You don’t need us to tell you that winter is a harsh, brutal experience for the Midwest – and Chicago is no different. Are you ready to deal with Chicago snow and ice while running your business? You better be: being unprepared can be costly and even dangerous.
If you aren’t sure where to begin, use this handy home checklist to prepare for Chicago winter weather. You’ll be glad you did.
Read About El Niño
El Niño, a warming of a specific area of the Pacific Ocean, has a surprising impact on the winter weather patterns of the US. If El Niño is happening, you’re likely to have a milder, warmer winter in Chicago. That will make preparation easier. However, if El Niño is far in the future, you may need to up your preparation game. And watch for the game-changing prediction of La Niña… La Niña is the polar opposite of El Niño and dishes out more snow than expected.
You should be safe for now. According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Adminisration (NOAA), we are currently under an El Niño advisory and it has an 85% chance of lasting through winter 2015-2016. NOAA also reported that there is a greater than 90% chance of El Niño lasting through the fall.
Change or Add Window Treatments
Chicago residents know how much Lake Michigan impacts our weather. Even in offices and businesses, you simply can’t avoid the need for summer and winter window treatments. Winter window treatments should be darker, fully lined and heavier than summer treatments. This will trap heat in your building and help keep it warmer.
Furnace Maintenance
A poorly maintained and inefficient furnace will make it that much harder to keep your business efficiently heated and comfortable. Space heater usage in offices and personal areas are expensive to operate and a fire hazard, so it’s a worth investment to update your commercial heating. Perform these procedures once a year to ensure your furnace is running smoothly:
- Clean Ducts
- Fix Duct Damage
- Tune-Up Furnace
- Inspect, Clean and Repair Furnace
- Check for Leaks in Heat Dispersion System
Performing these simple furnace maintenance procedures should get it pumping out heat with maximum efficiency. Don’t be afraid to close off rarely used rooms to focus your heat on primarily occupied space.
Proper Water Drainage and Irrigation
Summer is the perfect time to inspect water drainage issues that might cause ice problems in the winter. Be certain there is no standing water on your land, walkways or parking lot after rain storms. If there is, hire a specialist to fix it this summer so you are prepared for winter.
If you want to learn more about Illinois commercial snow removal or how to prepare for winters in Chicago, contact us today.