by Brianna Crandall — August 12, 2015—As critical facility systems are put to the test in extreme summer heat, FacilityDude, a cloud-based provider of operations management solutions, shares the most sought-after advice for facilities managers dealing with summer heat-related maintenance issues.
“While winter is often thought of as the most brutal season for buildings and grounds, summertime’s hazardous heat can be damaging to a facility’s systems, structures, and grounds if not proactively managed,” said Lee Prevost, Dude Solutions’ chief strategy officer. “Facility managers that get ahead and stay on top of facility maintenance for important systems like their HVAC and repair outdoor grounds and exterior issues will avoid costly expenditures and keep their constituents safe and comfortable.”
The company’s critical tips for summertime extreme heat facilities maintenance are:
Assess the chiller: Take stock of the facility’s heating/ventilation/air-conditioning (HVAC) system to determine if it needs an upgrade or outright replacement. An inefficient system can drain a facility’s energy efficiency management budget. Simple monitoring of issues like air filter replacements, refrigerant leaks, and the amount of refrigerant used each time, through software like FacilityDude, can help FMs identify potential problems and reduce the need for entire HVAC replacements in the future.
Keep the HVAC reliable: When temperatures tick up into the 90s and 100s, the air conditioning is put to the test, particularly in a larger facility. Maintaining aggressive inspection and preventive maintenance schedules can mean the difference between costly expenditures and uninterrupted service.
Give it a break: Keeping the air conditioner thermostat at a consistent temperature reduces the strain on a large system when temperatures are in flux throughout the day. Another trick often overlooked is simply reducing the amount of direct sunlight that comes through the windows. Pulling blinds down during the hottest hours of the day and planting taller shrubs outside east and west-facing windows will ease stress on the chiller.
Do not ignore the outdoors: Whether it is the grounds or the building façade, extreme summer heat can wreak havoc on turf, sidewalks, exterior windows, and siding. As sidewalks can easily crack with extreme temperatures, seal cracks as soon as they pop up to help prevent further water damage.
For more information about the company, visit FacilityDude.com.
