If you’re managing a commercial building or rental property, preventative maintenance is key. Waiting for things to break is not only more costly, but it’s also more dangerous. It can cause hazards like injuries from deteriorated building materials or fires from outdated electrical wiring. Incidents like these can cause negligence claims, higher insurance premiums, negative reviews, and high tenant turnover. 

To avoid serious problems like this, maintenance should be an integrated part of your regular task list. 

7 Reasons to Create a Preventative Maintenance Plan

• It will keep repair costs down. Maintaining and inspecting things regularly will help detect small problems early. That way you can fix them with minimal cost before they become an expensive nightmare. Reducing unexpected maintenance problems will also save you and your team time and frustration.

   

• It will maintain or increase your property value. Fixing problems before they become larger issues means the next owner won’t have costly repairs. This will sustain or even create value in your property. 

   

• It increases the safety and comfort of your occupants. Maintenance and inspections on a regular basis can help you find security or safety issues. Fixing them as soon as they’re identified will minimize the potential for injuries and thefts.

   

• It will improve your tenants’ satisfaction. When buildings, appliances, and common areas aren’t maintained, tenants notice. This can lead to negative reviews and higher turnover and vacancies. Attentive maintenance will create a comfortable and safe place for your tenants.

   

• It will extend the lifespan of your equipment and appliances. Normal wear and tear without proper maintenance can shorten the lifespan of an HVAC system. Keeping up with the recommended maintenance will cut costly replacements. It will also reduce downtime caused by unexpected failures.

   

• It can lower your energy costs. Keeping up with maintenance will keep energy usage at optimal levels. This saves you money and reduces the impact on the environment.

   

• It will keep you compliant. There are plenty of regulations and codes you have to follow for your property. A regular maintenance routine will help you stay compliant so you can avoid fines and penalties.

Where to Start

If you don’t already have a preventative maintenance plan in place and don’t know where to begin, here’s a quick list. These are three areas that are the important to keep up with:

1. HVAC systems and water heaters. These are some of the most costly repairs, so have them checked at least once a year. Aztec Mechanical works with Property Managers to set up an ongoing inspection schedule for seasonal changes.
   
   
2. Air filters. Clogged filters can cause mildew growth and decreased airflow. Don’t depend on your tenants to do this. Our technician team includes air filter upkeep as part of our agreements.
   
   
3. Fire safety systems. Our team can check detector batteries during the annual inspection, and equip units to make sure the fire safety system is working properly. 

Along with a maintenance plan, it’s important to clearly and consistently communicate with your tenants. Being proactive and transparent with upcoming or ongoing repairs will go a long way toward building trust with your tenants. Follow up with them and make sure they’re satisfied with repairs. It’s better to hear about problems directly than from a negative Google review. Getting regular feedback will also help you find ways to improve your processes for the future.

How Aztec Mechanical Can Help

For regular inspections of your HVAC systems and water heaters, we’re here to help. Our seasoned professionals are ready to help make sure your systems are running efficiently and last as long as possible. Call us today to set up a regular inspection schedule to keep your property maintenance on track.