Preparing Property Maintenance for the Winter Season
For property maintenance companies, daily work follows the rhythm of the seasons. While in the summer time, the focus is on lawn care, autumn brings leaf collection and blowing, and winter introduces snow plowing and sanding of outdoor areas. To ensure timely and effective maintenance, it is important to prepare well in advance for seasonal and weather changes.
What Should Be Taken Into Account?
At a general level, it is wise to review contract details as the season changes. In some housing cooperatives, for example, residents may be responsible for snow removal themselves. Planning winter maintenance becomes easy and efficient when everyone knows which tasks belong to whom.
Before the busy season begins, make sure all necessary equipment has been serviced and is ready for use. When the first snowstorm arrives, there is no time to search for shovels or repair sanding and plowing machinery. Winter tires should be installed on maintenance vehicles well ahead of time, and vehicle tracking systems are worth adding to plowing trucks. Property maintenance teams must be ready to act and ensure that buildings and surrounding areas remain safe for residents and visitors.
Before snowfall, yards fill with fallen leaves. These need to be removed, not only for appearance but also for safety; once it rains, wet leaves become slippery and increase the risk of accidents. When temperatures begin to drop, pathways and parking areas must be sanded. As winter progresses, removing snow and icicles from roofs is essential for maintaining safety.
As winter approaches, it is also important to check the building’s meter readings. Energy consumption naturally rises during the colder months as electricity and heating needs increase. If any readings look unusual, issues should be addressed before freezing temperatures set in. Reviewing last winter’s readings is also advisable to identify any significant differences early in the season. Heating systems should be tested and serviced if necessary, and door and window seals should be inspected. Gutters and drainage systems must be cleaned to prevent freezing and leaks.
Safety First
Ensuring safety is crucial not only for building users and residents but also for maintenance employees. Make sure that you have enough staff for the winter season and that they are properly trained and equipped with appropriate clothing and safety gear such as reflectors and footwear. As colder weather also brings flu season, it is wise to plan ahead for potential sick leave replacements.
Real-Time Information in Digital Form
When there is a lot to manage and remember, a digital work management system is extremely valuable. In the Valpas system, you can quickly and easily assign tasks to all employees and schedule them precisely using the calendar. The map view makes it simple to plan who will handle each task, ensuring routes are as efficient as possible, thus saving both time and the environment.
For property maintenance, Valpas also allows you to record meter readings for each property, making it easy to compare new entries with previous ones. This helps you identify anomalies or increases in consumption before minor issues turn into major problems.
Once maintenance schedules are planned and set, it’s also easy to communicate with residents and other property users about upcoming work. Clear and timely communication helps maintain customer satisfaction and trust.
Would you like to learn more about the modern Valpas system for maintenance work management? Contact us, we’re happy to tell you more!
