Winter has officially arrived and although it seems milder so far this year, the met office is warning of a potential ‘snowbomb’ over the Christmas period. Whether you will be operating throughout the holiday period or closing down for Christmas, it is important to make sure your business premises is properly maintained.
Proper maintenance could reduce your chances of needing to make a claim during the busy holiday season.
Top Tips for Maintaining your Business Premises
Businesses should consider these commercial building maintenance tips:
- Routine maintenance checks—Pipework, boiler and plumbing systems should be regularly inspected year-round. During winter such checks become even more important because a failure in one of these systems—e.g., not having hot water—will impact both customers and employees. Pipe insulation should be checked, too. In colder conditions, exposed pipes could freeze, expand, and burst.
- Electrical analysis—Electronic components and appliances should be checked thoroughly to make sure they’re working safely and don’t present any risks. The review should include electrical switches, sockets, and fuse boxes. Finding any cracks or signs of deterioration early will allow a business to correct the problem before it gets worse, saving time and money in the long run. This may be particularly important if you are decorating your premises for the holiday period.
- Roof and gutter inspection—A thorough roof inspection will allow businesses to spot potential structural issues early and ensure gutters are free from debris. Intense rain spells—more likely in winter—make it easier for gutters to become clogged, causing rotting and water damage to the fascia board.
- Flooding preparation—According to the Environment Agency, 1 in 6 properties in England (around 5.2 million properties) are at risk of flooding. Businesses should check if their insurance policy covers flood damage and consider how best to mitigate risk (e.g., storing stock above flood level). You can keep up to date with your local flood warnings here.
- Alarm check—Businesses should examine and service any fire and burglar alarms to ensure they’re secure and protected.
Though planning for a disaster is a lot of work, cleaning up after one is worse.
Proper maintenance allows a commercial business to spot potential problems early and take action. Paying attention to regular maintenance will help a business avoid unnecessary costs down the line and ensure safety and security to its employees and customers.
Sometimes no amount of planning can stop disasters from happening.
Should you find you need to make an insurance claim for your business premises Aspray can help. Our phonelines are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Speak with our experienced claims team who can arrange an appointed with your local assessor.
