With snow and ice on the horizon, it's important to prepare your building for the winter season. Montreal winters can be severe and require specific maintenance requirements, so the best way to organize your building for winter is to use protective methods. At Immeubles Centraux, we always take a preventative approach to prepare your building for winter. We ensure that Montreal building owners have their investments protected through proper and practical preparations for winter conditions.

Keeping this in mind, we have 5 top tips to prepare your building for the upcoming winter season. Of course, not all buildings are precisely the same - needs can change according to age, size, location, and other factors. However, the same principles will apply to most buildings. Here is what we recommend:

Inspect the Roof

On your winter to-do list, checking the roof is a number one priority. It is best to inspect your roof before it becomes completely covered with snow and ice - this helps to make sure the roof is in decent condition going into intemperate weather. In addition, you want to inspect for holes, loose shingles, and other issues that could cause leaks during snowmelt. When checking the roof, one can also ascertain if birds have caused damage or if water is collecting in specific areas. It is also an excellent opportunity to remove organic material or debris collected on the roof.

Check your Heating Systems

Heating systems work especially hard during the colder months, which is why it is essential to inspect and service them before the cold season sets in. Here is what we recommend:

• Inspect and repair any damaged parts.
• Inspect the ventilation system to make sure exhaust gasses are being appropriately ventilated out of the building.
• Inspect for leaks or holes that could be hindering heating efficiency

Inspections of Air Leaks in Windows and Doors

When windows and doors are leaking air into a building during winter, this results in your heating systems working harder than usual. Have a systematic approach in place for each building, with your janitors keeping an eye on any leaks coming in from windows and doors. You want to eliminate all drafts by ensuring there is a tight seal around all the windows and doors in your building.

Prepare the Plumbing

The best way to make sure a disaster involving frozen pipes does not happen in your building is to keep all new and current employees, especially tenants, up-to-date on building heating protocols during winter. All tenants in our buildings receive memos about what they need to do when absent from their apartments for a while, such as making sure they have a minimum temperature set on their thermostats and setting faucets to drip if extreme temperatures are forecast while they are away. This helps to relieve pressure in the pipes and prevent them from bursting.

Proper Snow Removal Contracts in Place

When snow is not correctly removed, snow and ice conditions can cause damage and problems. For example, if snow is not removed properly, it can obstruct handicap parking, signs, and fire hydrants. Another vital safety consideration regarding proper snow removal and de-icing is to decrease the likelihood of slip-and-fall accidents. You need to ensure you have vetted and experienced snow removal teams who are prepared and follow proper de-icing protocols.

In Quebec, winters can be rough. These tips can help you to prepare and protect your buildings while avoiding unwanted calamities and repairs. If you want to know more about our property management services, don't hesitate to call us at 514-344-8818.