Fall building maintenance shortlist

1) Summer fans

A) Clean the inside of the fan and shutters with either a broom or compressed air to remove any dust and dirt.

B) Seal the fan to prevent cold air from entering the building. There are many ways to do this: replace the shutter with an insulated panel, put plastic sheeting over or behind the shutter, etc. One of the best ways to seal large fans is a reusable fan cover. These covers fit the outside on the cone and attach with a bungee cord. Click for sizes and pricing.

2) Pit fans

A) Unlike the shutters on the summer fans, the grime on pit shutters will probably require soap and water to clean thoroughly.

B) Check for any gaps occurring between the pit pump-out covers and the concrete wall. Gaps allow the air to short-circuit instead of being pulled from the pit.

3) Air inlets

A) Adjust the weights on gravity-style inlets to increase their resistance and replace any missing or damaged baffles.

B) Put the actuated inlets in their close position and adjust the ropes and cables to remove any gaps.

4) Curtains

A) Raise the curtain and adjust any ropes to correct any sags.

B) Adjust the curtain until the top overlaps the opening by four to six inches.

C) Reattach any loose curtain pockets. Repair any holes or tears with curtain tape or glue. Here's a link to a DIY curtain repair video.

D) Adjust the emergency drops, so the length of travel is restricted.

E) You can increase the R-value of an uninsulated curtain by adding Tempshield, a lightweight bubble type of insulation.

F) Grease the curtain machine and large corner pulleys.

5) Heaters

A) Open the access doors and blow out the interior of the heater with compressed air.

B) Check supply hoses and regulators by applying soapy water with a spray bottle and looking for bubbles that would indicate a gas leak.

C) Start the heater to check the ignition and verify hot air is being exhausted. You can source heater repair parts by clicking this link.

6) Building

A) Sweep building soffits clear of dirt and debris.

B) Seal any cracks or openings in the building structure with spray foam.

7) Water systems

A) Shut off outdoor faucets.

B) Turn solenoids on sprinkler systems to the off position.

C) Place heat tape and foil on the load-out area.

In addition to this list of basic maintenance tasks, there are several other items to check when the building is empty between turns.

A) Tighten floor fasteners on pen dividers.

B) Check slats and beams for cracks and pitting. See our Field Guide to Concrete Slat Repair and Replacement for detailed information on identifying damage and repairing concrete slats and beams.

C) Completely empty the feed lines. Check the oil level in the auger gear head and grease the anchor bearings.