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Get Ready for Winter Checklist: Make Sure Your Property Is Prepped for Cold Weather and Winter Emergencies

It happens every year in New York City: the winter cold weather, snow, and ice come faster than we’re ready for. This catches many property owners and managers off guard, but it doesn’t have to. Here’s a get ready for winter checklist from Bolt Electric so your home, apartment building, or commercial rental will be set to go when the snow flies, especially if a severe weather event brings emergency conditions.

Electrical System Checks

Install Programmable Thermostats Now

Autumn is the time to put in programmable thermostats, also sometimes known as set-back or smart thermostats, depending on the model. At their most basic, these thermostats allow you to have the heat automatically lowered or raised based on a schedule you set.

For example, you can make the temperature warmer when you’re getting up in the morning and right before you come home in the evening. Otherwise, it’s lowered for energy savings, which is good for the environment and good for everyone’s bank accounts. It also lets you or tenants lower the heat to 55 or 60 when you’re gone for a while, such as on vacation, but it avoids shutting off the heat completely, which can lead to frozen and burst pipes.

Smart thermostats can be controlled remotely through home hubs or even personal mobile devices. If you forget to adjust the heat, or if your schedule changes, you can reprogram the thermostat from wherever you are. There are even versions that work with steam radiators by communicating with thermostatic valves fitted to each radiator.

Change Lighting on Timers or Switch to Photocells

If you have lighting on a timer, don’t forget to change the settings, or you could wind up with dark hours that are a safety and security concern. Better yet, think about switching over to photocell light fixtures. These come on automatically when the sun fades and go off again when the sun rises. You don’t have to worry about setting the clocks back or forward because they adjust to whatever the current natural light timeline is.

Consider Backup Power Options

Winter emergencies last year across the United States prompted many property owners to think about their own backup power. Having a backup generator is a great idea when power goes out. The best kinds are those that are wired into the electrical panel and come on automatically when power fails.

Now is the time to install a generator, which requires the help of a licensed electrician. If you own a single-family dwelling or duplex that uses a manual-start generator, fall is when you should check it over and purchase fuel. Don’t forget to review safety information that can prevent fatal accidents like carbon monoxide poisoning.

Check Emergency Lighting

Another backup you need to check is your emergency lighting if you own rental units. Tenants must be able to see their way out of the building in case of emergency, which means you must have the correct signage and a source of backup power for a certain amount of time as required by law. It’s always smart to do a dry run before an actual emergency to work out any malfunctions.

Educate Tenants About Building Emergencies

Your tenants should know how to exit the building from their respective units and what to do in an emergency. Other things to cover with an email, pamphlet, or group information session include:

• Not turning off the heat completely when not at home
• What to do in the event of a frozen or burst pipe
• How to deal with too much or too little heat
• Safety to prevent fires, gas leaks, and other wintertime hazards

Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors

You have smoke detection and fire suppression systems if you have rental property, but do your units have carbon monoxide detectors? This is another terrific safety feature for tenants, especially during winter when buildings are sealed to the outside weather. Carbon monoxide can be produced during incomplete combustion, meaning gas appliances are subject to producing this lethal compound. Don’t risk your tenants’ health and lives when you can alert them to danger early.

Perform Last Outside Tasks of the Season

Before it gets too cold and snowy outside, it’s best to accomplish any late-season jobs that involve outdoor work. If you’re considering switching to electric submetering, for example, you want to ideally do it in spring or fall.

Other outside tasks might include checking the integrity of electrical lines from the street and looking at light fixtures. If you have bulbs to change, switching to LED light bulbs can save you money on electricity bills and manpower, as they run longer on less power and need to be changed less frequently. The last thing you want is to be up on a ladder on a slippery January sidewalk because your bulbs need replacing.

Schedule Indoor Electrical Work

Just because the weather is grim outside doesn’t mean you can’t do projects inside. Winter is perfect for indoor electrical upgrades, such as replacing outdated circuit panels, rewiring, or adding dimmer switches. You can also install smart home features during winter, like smart door locks, door cameras, and home ambiance hubs for heat, lighting, window treatments, and more on one central control.

Other Important Building Prep

Check and Service the Boiler System

Our partners over at Calray Boilers want to remind you to check your boiler for any problems and have it serviced before you start running it at peak capacity to heat radiators. Any leaks, broken gauges, sooty buildup, or problems with the automatic feeder and steam traps should be reported and professionally repaired ASAP.

Insulate Vulnerable Pipes

Don’t forget that pipes on north-facing and windy walls, as well as those in crawl spaces, attics, and other exposed areas, are subject to freezing and bursting. Take the time in fall to call Sanitary Plumbing for expert pipe insulation.

Make Sure Rooftop Components Are Winter Ready

The fall is a good time to check over your rooftop cooling towers after you’re done with your air conditioning for the year. Getting ready for winter means you want to assess and have Antler Pumps service rooftop exhaust fans, an important part of cold weather airflow in your building. Have a snow and ice removal plan ready so you can unblock fans and maintain access even during bad weather.

Let Bolt Electric Help with Your Property’s Electrical Jobs

Expert Licensed Electricians

Checking over your property to make sure it’s ready for winter is definitely a DIY job. But when you observe something is wrong or you have electrical elements that need to be fixed, calling the pros is always the safest answer. We can assist with all your property’s electrical needs, and you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing the job was done right and your property is prepared for cold weather emergencies.

Don’t wait until you have an urgent situation during sub-zero temperatures. Call Bolt Electric at 212-434-0098 or use our easy online form to schedule an appointment at your convenience.