While you might not spend too much time thinking about zoning, studies have found a correlation between commercial zoning and crime. If you don't have a safe and secure commercial building, you'll have a tough time renting out to tenants. You need to fix and repair issues in your buildings or else face the ramification of vacancies and angry tenants.
Here are five of the most important things that you need to fix as soon as you see an issue.
If there's a water leak in your commercial building, you might think you could throw a bucket underneath and get to it when you get to it. Little do you realise that with every drip, you're inviting a whole host of problems that are racking up costs by the minute.
If your leak is on the 3rd floor, you might have an unseen leak on the 4th, 5th, and all the way up to the roof. If a leak in your roof has gotten bad enough to be seen on lower floors, it means that you've got water running all the way down, leaving rot and mildew behind. As the water leaks, it leaves the structure of your building weaker as it rusks and rots your building from the inside.
A leaky roof is serious business.
If your leak is contained, it still needs to be addressed as soon as possible. A leak that runs through the wall or through the ceiling tiles will break down the pipe it originates from and any material that it's dripping through.
If you end up with a leaky toilet, you need to get on top of that immediately. The kinds of bacteria and microbes that run from your toilet could be a health hazard. If that gets in your walls or floorboards, it will eat away at the material and could cost you thousands to fix.
A gas leak is an immediate call for alarm. If someone in your building reports the smell of gas, you should rush over and call someone immediately. If you don't have your own gas tester, you should call the gas company to come and check things out.
Gas leaks can cause all sorts of problems. If one of your tenants services children or elderly customers, their clients could become seriously ill. It doesn't bode well for you if your negligence causes people to get sick when they come to your building.
If someone in your building runs a small jewellery business, they could be using a handheld torch. Even a small candle shop could become a huge liability if you don't monitor the gas lines in your building.
A passing smoker could set your building on fire if you're not careful.
Pests aren't a serious problem in all commercial buildings but if there's one thing that your tenants will expect you to take care of, it's bugs and rodents. If one of their customers or clients sees a roach crawling across the floor while they discuss high-end services, your tenant will lose that customer.
The credibility of the people working out of your commercial building will be compromised if they are subject to pests.
Someone in your commercial building could be running an e-commerce website. Imagine if they send out products that have been chewed by rodents. They'll lose clients left and right if there are mouse droppings found in their shipments.
Your elevators and stairways are important to keep clean, clear, and functioning smoothly. If you don't take care of your elevator, you'll get lots of complaints from tenants and from their customers who are troubled by it. When someone with disabilities comes to one of your buildings, they rely on a working elevator to ensure that they can get around.
If you don't take care of your stairwells, they can become covered in trash, spiderwebs, and pests. Stairs that are broken or damaged need to be replaced. Stairways are also a huge liability as they need to be kept up to code for the local fire department. If there's an emergency in your building and people can't use the stairs, get ready for a massive lawsuit.
Working elevators are also a big plus if you're renting out space in your building. People don't want to rent an office in a building where the elevator is slow, old, or constantly in disrepair.
Making sure your building is secure is an absolute must when you own a commercial building. In residential buildings, people come in and out all the time and a potential thief would be seen. In a commercial building, there's a safe bet the building is all but empty after 5 PM and on weekends.
If the front door of your building isn't secure, you need to have some kind of security measures in place. You should put cameras around your building so that you'll know if someone breaches the entrance who shouldn't be there.
Every major door or individual office should have a strong working lock. If the locks on your building fail, you could be liable for every single office that gets robbed. Since you don't know what kind of valuables your tenants could have hidden in their desks, you're better off being safe than sorry.
If you don't fix and repair things as they're brought to your attention, you risk upsetting your tenants. Since you rely on them to pay your bills, every commercial tenant should take the complaints of their tenants seriously. It takes a high degree of annoyance to go through the trouble of contacting you, so you can rest assured that if you hear about it, it's probably an issue.
If you suspect you've got an HVAC issue plaguing you, check out our guide to find out what you should do.
Common Signs You Need Commercial HVAC Repair
A NASA study theorised that productivity falls by 3.6% for every degree over 22C. So your heating and cooling systems have the power to keep your space feeling comfortable and productive. They can set the tone for those in your space and those who enter it.
A broken HVAC unit can make this space the exact opposite, especially on hot summer nights.
That’s why it’s important to keep an eye out for HVAC repair. Today, we’ve gathered some common signs for you to look out for. Read on for more:
If your AC unit is blowing warm air it could be many different things. The system may be out of refrigerant. If so this is a very easy fix but if your air conditioner is still blowing out this air and the refrigerant levels are normal then you should call an HVAC repair specialist.
This problem could be being caused by different areas of your HVAC unit. It could be your outside unit or there may be an air duct that is letting in unconditioned air. Either way, a professional will be able to spot the answer quickly and find a solution to have your AC running right.
Utility Costs Are Rising
This is one of the most common ways to see that you need an HVAC repair. If you notice a sudden increase in your electricity bills and you haven’t made any drastic changes recently it may be your HVAC unit.
This may be happening because your filters are dirty. Dirty filters can cause air flow to be restricted and as a result, your unit will need to work harder to make up for it.
However, if you have cleaned your filters and they are still rising the problem may be a leak in your system or bad parts.
Rooms Are Different Temperatures
If some rooms in your area are different temperatures, this is a much larger problem in your HVAC system. It could be that you need a bigger system or that some ducts have been damaged and are restricting air flow.
One common cause of this problem is a damaged thermostat. If you have replaced the thermostat and the rooms feel the same its time to call an HVAC repair professional. This problem can also be avoided with regular maintenance check-ups every now and then.
Your System Is Noisy
Noisy HVAC systems can mean different repairs depending on the noise it makes. A rattling or humming noise inside the air conditioning unit can indicate that a fan on the inside is loose or that it needs to be cleaned. If this is the problems then it’s a quick fix.
If your HVAC unit is banging or clanking, then this can be a more serious problem. Noises like this can mean that parts are loose and moving around. Trying to fix the problem yourself may do more harm than good.
If you hear a clicking coming from your system don’t worry too much. This usually just means the unit is starting up.
Exposed Wires
If you ever suspect something wrong with your unit and you see exposed wires call an HVAC repair specialist immediately. These can be extremely dangerous and pose a risk of electrocution.
If you open a heating or cooling unit and see exposed wires never try and put them back yourself. You can cause yourself serious injury.
Furthermore, if there are wiring problems with your system then this can indicate a larger HVAC system problem. A technician may be able to make repairs to get it working again but you should get ready for a replacement.
Old Age
Most HVAC units only last up to 20 years. If your system is approaching that age, you might be needed an HVAC repair soon. Keep up with regular maintenance to ensure you will get the most years from the system.
Start talking with your HVAC specialists about when it will be time to replace your unit with a new one. If your system is getting old, chances are it is slowly becoming less efficient.
This means that it will probably be using more energy then it should and as a result causing a higher utility bill. Try to keep up with the unit’s refrigerant to make sure it isn’t running out. An older system will also take longer to cool your house down.
Decreased Air Flow
If you feel as though the air flow in your space has decreased suddenly it could be because of your outdoor unit. Check the condensing unit for anything that might have gotten attached to it.
If there are things like grass or branches attached it might be restricting its ability to receive air. If this is not a simple fix, the problem may be in the system. Dirty coil or clogged ducts can be the cause.
Hiring a professional can help you get to the problem quickly. An expert can also fix it correctly so no more damage is done.
Humidity
If you live in an area that gets extremely humid during the warmer seasons, your HVAC system puts in serious work. The AC unit needs to not only cool your space but also remove all of that humidity out of it.
This process can wear your unit out after a long time. If your house is not removing the amount of humidity that it should, this can be a larger problem that requires a professional.
The humidity could be because your AC unit does not work hard enough, in which case a professional could optimise it for the job. Or the humidity could be due to your ventilation system.
Delays in Turning On
If your HVAC unit is slow in turning on or does not turn on at all this is an obvious job for HVAC repair. This problem may be because of a faulty thermostat, which is an easy fix.
If the thermostat doesn’t fix the problem, it is likely something more complex. One reason may be that the HVAC unit’s ignition isn’t working, or the wires on the inside of your units may be burnt out.
Contact Us For HVAC Repair
Having a broken HVAC system can cause discomfort and frustration in your living space. Identifying the signs you need a repair is only the first step.
Don’t wait to get your system looked at as the problem can get worse or spread to other parts of the system. If you want to set up an appointment to get your unit looked at contact us today.
For all your Commercial Property Maintenance, Boiler Maintenance, Building Maintenance M&E Maintenance Solutions are #1 Maintenance Company.
In conjunction with ACE Environmental Engineering Ltd M&E have completed the mechanical installation of the Chilled Water pipework for the new Chillers at Coventry University.
M&E Installation team have handed over a small works refurbishment of Knight Strip Metals First Aid Room.
The work involves the removal of the old sink and Saniflo unit and providing Hot water from the local Combination Boiler. New Sink, work tops, carpet and ceiling tiles plus complete redecoration.
All on time and under budget.
