10 Areas You Should Check at Your Church Before Winter Starts
Summer fun has come to a close! It’s time for light jackets and flannels. Your church should be preparing for the fall months if you have not already done so. While the weather is still nice, there are some things to consider when you are maintaining and repairing your church facilities:
1. Walk the Property
Take a walk around and through your facilities and take notes of areas of concern. This assessment provides you with a general idea of repairs needed to the church facilities.
2. Landscape
Completing seasonal tasks such as cutting grass, trimming hedges, raking leaves, etc., will help ensure your church is pleasing to the eyes of your members and the community. Where might water collect to form ice? Be especially mindful of areas used as walkways to prevent slip-and-falls.
3. Facilities Accessibility
Ensuring your parking area is clean, well-labeled, and properly lit will improve the overall appearance of the church. Also taking time to fix steps, railings, and concrete cracks on walkways or ramps tells your members and visitors that their safety is a top priority.
4. Roofing and Gutter
Either from a ladder or from the ground you should examine the roof of your facilities. Gutters should be cleared of debris prior to and after the leaves fall. Be sure to take proper safety precautions when working on a ladder.
5. Windows
Check windows for cracks, separation, weather stripping, drafts, and proper latching. Take time to clean the interior and exterior windows of the church. Check with your local energy provider about possible window replacement programs to provide your church with energy efficient windows.
6. Equipment Check
Make a plan to examine and perform necessary maintenance on all of your seasonal equipment. Complete repairs where necessary and properly store summer and spring equipment.
7. Winter Equipment
As you put away mild weather items, take out your cold weather supplies, like doormats, shovels, snow salt, heaters, rakes, etc. Make these items readily available for use.
8. Fire Safety and Prevention
Arrange to service or replace fire extinguishers. Your local fire department may be able to help you with this process. Also be sure to check the batteries in all the smoke detectors throughout the church. Replace dying batteries and wipe away dust and debris.
9. Plumbing and Insulation
Check faucets, drains, plumbing and the surrounding insulation for leaks and corrosion. Perform general maintenance and repairs where necessary.
10. Lighting
Take a stroll around the property at dusk. Take note of what time lights come on and ensure that all lights are functioning properly. If streetlights are out be sure to contact your local government agency to have them fixed or replaced.
Caring for your facilities and conducting proper maintenance and repair is a great example of Christian discipleship and stewardship of the gifts and resources God has provided us with.
Take the lead and start this project for your church today. Send us photos using the hashtag #fallchurchchecklist and #uminsure for a chance to be featured on our social media.
This content has been prepared by United Methodist Insurance Company (UMI) for informational purposes only. No article or document may accurately contemplate all possible scenarios or church resources. As such, this information is meant to foster discussion by the individual church and its members to develop a plan tailored to its own circumstances. UMI is providing this information with no warranties or guarantees of any kind and it should not be viewed as legal, financial, or other professional advice. All liability is expressly disclaimed. Any claim examples described herein are general in nature, may or may not be based on actual claims, and are for informational purposes only. Any coverage available for a claim is determined from the facts and circumstances of the claim as well as the terms and conditions of any applicable policy, including any exclusions or deductibles. In the event of a conflict with the content herein, the terms and conditions of any issued policy will control. Individual coverage may vary and may not be available in all states.
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