Brian Butler, president of FirstService Residential Illinois, shares winter prep insights with MHN
DANIA BEACH, Fla. — Jan. 3, 2025
Weather patterns have become unpredictable, with shorter winters in some areas, colder temperatures in others and extreme events popping up in regions where they were never expected. Now more than ever, you can’t afford to be caught off guard. There’s too much at stake.
Freezing temperatures and winter storms can cause dangerous situations for residents as well as expensive maintenance issues. And insurance premiums are on the rise, so it’s essential for multifamily property managers and owners alike to have a comprehensive understanding of effective risk-mitigation strategies. MHN asked property management experts for their views on important procedures that should not be overlooked to ensure your apartment portfolio is protected against winter weather.
Most property management teams start talking about winter preparations at the tail end of autumn. Certainly, maintenance is a year-round priority, but it becomes especially important as apartment assets transition into winter. Whenever you begin, be thorough. Preventive maintenance includes walking the property regularly to discover concerns and get ahead of problems before they become larger issues.
Brian Butler, president of FirstService Residential, Illinois, advised also inspecting common amenity spaces (decks, outdoor pool areas or others) that should be closed until spring. Look for pooled water, as it can collect on flat roofs. Make sure to remove it before the snow and rain start, since if it gets inside and freezes, it can expand and cause cracking.
Exterior faucets and irrigation systems should be cleared of remaining water to prevent pipe freezing and cracking, and sprinklers and irrigation systems should be blown out with an air compressor before the first freeze to prevent expanding water from cracking pipes. Gutters, too, should be checked for any remaining debris from falling leaves to mitigate water and ice damage during winter months.
“We also prioritize final leaf and landscaping bed clean-ups and encourage owners to conduct routine preventive maintenance of heating and cooling systems, including winterizing outdoor cooling towers and other equipment to prevent freeze damage,” Butler added.
FirstService Residential works closely with multifamily owners on preparations that also include setting points on heating/air conditioning systems, winterizing exterior mechanicals, ensuring sufficient supplies for inclement weather and adjusting exterior lighting timers to reflect the shorter daylight hours.
Learn more about our winter preparation strategies by reading the full article.
Weather patterns have become unpredictable, with shorter winters in some areas, colder temperatures in others and extreme events popping up in regions where they were never expected. Now more than ever, you can’t afford to be caught off guard. There’s too much at stake.
Freezing temperatures and winter storms can cause dangerous situations for residents as well as expensive maintenance issues. And insurance premiums are on the rise, so it’s essential for multifamily property managers and owners alike to have a comprehensive understanding of effective risk-mitigation strategies. MHN asked property management experts for their views on important procedures that should not be overlooked to ensure your apartment portfolio is protected against winter weather.
Most property management teams start talking about winter preparations at the tail end of autumn. Certainly, maintenance is a year-round priority, but it becomes especially important as apartment assets transition into winter. Whenever you begin, be thorough. Preventive maintenance includes walking the property regularly to discover concerns and get ahead of problems before they become larger issues.
Brian Butler, president of FirstService Residential, Illinois, advised also inspecting common amenity spaces (decks, outdoor pool areas or others) that should be closed until spring. Look for pooled water, as it can collect on flat roofs. Make sure to remove it before the snow and rain start, since if it gets inside and freezes, it can expand and cause cracking.
Exterior faucets and irrigation systems should be cleared of remaining water to prevent pipe freezing and cracking, and sprinklers and irrigation systems should be blown out with an air compressor before the first freeze to prevent expanding water from cracking pipes. Gutters, too, should be checked for any remaining debris from falling leaves to mitigate water and ice damage during winter months.
“We also prioritize final leaf and landscaping bed clean-ups and encourage owners to conduct routine preventive maintenance of heating and cooling systems, including winterizing outdoor cooling towers and other equipment to prevent freeze damage,” Butler added.
FirstService Residential works closely with multifamily owners on preparations that also include setting points on heating/air conditioning systems, winterizing exterior mechanicals, ensuring sufficient supplies for inclement weather and adjusting exterior lighting timers to reflect the shorter daylight hours.
Learn more about our winter preparation strategies by reading the full article.