Tru-Serve http://tru-serve.com Sun, 16 Sep 2018 23:16:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.7.34
7 Things to Consider When Searching For House Cleaning Service http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/7-things-to-consider-for-house-cleaning-service/ http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/7-things-to-consider-for-house-cleaning-service/#comments Sat, 08 Nov 2014 18:25:02 +0000 http://www.tru-serve.com/?p=2423 The most common maintenance to a property is cleaning maintenance. It helps a building keep its good working condition and a house cleaning service provider constantly checks on any possible issues the building may develop in its long use. A good service provider can be tricky. There are things that has to be considered to get  the right company or service provider.

Set Boundaries

Getting people to clean for you would be opening up your building to total strangers. So before looking for a service, get to decide on what areas of the building are off limits, which rooms they would only be allowed to access on specific times of the day (or night). It would also be wise if you can point out areas that they should prioritize, or places that would require extra effort to clean.

Word of mouth

The cheapest form of advertising can actually be the most reliable. Ask friends or anyone you know of for a cleaning service that they would (or would not) recommend. Any personal experience they might have had with a housecleaning service can give you clues on which company to go to. If ever you are already considering one, ask them for references. Speak to clients that they are already providing services to. By asking their current clients you can ascertain the standing of that company. Failure to provide a reference can be a bad sign.

Insurance

Housekeeping service have what is called a “liability insurance” to protect you and their employees. It covers injuries sustained on the job as well as other types of compensations. Ask for their insurance information to be sent to you via fax or mail. It should be an official certificate, not a photocopy to be sure that the insurance hasn’t been cancelled.

Supplies

A company who uses nature-friendly supplies would be a big plus. A bigger concern, however is to be aware if any of the things that they will use would cause allergic reaction to anybody else in the building.

Employee handling

Ask them on how they screen or do background checks on their employees. Do they keep people with previous records? What is their policy if their employee does something bad against the client?

Pricing

A company sends a representative to inspect the building and provides an assessment that will be later on used for establishing the first quotation. This will also describe the different cleaning needs the infrastructure will need. Be wary of house cleaning companies who fails (or avoids) to do an inspection. Also be aware of whether they charge a flat-fee or charge on an hourly basis, and decide on which would work better for you. Keep in mind the adage, though: “You get what you pay for”.

Fine text

As with any kind of deal, always read the contract carefully. Check if there is anything regarding early termination, guarantees or refunds. It’s not easy finding the best of the things we are looking for but by using the right standards and asking the right questions, we get to weed out the best options we have and make a sound decision to hire the company that best fits your building maintenance needs.

]]>
http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/7-things-to-consider-for-house-cleaning-service/feed/ 0
The Importance of Building Maintenance http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/the-importance-of-building-maintenance/ http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/the-importance-of-building-maintenance/#comments Fri, 27 Jun 2014 21:21:50 +0000 http://www.tru-serve.com/?p=2347 front-building“Nothing has been built or created that isn’t important.” This quote also apply to building maintenance. We may see more than millions of big buildings around us but not all of us do understand their real importance. Well, this article will help you understand more about the importance of building maintenance.

Generally there are countless of reasons why building maintenance is important and some of them includes:

Providing means for income

Building maintenance provide means for individuals to earn cash. If you own a building, you will be working with numerous professionals that will work on different job areas available in your building vicinity. Such jobs that will allow income to flow includes:

  • Plumbing works including repair and maintenance
  • Electrical features
  • Machinery
  • Masonry
  • Heating and cooling system
  • Cleaning and clearing maintenance
  • Painting
  • Lawn Care maintenance
  • Snow Removal

It means, as long as there are buildings standing around us, there will also be a lot of jobs available that will allow cash to flow. It will not only help one or two families in general, in fact it can help the entire economy of the city, and whole country.

 Allows business industry to boost

With proper building maintenance, you will be able to preserve your property. Which means a lot of business opportunities are available for you on the line. We all know that a preserved and well maintained building could gather a lot of business opportunities to every young individuals and young entrepreneurs.

It is also a fact that most business transactions are done in building premises, so as long as buildings are available, building maintenance will exist and business opportunities that would generate big amount of cash will also bloom.

Building Maintenance will help you preserve what has been handed down to you

Proper building maintenance will allow building owners to preserve their properties. On the other hand, if you got a building handed down to you by your ancient, you will only be able to preserve it, by proper building maintenance.

So while you enjoy your inheritance, you also preserve it, as well as open opportunities to other individuals and business owners.

Building Maintenance allow building owners to save thousands of dollars in the long run.

If you see to it that your building is maintained thoroughly you will most likely avoid spending thousands of cash for repairs and reconstructions of some damaged areas in the building that has not been properly taking care of beforehand.

So while your property is not damaged yet, do something to preserve it by contacting professional building maintenance contractors. Remember, you won’t really have to spend money for repairs if beforehand, you had actually considered keeping your property maintained by professionals. So while you have time, do something about it. You could choose to spend your money for other business instead of saving it up for future building repairs and reconstruction.

 

For more tips about building maintenance services, please read some other articles provided by Tru-Serve.

 

 

 

]]>
http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/the-importance-of-building-maintenance/feed/ 0
Tips On Choosing The Right Facility Maintenance Service Provider http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/tips-on-choosing-the-right-facility-maintenance-service-provider/ http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/tips-on-choosing-the-right-facility-maintenance-service-provider/#comments Fri, 20 Jun 2014 16:55:05 +0000 http://www.tru-serve.com/?p=2341 One of the trickiest decisions that building owners and managers have to deal with is to choose the right facility maintenance service provider. Nowadays, more than hundreds of facility maintenance service providers are competing with each other to keep the business going in building industry. That fact makes it hard for building owners and managers to choose which building maintenance company to work with.

If you need help on choosing the right facility maintenance service provider to maintain your properties, here are some tips that can guide you.

 

 Reasonable cost and quality output.

Various building maintenance groups’ offers inexpensive facility maintenance services but not all of them provide quality results. So there is no point of working with an affordable team if the output is not even worth the money you paid for. The point is, you are going to spend hundreds of dollars of your hard earned money in order to get quality result. On the other hand, there are also companies that are not too expensive yet provide output that is beyond your expectation.

When choosing the right company to handle your property facility maintenance, do not be in a hurry. Always consider asking help from friends or professionals that holds broad knowledge and acquires expertise in building maintenance industries. For instance, you can consider contacting Tru-Serve for inquiries, and you can even let the team help you throughout.

 

Choose company that uses up-to-date tools and high end cleaning equipment.

Not all building maintenance companies do operate using up-to-date tools and equipment facility and cleaning maintenance. Do not be fooled with the word of mouth alone, always be open to discover the company profile of the building maintenance team you want to work with before entrusting your facility maintenance needs with them.

A company that uses high end facility maintenance equipment should be your number one prospect. Up-to-date cleaning gear such as self-propelled space vacuums, high end dust cloth with microfiber, automatic floor cleaner with scrubbers and built-in dust swabs, will absolutely enable the facility maintenance team to quickly accomplish the cleaning maintenance in your vicinity. That means, you can save time thus you will be able to maximize your schedule and be able to earn more profit from your other businesses. This is really more about valuing your time in the business industries.

 

Choose a facility maintenance service provider that follows a system or protocol when working with any projects.

Entrusting the facility maintenance needs of your property to professionals that follows a system when working is one of the best choice you can make. Professionals do not just jump into getting the facility maintenance done; in fact, they follow specific protocol to ensure that building owners will not waste any amount of money for the maintenance fee.

With Tru-Serve, we list out what has to be done with the vicinity and first make a thorough inspection of the properties. This is to ensure that we know what and which to do first, how it will be done, how much time and budget is needed to get all the cleaning and clearing job done.

 

Working with Accessible Facility Maintenance Team

It may sound a little sad, but not all facility building maintenance companies are accessible where in fact this should be their number one priority. Communication is very important in every business. Once you make a deal with clients, you have to ensure that you create an open line of communication to avoid minor and major issues while the project is on-going.

When choosing a facility maintenance group, always consider working with professionals with access to the internet, provides email address, contact number, fax number, and even social media accounts. It may sound a bit demanding but this is the current trend in the business industry. So if you want to be on top of things, always work with a company that is on top of what they do.

 

If you want to read more tips about choosing the right facility maintenance service provider, just feel free to go over articles shared by Tru-Serve.

 

]]>
http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/tips-on-choosing-the-right-facility-maintenance-service-provider/feed/ 0
Effective Tips for Commercial Building Cleaning http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/effective-tips-for-commercial-building-cleaning/ http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/effective-tips-for-commercial-building-cleaning/#comments Mon, 16 Jun 2014 13:38:55 +0000 http://www.tru-serve.com/?p=2334 If you own a commercial building one of the most important things you have to consider first is the cleaning services it needs. You would want to ensure that your building is impeccable, nontoxic, secure, and up-to-date. As a building owner you want to be on top of things when it comes to cleaning service needs of your property.
We know that building a property is not easy and affordable at all, in fact it usually cost more than thousands of dollars. To be guided accordingly and to ensure that you are not wasting your hard earned dollars, here is a list of effective tips for commercial building cleaning you can follow:

How to take care of the concrete floor.

Did you know that regular floor cleaning will let you save up cash in a long term? Keeping your concrete floor cleaned regularly will not just prevent build-up of sand, dust, or muck, but will also keep them away from major floor damage. Also, see to it that stains spilt on the floor are cleaned immediately.

Use floor mats appropriately and keep them cleaned on a regular basis. Floor mats prevents dust, sand and other tiny elements to get into your property. In short floor mats filters what’s coming in through the entrance of the property.

When moving furniture in your building vicinity make sure to use furniture defenders beneath them to avoid scratching the concrete. Another thing, avoid using strong chemicals when cleaning up the floor, unless it is advised.

How to control odor within your building vicinity.

Proper sanitation and decontamination is highly recommended to keep your building away from unfriendly smell. As much as possible, use organic or mild scented air freshener or sanitizer to keep that clean and fresh atmosphere within in your building.

In the powder and rest rooms, make sure to put hand sanitizers to maintain proper sanitation. Also prioritize appropriate hygiene in specific areas inside the building like toilets, basins, counters, cubicles, shower dials, garbage baskets, etc.

If you are unsure about the right sanitizer and cleaning products to use, do not hesitate to ask help from professionals providing cleaning and building maintenance services. That’s what they are for.

 How to keep windows of the building clean.

Commercial building cleaning do not just focus on keeping the floors and rest rooms clean and fresh. In fact, all areas within the building vicinity should be cleaned up on the regular basis – this is actually highly recommended.

Window cleaning should be done in a step by step process which includes, washing and drying them up. To get the job done easily and quickly, using streak -free microfiber cloth for window cleaning is recommended. At times window glasses should be removed in order to clean them up, this job is easier said than done and with that, it is best to hire professionals to do it. During this time, you might want to contact professionals that offer building cleaning services like Tru-Serve.

How to clean up work spaces and other work gear.

Work spaces are the areas where all workers stay for long hours, and you would want to keep work area clean, fresh and free from any debris. To do that, a daily cleaning maintenance on these areas should be done.

Tables, desk, chairs, computers, telephone port, printers, photocopier, and mirror – all these should be cleaned up by wiping them either using a streak-free microfiber cloth, or a soft dust remover. Using mild cleaning products is also appropriate. Again if you are unsure of what appropriate cleaning materials and products to use, do not be shy to seek help from companies that provides professional cleaning services.

Take note that every areas that are mostly touched, and used should be cleaned up on a daily basis to prevent dirt, and germs accumulation.

For more info about commercial building cleaning just go over other articles shared by Tru-Serve.

]]>
http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/effective-tips-for-commercial-building-cleaning/feed/ 0
Important Tips for Building Maintenance http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/important-tips-for-building-maintenance/ http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/important-tips-for-building-maintenance/#comments Fri, 06 Jun 2014 17:37:59 +0000 http://tru-serve.com/?p=2326 building maintenance - cleaning windowsGenerally, building owners do have common interest for their buildings – and that is to preserve its look and durability for a longer period of time. It may sound quite easy but if you do not have any idea about building maintenance, you’d definitely have a hard time figuring out of what to do to keep your building free from high maintenance.

To keep your building away from trouble, here are important tips for building maintenance you can consider:

Deal with people or group of people who fully understand how building maintenance really works.

At times, building owners seems to be in a hurry that they failed to consider asking sound opinion from people working with building maintenance group. For instance, the Tru-Serve Building Maintenance Company, these group of people has been offering building maintenance services for more than a decade now – with proven results.

Another thing, if you’re planning to repair or reconstruct your building, do not forget to contact the company who constructed it first as they know enough about the materials used in your properties but if you can’t find them, make sure to make a deal with professional building maintenance contractors.

Maintain your building and other properties by regularly cleaning, and clearing up any rainwater supplies or goods found in your building vicinity.

Without water, people may die but failure to clean up water excess from your properties can also result major property damage. For instance, water opening within the properties drenching the concrete floor – if it’s not sorted out immediately, it can even lead to severe concrete floor damage that would involve big amount of dollars for repair and reconstruction.

On the other hand, uncleansed water residue in metal sheets and steels can also cause rust to outgrow but if you are keen on keeping your building maintained by professional building maintenance technician, rest assured that all your properties are protected thus you will also feel secure.

Ensuring that your garage and decks are waterproof.

Garage and decks are exposed to moisture and humidity all the time, and if these two areas are not built with waterproof materials, they will eventually get damaged after a couple of years. To avoid spending some of your hard earned money for garage and deck repairs, always consider building these two areas with waterproof materials. If you are thinking ahead while considering suggestions from building maintenance personnel you will never encounter major issues with your properties in the future.

Understand the importance of building ventilation.

One of the most important things to consider when constructing a building is to ensure that the materials used are sufficiently ventilated. Solid floors that was created without any ventilation will later on create an unventilated compartments. When this happened, moisture accumulation will expand on these unventilated compartments that will eventually allow a number of wood worms to come up and then different kinds of rot will start to take place. However, if you prefer to work with professional builders, these occurrences might be avoided which means you might not have to spend thousands of dollars for repairs and reconstructions.

For more tips about building maintenance go over other articles provided by Tru-Serve.

]]>
http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/important-tips-for-building-maintenance/feed/ 0
Landscape Maintenance Checklist http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/landscape-maintenance-checklist/ http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/landscape-maintenance-checklist/#comments Wed, 26 Mar 2014 16:27:48 +0000 http://www.tru-serve.com/?p=2279 Landscape Maintenance ChecklistA well maintained landscape that surrounds your office complex, apartment buildings, condominiums, or townhomes leaves an essential first impression to your clients or tenants. For property and business owners this means that the more appealing the landscape is the more inviting it is for tenants to walk into your premises.

Essentially, no matter how simple your property landscaping is it will still need trimming, fertilizing, watering, clean up and at times possible disease prevention. The process takes a lot of time and effort and for people who are always on the go it is best for them to hire professional landscape maintenance personnel that can do the work weekly or according to your yard’s needs. The difference between a good landscape and a bad one is marked by how much time was invested on the project and was it tackled properly. With all the weeding, mowing and mulching going on one would beg the question: “Did I do the task in the right manner?”

So, we at Tru-Serve Building Maintenance devised a monthly Landscape Maintenance Checklist for you that can be done throughout the different seasons:

January To April Checklist

January

  • Clean up any debris left behind by the winter storms

February

  • Prune trees to raise undercarriage. Plants and shrubs will need to be pruned for rejuvenation.
  • Based on soil test, apply lime to the lawn.
  • During spring and summer months apply dormant oil to shrubs to reduce insect damage.
  • Ornamental grass should be trimmed to avoid them looking messy and unkempt.
  • Form and finalize your plans for a Spring Landscaping Project.

March

  • Begin your spring cleanup chores if the weather breaks early.

April

  • If turf is dry opt for a dethatch/verti-cut lawn.
  • Remove all leaves, debris and leaves as part of your spring cleanup completion.
  • Check if the window wells, catch basins and other drainages are clean.
  • Before Forsythias finishes its bloom you should apply the first round of turf fertilizer that has crabgrass pre-emergent. Do not put any crabgrass pre-emergent on areas where the lawn is thin.
  • Mow lawn as required by conditions. Try not to remove more than 1/3 of the grass plant a time.
  • Fertilize spring bulbs late in the bloom cycle. If you have tulips fertilize them while blooming and after.
  • Reestablish and cultivate bed edges. Apply pre-emergent to beds.
  • If the soil is not overly wet you can transfer, plant or divide perennials.
  • Plant spring pansies for color.
  • Ornamental planting beds can be fertilized for slow release of fertilizers. Ground covers should also be fertilized as well.
  • Start monitoring the grounds for pests.
  • On the first Sunday of April reset your automatic timers on outdoor lighting. Check the bulbs and replace them if necessary.
  • On the second week of April you can turn on your irrigation system. You should also check if all zones and/or heads are working properly.
  • Hardscapes should be checked for damage from the winter weather. Make repairs as necessary.

May To August Checklist

May

  • Mowing should be done as frequently as necessary.
  • Weed control can be done during cooler temperatures when weeds grow actively. This should be a perfect time to spray selected areas with herbicide.
  • Over-seed the lawn.
  • Apply the second batch of fertilizer on the last week of May.
  • Prepare annual flower beds and summer annuals. Weed the beds as necessary.
  • Hedging plants should be sheared.
  • Begin watering the landscape more before temperatures rise. If the greens goes dormant it will much more water to restore it rather than the ¼ that it takes to keep it green.

June

  • Mowing should still be continued.
  • If temperatures reach mid 80s stop using selective herbicides.
  • Fertilize your summer annuals.
  • Flower and ornamental beds should be mulch to avoid dryness.
  • Perennials should be pinched back, dead headed and staked.
  • Maintenance pruning should be done for the ornamental plants.
  • Form and finalize your plans for a Fall Landscaping Project.

July

  • Skip mowing schedules only if the lawn is either not growing or is excessively dried out.
  • Third batch of fertilizer application on the first week of July.
  • Perennials should be fertilized for the second and last time for the season.
  • Perennials and ornamental beds should periodically be watered in a long, deep, slow watering system for the water to soak deep into the earth.

August

  • If there is drought, stop mowing the lawn otherwise continue doing so.
  • Prune plants as needed.
  • Perennials and ornamentals should still be watered.
  • New grass seed should be installed after the third week.
  • Form and finalize your plans for next year’s Landscaping Project.

September To December Checklist

September

  • The fourth batch of fertilizer should be applied on the first week.
  • Selective herbicides can be applied again to the turf for unwanted weeds.
  • Install fall annual color by mid-September
  • Prune and shear plants for the last time this season.

October

  • Continue with the regular mowing schedule.
  • Start your fall clean up by removing all leaf, plant debris and diseased plant parts.
  • Perennials and other plants that need insulation during winter need new mulch to be installed.
  • Water landscapes plants well until the ground is frozen.
  • Dig and store tender perennials, tubers and summer bulbs.
  • Divide perennials and reduce unwanted plants in bed.
  • Prune back roses. Cover root flares or trunks with mulch.
  • Drain pipes and blow out irrigation systems.
  • Spring flowering bulbs can be installed by the end of the month.
  • Spray anti-desiccant on plants.
  • Fertilize trees and shrubs by using balanced fertilizers.
  • Turn water off to exterior features by the second week.
  • Inspect outdoor lights, replace and repair if necessary.
  • On the last Sunday of October Daylight Saving Time ends so automatic timers should be reset.
  • If you have a pond, it needs to be cleaned out.

November

  • You can continue to cut the grass until it stops growing.
  • Start installing winter burlap screening to protect plants from the winds and temperatures below 50°F.
  • The fifth and last application of fertilizer should be done by the second week of the month.
  • Cut down perennial beds after several killing frosts.
  • Clear up any leaves left behind in the landscape.
  • Check the catch basins, drainages and window wells.
  • Soil pH level should be checked.
  • Hoses and other gardening equipments should be stored and put away properly.

December

  • Clean remaining leaves in the landscape
  • Remove fall annual flowers after they have declined.

For more information about lawn care services you can visit at www.tru-serve.com.

]]>
http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/landscape-maintenance-checklist/feed/ 0
Roof Inspection and Maintenance http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/roof-inspection-and-maintenance/ http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/roof-inspection-and-maintenance/#comments Wed, 19 Mar 2014 19:16:05 +0000 http://www.tru-serve.com/?p=2272 Roof Inspection And MaintenanceThe roof over our heads is one of the parts of a structure that we depend so much upon and yet have a very few list of requirements. Most of the time we just want the roof in our homes and properties to have no leaks, last longer and look good. Those things are achievable but only through regular inspection and maintenance of your roofs. The main priority here is to make sure that the roof gets inspected as soon as possible if you have not done it in a long while and have it done professionally in a regular schedule. The inspection can prevent future problems from occurring and the small repairs here and there could avert incurring huge repair bills.

Roof inspection is not a difficult feat however if you are not a fan of climbing on top of roofs you can always contact a building maintenance specialist to do the job for you. If you are planning to do the inspection on your own, it is important to remember that the roofing industry and those that are related to it are continuously ranked as one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. Climbing a rooftop and inspecting it is not something that you should take lightly since a lot of professional roofers do get injured every year. Safety precautions should be observed if you are willing to take the task into your own hands and make sure that you are physically capable of doing so without risking injury.

Things to consider while doing a roof inspection

Roof and the Local Flora

Asphalt roof shingles (the component of the roof that protects your wood roof from the extreme change of weather and rain) and trees that hover over the roof is not a very good combination. This scene will require more regular roof maintenance compared to those that does not have the same situation. The leaves that are shed by trees have the tendency to gather up and clog parts of the roof you would want rain water to flow freely.
Check for any tree limbs that might be poking the roof. At first they might seem harmless however with stiff wind blows, we can never be too sure that it will not inflict any damage. So just to reign on safe side, over-hanging tree limbs should be trimmed back.

Roof and Debris

Inspect the roof floor if it has any other particular debris together with bunched up leaves. The collection of said debris and leaves will pave a way for water to collect in some parts of the roof and the moisture can ultimately breakdown the shingles on your roof. Additionally the group of debris will eventually deter the proper flow of water away from your roof gutters and the roof itself. In worst case scenarios you will notice leaks coming from joints, chimneys and joints that are protected by the roof flashings (Roof flashings are the sheets of metal used to cover the joints and openings of the roof).

Roof Shingles

The roof is like the layers of our skin. The first layer is the roof shingles followed by a thick layer of roof felt that is made up of tar paper to assure that the roof remains dry. The roof shingles and roof felt are the most basic components that protect the wood roof from outside elements. Once on the roof, you would have to check if any shingles have come loose. If you found any that have loosen up you can fix it with some roofing cement applied at the underside of the lose shingle. Damaged and/or missing shingles will have to be replaced because that will leave your roof vulnerable.

Gutters

This is pretty much easy to inspect. You will have to check if there are any collection of leaves and debris inside of the gutter and have some water run through the downspout to check if there are any obstructions.

Molds and Algae

Look for any signs of discoloration or dark streaks on your roof especially when they are on the side that does not receive lots of sunshine or are in constant shade. If you do spot some it might mean that you may have a problem with mold or algae. In this case it is always best to hire a specialist to investigate how bad the damage is.

Leaks

The easiest way to check for leaks is for you to go to the attic and check for any dark spots on the ceiling. The goal here is to spot small leaks and prevent them from getting bigger. This process might be tedious at some point however it extends the life of the roof and limits the amount and time spent on repairing the roof.

For more information on building maintenance you can contact us and we can give you a free estimate.

]]>
http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/roof-inspection-and-maintenance/feed/ 0
Why is Building Maintenance Important? http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/why-is-building-maintenance-important/ http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/why-is-building-maintenance-important/#comments Wed, 12 Mar 2014 18:33:40 +0000 http://www.tru-serve.com/?p=2266 Building MaintenanceBuilding Maintenance will always be an important aspect of any successful business. From churches, hotels, manufacturing and industrial warehouses, office buildings to private homes all of which have reaped the benefits of seeking the help of building maintenance professionals. Most people see it as a luxury however you can never really undermine its true value and how necessary it is. Businesses cannot function well if office structures are unstable, equipments are not properly maintained or if the space is unsanitary. Building maintenance addresses the “what, when, where, who, why and how” of maintenance activities. It also illustrates what could go wrong in a building, how to address the possible or occurring issue and how to get things right the first time. Ultimately, the goal is to lessen the expenditures allotted to running a building over its lifetime rather than to build it.

A basic facilities maintenance program is constituted of plumbing, electronic controls and instrumentation, building codes and blueprints reading, hydraulics, general repair and heating, ventilation and air conditioning repairs. A professional assessment of the internal and external structure is also rendered during the maintenance program.

Why do you need building maintenance checkup?

  • Safety of your Tenants. A maintenance checkup assures that the building and/or property is free of hazards. A professional will check every parameter, point out what needs to be fix and what needs to be done.
  • Regular maintenance. All buildings and properties suffer some form of wear and tear. All components of a building can be made to last longer if a preventive maintenance plan is laid in place.
  • Regular inspections. All problems start out small and then it escalates, before you know it has turned into a huge expensive mess. However when regular inspections are done small problems can be easily detected and proper actions can be taken in time.
  • Regular unit inspections. This part allows you to plan out future repairs and take control of the total expenditure that goes to fixing HVAC units. It also lessens the burden of having to deal with complaints about minor details that could have easily been solved.
  • Healthy resources. A poorly maintained building is a sure way of draining your resources. Aside from that, the building will seriously become impaired compared to well-maintained building that runs smoothly.

When Choosing a Building Maintenance Company

It is always an advantage for company owners to state what their expectations are and that the building maintenance company being hired is in agreement with the plans. Different professionals will focus on various aspects of maintenance and most will make use of state-of-the-art techniques to get the job done. Each project will be tackled differently since like any other fundamental structure buildings have different needs and techniques to be applied.

]]>
http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/why-is-building-maintenance-important/feed/ 0
Apartment Turnover Checklist http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/apartment-turnover-checklist/ http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/apartment-turnover-checklist/#comments Wed, 05 Mar 2014 19:18:20 +0000 http://www.tru-serve.com/?p=2256 Apartment Turnover ChecklistIn the competitive world of investment properties such as rental spaces, condominiums, apartment complexes, houses and hotels the first impression makes the most impact. However with every change of tenants come different physical damages done to your investments. Over the years these damages can accumulate and possibly lessen the property’s market value. The cost of repairs when accumulated can be more than what you originally paid for the building itself later on. So, we at Tru-Serve Building Maintenance have prepared an Apartment Turnover Checklist to help investment owners and tenants lessen the cost of repairs down the line.

Unit Turnover Checklist

Floors

  • Mop and wax all wood floors
  • Clean or shampoo carpets
  • Remove stains and wipe clean all floor surfaces. Wax the surfaces afterwards.
  • The base cove moldings must be wiped clean.

Baths

  • Clean toilets, sinks, toilets, shower cubicles and baths.
  • Make sure that there are no molds on the tiles.

Plumbing

  • Check all drains in the kitchen and bathrooms
  • Check kitchen sink, bath tub and shower faucets if they are working properly
  • Toilets seats should be replaced as needed
  • Try to detect if they are any leaks from the pipes, faucets and shower cap

Walls

  • Fill out holes on the dry walls with plaster filler or some spackling compound. Paint over the spot filled.
  • Repaint the walls if needed.

Windows, Porches and Patios

  • Wash all windows.
  • Make sure that shades, curtains or blinds are properly working and are in good condition. These should either be cleaned or replaced.
  • Traverse curtain rods should be fully functional. Replace or repair, as needed.
  • Clean patio door tracks and decks.
  • Patios and porches should be cleaned out.

Counters, Cabinets, Shelving, Counters

  • Closet doors should open and close properly.
  • Draws and cabinets should close and open properly.
  • Shelves should be clean and check if it they are stable.
  • The interiors of cabinets, draws and closets should be cleaned. Their door tracks should also be wiped out.
  • Clean mirrors and the medicine cabinets.
  • Counters should also be wiped.
  • Clean all sills, woodworks and door jams.

Appliances

  • Clean dishwasher.
  • Clean hood fan and filter.
  • Set oven and refrigerators to required temperature for cleaning.
  • Stove tops and oven should be cleaned.
  • Soak stove and refrigerator parts should it be required. Reassemble afterwards.
  • Check if disposal are fully operational by running ice cold water and some cubes.
  • Check that the HVAC units are fully operative.

Electrical

  • Check outlets and switches for any burn marks and/or if they are still functioning well.
  • All outlets and switches plates should be wiped clean.
  • Clean bath lights.
  • Check door bell
  • Light fixtures and lamp shades should be checked and cleaned
  • Check all G.F.I. outlets for functionality

Random Stuff

  • No trash got left behind and was properly disposed.
  • Change the locks and the exterior doors. Keys should also be updated.
  • Tools should be removed.
  • Lock the apartment and keys should be delivered to the office.

This is just a simple list of what needs to be done whenever you do an apartment turn over. However, If you find yourself looking for a one call apartment turnover solution – repairs, painting, carpet services, cleaning… the works – you can contact Tru-Serve Building Maintenance any time.

]]>
http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/apartment-turnover-checklist/feed/ 0
How To Clean, Lubricate And Change The Belt Of A Furnace http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/how-to-clean-lubricate-and-change-the-belt-of-a-furnace/ http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/how-to-clean-lubricate-and-change-the-belt-of-a-furnace/#comments Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:11:21 +0000 http://www.tru-serve.com/?p=2248 Clean Or Change Furnace FilterFor most equipment their largest foe is dirt. Especially for furnaces accumulated dirt can clog up, waste fuel and severely deplete the equipment’s efficiency. Dirt also targets the three major components of any HVAC system.

To make sure that your system is working up to par we will give you the general methods on how to clean, lubricate and adjust the belt of a furnace.

Cleaning a Furnace

  • The furnace filter should be cleaned or replaced at the start of the heating season and once a month during the period of continuous use.
  • In checking the filter you just need to pull it out and hold it up to the light. If the filter is clogged, replace it regardless of how long you have been using it.
  • Cleaning the blower. This is one of the most critical steps especially when your equipment has a squirrel-cage fan because it has more tendencies to get dirt stuck. To clean it, you will have to remove the panel that covers the filter to gain access to the blower. You can gain access to the inside of the blower by sliding out the fan unit, which is held back by screws. Remember to mark the wire connections so you can reassemble the unit correctly later on.
  • Using a toothbrush, clean every spaces and fan blades. Afterwards, use a vacuum cleaner hose to remove the remaining dirt and debris that got loosened by using the brush.
  • Wipe the motor housing clean to prevent the buildup of heat in the motor. Make sure to vacuum the belts and pulleys.

Lubricating the Furnace Motor

Most furnace motors nowadays are sealed and permanently lubricated by the manufacturers and does not require much attention. However, now and then, you will notice that above the bearings near the motor shaft are ports that are covered oil which only means one thing; it has to be lubricated annually.

To do so, you have to apply two to three drops of ten-weight non-detergent motor oil to each port. Remember not to over lubricate.

You must also check if the blower shafts have oil ports, if it does, just follow the same procedure. This too should be done annually.

If instead of oil ports you find some grease cups on the blower, you will have to remove the screw caps that hold the cups and fill the cup with bearing lubricant. The bearing lubricant are available at automotive and hardware stores.

Replacing a Furnace Belt

After going through the process of cleaning the blower and lubricating motor, it is time to check the belt of the furnace. This belt is located between the blower and the motor. If the belt is work out or if it breaks it can be replaced with a new belt just by using some basic hand tools.

  • Access the panel of the furnace by removing the screws that helps mount the panel to the unit. This can be done with a screwdriver. You can then take the panel off and set it aside.
  •  This time loosen the mounting bolts that secure the motor to the furnace with a socket set. You will have to push the motor towards the blower gently. You can then remove the damaged belt.
  • Replace the blower belt. Mount it over the blower pulley and next over the motor pulley. You have to pull the motor with one hand and apply tension to the belt. Then tighten the two mounting bolts on the motor’s base.
  • Make sure to check the tension on the belt by pushing the belt between the two pulleys. If the belt is loose or too tight you can loosen the motor mounting and readjust the tension before you tighten the bolts again. To test that you have the proper tension, the belt should deflect about half an inch if you apply pressure on it.
  • Replace the access panel and tighten the mounting screws. Then turn on the breaker, and test the operation of the blower.

For more information you can visit us at Tru-serve.com where our maintenance service does more than just fix your office equipment.

]]>
http://tru-serve.com/maintenance/how-to-clean-lubricate-and-change-the-belt-of-a-furnace/feed/ 0