The 9 Most Commonly Overlooked Commercial Building Services

Many commercial building services are central to operations, yet are frequently overlooked (or even forgotten. By working with a facilities partner like MCS and Chain Store Maintenance - an MCS Company, many of these items can be handled without you having to track them or worry about maintaining a schedule, allowing you to focus on more important responsibilities. Here are nine preventive services we commonly see companies skipping.

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Have your fire extinguishers been inspected recently? Or had the pressure on your hose reels tested? What about your backflow testing and maintenance? Many commercial building services are central to operations—yet are frequently overlooked (or even forgotten. By working with a facilities partner like MCS and Chain Store Maintenance - an MCS Company, many of these items can be handled without you having to track them or worry about maintaining a schedule, allowing you to focus on more important responsibilities. Our team of facilities maintenance experts have identified nine preventive services we commonly see companies skipping.

Nine Commercial Building Services You Don't Want to Overlook:

Licenses and permits

From elevators and refrigeration to grease traps and beyond, keeping up with f the many licenses and permits required (and their corresponding renewals) can be daunting, but it’s essential to keeping your commercial properties running and in compliance with government and industry regulations. You can speed up processes, avoid unnecessary penalties and limit headaches by having your property services partner manage these required applications and renewals. Transfer the requests to them, and they can handle any necessary payments and paperwork while also following up on renewals and keeping track of all related documentation for you.

Hood cleaning

Hood cleaning is a critical commercial building service for any company with a commercial kitchen, even if they are small and not central to your core business operations. Without it, excess grease can build up in your kitchen exhaust system and become a serious fire hazard. You or your property services partner should conduct preventive maintenance that includes inspecting, cleaning and polishing your commercial kitchen hood at least twice per year (depending on the volume of your cooking operations) and document your efforts. 

Jetting

Jetting uses high-pressure water nozzles to clear debris and buildup in your pipes quickly and efficiently. For high-traffic properties in particular, preventive jetting services to flush out your plumbing lines are crucial for avoiding backups and emergency calls, which can lead to business interruptions and unnecessary expense. It’s one of the commercial building services that you or your partner should be conducting at least quarterly. 

Lock services

From security breaches and accessibility issues to employee turnover and aging locks, it’s important for you (or your commercial building services provider) to properly maintain and replace your commercial locks as needed to safeguard your business. Having a direct-buy program through your provider can streamline this process, limiting costs, establishing hardware consistency and saving time—especially if you need to change locks frequently. Plus, you’ll know you’ll have easy access to locksmith services if an emergency arises.

Fire extinguishers

Fire suppression systems are a critical element of any commercial business. Not only do they help protect your property from fire emergencies and related potential damage, but they may also decrease your insurance premiums. You or your property services partner should coordinate extinguisher inspections at least annually, checking to see if refills are needed and ensuring that extinguishers are up to code, and that your property overall meets required regulatory compliance standards. 

Handyman projects

Minor repairs, installations and routine maintenance can stack up quickly and prevent your property from performing at its best. But designating handyman projects as a priority can help ensure no issues (big or small) get neglected and become hazards or go from being an easy fix to a major repair issue due to neglect. If you have a property services provider, they can schedule and perform these services for you on a monthly basis (or as needed) to ensure you stay on top of them while also saving you time and helping you avoid larger repair costs down the road. 

Grease traps

Commercial grease traps are essential for preventing grease buildup in your plumbing system, and neglecting them can lead to a host of issues, including damaged pipes, poor drainage and bacterial growth, as well as potential environmental damage and health code violations. A property services partner can provide reliable grease trap cleaning services monthly or as needed to keep your commercial property's grease traps working at their best, preventing overflow and clogs, and creating a sanitary environment to maintain health and safety standards. 

Backflow testing and maintenance

Backflow testing and maintenance are an essential part of your preventive maintenance routine. Regularly scheduled backflow testing and maintenance services conducted by your property services partner can prevent untreated or contaminated water from being back-siphoned into your clean water and ensure that you’re compliant with your local municipality. 

Air hose reels

For garages, auto repair facilities and tire retailers, air hose reels are an integral tool for a well-equipped facility. Proper installation of retractable hose reels for compressed air keeps the hose securely rolled and easily accessible, while saving space. Units can be mounted on the wall or from the ceiling to help prevent tripping accidents.

Tackle your commercial building services checklist

Some commercial building services can fall through the cracks, but staying on top of these commonly overlooked items can help keep your property operating smoothly and save you time and money in emergency repairs in the long run. Need a property service partner to help you stay on top of it all? MCS and Chain Store Maintenance can help. Through our hybrid service model, we combine an expansive network of local service partners and our own network of self-performing service centers to ensure we’re always there when and where you need us. Contact Repair@ChainStore.com or Commercial@MCS360.com to learn more and take care of those services you may have overlooked.