Is your business winter ready?

12/19/2017 (Permalink)

If you are not prepared, cold weather can elicit a drastic impact on your business. From heavy rain to freezing temperatures to damaging winds, sleet, or snow. All of these are serious weather related situations that may cause property damage. 

While you cannot control the weather, you can control your preparedness. You can take steps to help prevent costly damages. Consider taking the following precautions to protect your commercial property:

• Check your business property for downed tree limbs and branches. Wind, heavy rain, ice, and snow can cause branches to fall, which could cause damage to the property and potentially cause personal injuries.
• Roofs, water pipes, and gutters should all be inspected to ensure they are in proper order. Gutter downspouts should be directed away from your building. Clear gutters of debris that may have gathered during the fall. Leaves and other obstructions can cause a damming effect, which can lead to roof damage and interior water problems.
• Inspect property, especially walkways and parking lots, for proper drainage to alleviate flood hazard potential. 
• Inspect all handrails, stairwells, and entryways to address and correct potential slippery or hazardous areas. Install mats or non-slip surfaces and post caution signs where water should be present. 
• Protect water pipes from freezing by simply allowing water to drip when temperatures dip below freezing. If pipes are under a cabinet, leave the cabinet doors open, allowing warm inside air to circulate around the pipes. If the building has outdoor facets, consider shutting water off at the main valve in the basement. Once the valve is off, open the outdoor faucet to ensure it drains, preventing any remaining water from freezing in the pipe. 
• Ask SERVPRO Davenport/Bettendorf to complete an Emergency READY Profile for your business. The ERP is a no-cost assessment to your facility and provides you with a plan to get back in business fast following a disaster. 

When winter weather strikes, call SERVPRO Davenport/Bettendorf at (563) 386-3540 to strike back.