Building Maintenance Tricks To Help Lower Energy Bills Year-Round

In many homes and businesses, 60% of energy costs can be attributed to heating and cooling expenses. Old or ill-repaired equipment can lead to emergency HVAC service calls, which many times could have been prevented with simple building maintenance. Learn how to save money on expensive repairs while decreasing the energy you're using and paying for each month.

Program Your Thermostat

Setting your thermostat to heat or cool your home or business according to when people will actually occupy the space is not just smart, it's energy-efficient. You might remember to turn the air conditioning up every day when you arrive home from work, but will you always remember to turn it down? Stable temperatures can significantly reduce monthly energy bills, and allow your HVAC unit to work more efficiently.

Two Degrees To Make A Difference

Changing your thermostat by two degrees cooler in the winter, or two degrees warmer in the summer can knock quite a bit off of your monthly bill. Many people prefer to lower their heat overnight in the wintertime, since they stay sufficiently warm in bed. As for the summer, try using the air conditioner only to remove the humidity from the air, as opposed to running it until your home is 'cool.' These simple building maintenance suggestions can save you hundreds each year.

Weather Sealing

The last thing you want to do is pay to heat or cool your home, and then find out that your inefficient windows and doors are letting that temperate air outside. As a quick building maintenance project this weekend, re-seal all windows and doors in your home or business. In addition, purchase weather stripping for the doors to keep rain out and to avoid loss of heat/cool. This simple trick can save you up to 10% on your heating and cooling needs.

Consider Replacement Windows

New windows are more than just pretty, they are more energy efficient. Old windows are often drafty, and can produce significant condensation between the panes of glass. Having a building maintenance company install new energy efficient windows may mean that you can have a smaller, higher efficiency HVAC unit, saving money in more than one place.

Get A Tune-Up

We all remember to change the oil and get a tune-up for our cars, so don't forget the building maintenance requirements for your HVAC unit. Heating and cooling units can benefit from a tune-up on a regular basis, as a more efficient unit is also a cheaper one. Get a central air tune-up in the spring, and a heater tune-up each fall. This preventative step will also help to prevent an emergency HVAC repair call.

About the Author

Chris Harmen is a writer for Tru-Serve, a building maintenance building maintenance company that provides professional facility maintenance emergency Minneapolis HVAC throughout the Twin cities (Minneapolis, MN and St. Paul, MN.)

Important Questions To Ask When Seeking A Building Maintenance Company

Hiring an outside building maintenance company can save you time, energy, hassle, and of course, money! But how can you make sure that you're getting the best service your money can buy? The following questions can help uncover whether the commercial property maintenance company you're interviewing is the one for your needs.

How long have you been in business?

While everyone has to start somewhere, an ideal building maintenance company will have at least 15 years of experience to draw from. This not only shows that they have long term experience, but also that they are successful in a competitive industry, have sustained business through hard times, and are more likely to be in business quite a while in the future.

What range of services can you provide?

When outsourcing your building maintenance, the ideal scenario is to find one company that can address all of your needs. Look for a company that not only offers emergency services, but also licensed HVAC, plumbing, knowledge of proper code, fire safety, general carpentry, and of course, preventative maintenance.

Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?

Sadly, not all companies are bonded and insured, meaning that if something goes wrong while on your property, you're left holding the ball (and the bill!) A simple mistake in plumbing could potentially cost tens of thousands of dollars in damages if the vendor does not carry sufficient coverage.

Do you guarantee your work?

We often hear the term, "satisfaction guaranteed," but find a company that truly sticks by this. Commercial property maintenance can involve a very wide range of required tasks, and it gives you peace of mind when you know that the work completed is guaranteed to meet both your and your tenants' expectations.

Do you have references?

A reputable company will be happy to give references of past clients that have utilized their services. Remember that a company who provides many services may have references that are not just building maintenance, but janitorial services, lawn care, healthcare facility maintenance, and more.

What are your hiring practices?

The personnel of the building maintenance company you choose will be accessing your property, so it is important to know what types of background checks and training the employees will have.

What type of equipment will you be using?

A major benefit of outsourcing commercial property maintenance is that you don't have to use precious capital to buy top of the line maintenance equipment. Ensure that the building maintenance company you choose will be well-trained in the most up-to-date techniques, and be using quality products.

Do you offer emergency or on-call services?

Knowing when the building maintenance personnel are available is a very important thing to consider, as you may need service at any time during the day or night. While you may not want to retain a commercial property maintenance company full time, you can certainly find one to cover holidays, emergencies, or off-peak hours.

With so many building maintenance companies to choose from, it's important to get it right the first time. When interviewing companies, ask these questions to ensure you are hiring someone with the experience and expertise you need.

About the Author

Chris Harmen is a writer for Tru-Serve, a building maintenance building maintenance company that provides professional facility maintenance commercial property maintenance throughout the Twin cities (Minneapolis, MN and St. Paul, MN.)