{"id":12162,"date":"2014-12-03T05:00:25","date_gmt":"2014-12-03T13:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/?p=12162"},"modified":"2020-12-24T02:56:01","modified_gmt":"2020-12-24T10:56:01","slug":"7-winter-defenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/7-winter-defenses\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Winter Defenses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winter is in full swing, bringing with it unpredictable cold fronts and unpleasant, icy storms. Keep your property and residents safe with these simple tips for wint\"shutterstock_154457561\"erizing your apartments.<\/p>\n

For Owners<\/strong><\/p>\n

HVAC Tune-up <\/strong>Seasonal inspections of your heating and cooling systems will ensure that they are operating at optimal efficiency. It\u2019s also a great idea to make sure that ducts are properly sealed and insulated, which can cut costs by 20 percent or more according to EnergyStar.gov.<\/p>\n

Stock Up on Salt <\/strong>Make sure that you have enough salt to help defrost walkways, exterior stairways, and inclines throughout the parking lot, entrances, and exits. If the weather drops below 16 degrees for several hours, you may consider a beet juice, molasses, and cheese brine defrosting cocktail<\/a>.\u00a0 If your community rarely experiences freezes and doesn\u2019t have a plan in place, speak with your maintenance team to set a schedule or assign a technician in charge of defrosting the premises. No one wants to be surprised with such a task at 4am.<\/p>\n

Arborist Inspection <\/strong>Have an arborist inspect trees for rot, damage, disease, and pests. Branches that are weighed down by snow and ice are prone to fall when they\u2019re already weak. The National Storm Damage Center reports that trees damaged by severe weather\u00a0cause\u00a0more than $1 billion in\u00a0property damage\u00a0each year.<\/strong> The arborist’s inspection could save you millions by preventing property damage and injury to your residents.<\/p>\n

Text Alerts <\/strong>If your property does not have a text-alert system for residents, consider establishing one. Use this system to notify residents of extreme weather conditions and fallen trees across nearby thoroughfares. It\u2019s a small touch that can save time and keep residents safe.<\/p>\n

Extinguisher Check <\/strong>Be sure that fire extinguishers are inspected per fire department code. Scheduling inspections in the later fall and early winter is ideal, just as residents get creative with cooking and holiday merriment.<\/p>\n

For Renters<\/strong><\/p>\n

Be sure to check your lease before making any permanent changes or modifications to your unit. If in doubt, ask your landlord or leasing agent.<\/p>\n

Fight Drafts<\/strong> Drafts are inevitable, particularly in well-established apartment buildings whose features have had time to settle. If you can\u2019t determine the source of the draft simply because of its strength, consider shutting all of the doors and windows and then walking slowly through your unit with a candle or incense stick. The flame will lean towards the source of the draft, or flicker rapidly before going out. The smoke from the incense will work its way towards the opening as well. Once the source is identified, you have several options:<\/p>\n