How to Winterize Your Hotel

• Make sure you have an adequate supply of gloves, work boots, trash bags, ice melt compound, sand and shovels on hand.

• Check your flashlights and restock your battery supply in case of an emergency power outage. Keep a supply of disposable flashlights or glow sticks.

• If your property is located near the Great Lakes or in the Northeast, you should have Hydro-Therm Pipe Saver on hand. This product is a nontoxic antifreeze solution that helps protect refrigeration systems, hydronic boilers, solar water heaters and process cooling/heating systems from freezing or bursting down to minus 60 degrees.

Windows/ Sliding Doors & PTACS

• Inspect for cracks and drafts. Adding caulk or foam tape to window edges, weather seals to doors and insulation to water heaters will keep the heat inside your property and help conserve energy.

• Replace cracked glass in windows.

• If your property has a basement, consider protecting its window wells with plastic lining or shields.

• Carefully check all PTACs. Clean filters and replace if necessary. Clean the coils and condensation pan.

Outdoor Inspection

• If your property has gutters, make sure they are clean and free of debris.

• Rake away all debris and vegetation from the foundation.

• Seal entry points to keep small animals from crawling under your property.

• Inspect for dry rot or pest infestation.

• Trim trees if branches hang too close to your hotel or electrical wires.

Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

• Every guestroom and hallway should be equipped with code-compliant smoke detectors; check that all smoke alarms are working properly.

• Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when Daylight Savings Time ends in the beginning of November.

• Install carbon monoxide detectors. Despite nearly 800 reported cases of poisonings over the past 15 years, not all states mandate that hotels or motels install carbon monoxide detectors in their guestrooms. However, some states like Florida require detectors be installed if a property has a fuel-burning boiler. Check with your local government to make sure you are complying with the law.

• Buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher if it is older than 10 years.

Plumbing

• Insulate exposed plumbing pipes with pipe sleeves or fiberglass insulation. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, insulating your pipes will raise your water temperature by 2 to 4 degrees. Your guests will not have to wait as long for the shower to get hot, and your property will conserve water.

• Locate your water main and train your staff how to shut it off in the event of an emergency.

Emergency Plan

• Prepare an evacuation plan and train your employees on how to control guests in case of an emergency.

• Buy battery backups for your computers and other sensitive electronic materials.

• Keep the utility company's number near the front desk where it is easily accessible.

• Store bottled water, nonperishable food and extra blankets in a dry and easily accessible location.