In this blog, we often talk about the importance of adequate upkeep of commercial property electrical systems. Even ignoring the cost savings that efficient system upgrades can bring, keeping clients and renters of your property happy ensures long-term success. Electrical failures and service disruptions at a commercial property can be devastating, but there are warning signs – more minor electrical issues that aren’t too disruptive but signal looming dangers.
Reasons To Stay On Top Of Your Commercial Electric System
Before discussing what to look out for when dealing with potential electrical failures, we should recap why regular maintenance of commercial property electrical systems is essential.
Safety – Despite residential fires taking the top spot, commercial properties are still at high risk for fires. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, over 100 thousand nonresidential building fires result in thousands of injuries and deaths, as well as almost 4 billion dollars of damage per year.
Cost Savings – As electrical systems age, they lose efficiency and use more energy to do the same amount of work. Lighting and cooling a large office space or apartment complex is a substantial undertaking, and any energy-efficient upgrades available to you should be priority number one to maximize savings.
Code Compliance – Regulators and officials rarely inspect residential houses, and homeowners often perform DIY electrical upgrades that aren’t exactly up to code. However, as a commercial property owner, you are required to keep your properties compliant with local, state, and national regulations.
Warning Signs of Failing Systems and Electrical Failures
It’s not always feasible to inspect every single part of your property’s entire electrical system. Still, the best way to diagnose potential problems and fix them before they get out of hand is to catalog complaints and requests you receive about the property and find patterns that highlight aging parts of a system.
Flickering Lights – An obvious sign of issues under the hood, flickering lights should be fixed as soon as possible. While the root of the problem may simply be old lightbulbs, your property may have issues with the amount of power it can handle, leading to lighting issues. During lighting upgrades, you can also take advantage of the situation and install newer lightbulb models that help property owners save big on total energy costs.
Breaker Trips and Outlet Overloads – In addition to flickering lights, outlets that overload and a breaker that constantly trips are signs that your property’s current electrical system can not meet the demands of the renters in the space. Especially in commercial properties that house many companies – all using computers, printers, TVs, and more – upgrading your system and installing backup power generators are the best ways to keep everyone happy and able to conduct business.
Hot Outlet Covers and Burning Smells – Commercial property fires can be especially dangerous and expensive, and faulty wiring is one of the leading causes of structure fires. If you notice issues or receive complaints about outlets that are hot to the touch, immediately contact electricians to inspect the system and make necessary upgrades.
When you manage a commercial property, you have more on the line than just yourself and your family. To keep your property safe, up to code, and energy efficient, contact Promise Electric today. Promise Electric has served the Sarasota area for decades and is a trusted partner for many residents and businesses.
