Winter is rapidly approaching. In some places, it has already arrived!

This is the time of year to consider annual maintenance for key equipment that may not get much attention throughout the year. Prior to year end, consider working the following items into your maintenance schedules:

• Check/replace all air filters to remove accumulated dust and debris;
• Check your maintenance procedures to ensure they are up to date;
• Revisit thermostat setpoints for any areas that are mechanically cooled in summer. For the winter heating season, they should be set about 20°C or 68°F;
• Test back-up generators and ensure fuel tanks are full in case of outages;
• Inspect the roof. Make sure there are no pipes/lines with leaks or exposed piping. Such lines could freeze but may be at risk of other damage regardless of location;
• Ensure all utility meters and fire hydrants are clear of long grass that might have grown over the summer. Grass and snow can both cause problems in the event of an emergency.

Walkthrough your plant with an energy lens. Look for missing or broken insulation, air leaks from windows, walls or ducting.

Proactively fixing these items will save you money all season long. Annual maintenance on heating and cooling systems both prolong the lives of the units and identify early warning signs. Addressing them now can prevent untimely failure. Nobody wants a broken furnace during the cold nights of winter!

For sites in cold climates, seasonal maintenance tasks may seem obvious, but annual preventive maintenance has value regardless of where you are located.