen exhaust cleaning, Pronto MS has the expertise to get your facility spring-ready.
[Contact Us Today for a Spring Safety Assessment] Protect Lives. Prevent Fires. Keep Environments Safe.