Protect Your Investment!
Thousands are lost every year by property owners who fail to have the proper maintenance contracts. They keep going up too! Did you know operational expenditures for building maintenance have increased 19% from 2020-2024.
But wait…
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ONE OF THEM!
With preventative maintenance contracts in place your commercial property will run better, save money and stay clear of those catastrophic emergency repairs that eat away at your budget.
In this article you're going to learn:
Why Maintenance Contracts Are Important for Commercial Properties
7 Maintenance Contracts You Should Have
Building Energy Management You Need To Know
How to Evaluate Maintenance Contractors
Why Maintenance Contracts Are Important for Commercial Properties
Pause for a second and think about how expensive it is to run your building equipment until it breaks, versus having a maintenance contract that performs preventative maintenance…
It can cost you up to 10x more!
That's why maintenance contracts are necessary. They help establish a regular and preventative maintenance program. A good building energy management strategy starts with scheduled service and inspections of your crucial building systems.
Let's review the benefits of preventive maintenance contracts:
Minimize emergency repairs
Extend the life of your equipment
Maximize energy efficiency
Increase tenant satisfaction
This is especially true for landlords and property managers taking care of commercial HVAC systems in Tennessee and Mississippi. Heating and cooling your building accounts for approximately 40% of total energy use. If maintained improperly, that number could rise.
Commercial properties with preventive maintenance contracts have 25-30% less operating interruptions.
Needless to say, that's a huge benefit.
7 Maintenance Contracts You Should Have
While some maintenance contracts are more important than others. You'll want to make sure you have these 7 covered if you own a commercial property.
HVAC Maintenance Contract
Let's start with the most important.
Your HVAC system is what conditions the air and keeps your building comfortable. It also happens to use more energy than any other system in your building.
A good HVAC maintenance contract should include:
Quarterly inspections and tune-ups
Replacement of filters
Refrigerant level check
Coil cleaning
Thermostat calibration
Emergency call service
Do not overlook this maintenance contract. Neglected HVAC maintenance leads to irritated tenants, skyrocketing utility bills, and equipment breakdowns. No one wants to replace an HVAC unit before it's time.
Electrical Maintenance Contract
Imagine having your power go out because you neglected your electrical system.
When was the last time you had your electrical panels inspected? Do you know if your emergency lights and exit signs are functioning properly? How about your backup generator?
These are a few things your electrical maintenance contract should cover:
Annual inspection of all electrical panels
Testing of emergency lighting
Inspection and testing of exit signs
Backup generator service
Circuit breaker testing
Surge protection testing
Plumbing Maintenance Contract
Did you know that water can cause more damage to your property than fire?
One leak can turn into a huge problem overnight. A good plumbing maintenance contract will ensure that you have regular professional inspections of all your pipes, fixtures, water heaters, and drainage.
One thing many people miss with their plumbing maintenance contract…
Preventative maintenance also includes things like backflow prevention testing and water pressure monitoring. Not the most glamorous service call but they help prevent major issues.
Fire Suppression Maintenance Contract
This one is non-negotiable.
Required by law in most states, fire suppression systems, alarms, and fire sprinklers are all required to be inspected and certified on a regular basis.
Fire Maintenance Contract should include:
Monthly fire alarm tests
Annual fire sprinkler inspection
Fire extinguisher servicing
Emergency lighting testing
Certification documentation
Building Energy Management
Did you know that Energy Expenses are the largest expense for property owners?
Sure you know to turn the lights off when you leave the office. But are you doing everything you can to manage how energy is used throughout your building?
The foundation for good building energy management starts with…
Things like building automation that monitors energy usage throughout the building. Not only does it track how much is being used but it can pinpoint where you may be wasting energy! It can also automatically adjust the performance of your equipment to maximize efficiency.
Annual energy audits are another simple way to really know where you could be losing money on energy.
Facilities that utilize predictive maintenance save 40% more than those who wait for things to break.
Lighting System Maintenance
We already covered that lighting makes up a large portion of energy usage.
Upgrading to LED lighting, installing motion sensors, and utilizing daylight harvesting techniques can save you money. However, they require maintenance to ensure everything is working properly. Sensors that aren't working, and dirty fixtures can negate all the energy-efficient measures you have taken.
Building Envelope Maintenance
The building envelope includes the roof, walls, windows and doors.
Just like any other part of your building, holes and deterioration allow air to escape your building. Inspections of these critical areas help prevent energy loss and water damage.
How To Evaluate Maintenance Contractors
Just because a company offers maintenance services doesn't always mean you should give them a long-term contract.
Do your due diligence and you'll thank yourself later. Make sure the companies you're evaluating have a history of serving commercial properties. Also ensure they are licensed and insured.
Here are some questions to ask:
How long have they been servicing commercial properties?
Do they provide round the clock emergency service?
What certifications do their technicians have?
Can they provide references from similar sized properties?
What does the contract include? What's extra?
You get what you pay for.
Price should not be the deciding factor. In most cases going with the cheapest option comes back to bite you. Cheap maintenance will cause more problems.
Emergency Response Time is Important!
You don't want to wait 3 days for someone to come out and service your boiler in January or fix your AC in August. Know what their response time is for emergencies before you sign a contract.
Conclusion
Maintenance Contracts are an investment that can help protect the value of your commercial property.
Not only will you want contracts that cover your HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and fire systems. But you also want to ensure you have good building energy management practices in place.
Here's what you need to remember:
Upkeep costs way less than breakdowns
Energy efficiency starts with properly maintained systems
Certain contracts are required by law
Quality companies provide better value over time
Don't spend another sleepless night wondering if something is going to break.
Evaluate your current contracts and see where you're missing maintenance coverage. Then reach out to qualified companies who understand the needs of commercial properties.
You'll make that money back over time…and then some.
