IMPROVE SATISFACTION & COMPLIANCE:

CLEAN THAT TRASH CHUTE

Daily trash output increases more than twenty-five percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to some estimates. Consider all of the extra food waste, party cleanups, and packaging that gets thrown into the burgeoning trash bin, just like a portly Santa Claus squeezing down the chimney.

Bulky packaging often clogs the chute and blocks the clean flow of garbage into the bin. Then food waste piles on top and splashes along the walls in an oozing mess. Or the trash accumulates so high that garbage blocks the chute. These are all common problems that occur this time of year.

High-rise commercial properties and multifamily residences are the worst offenders. Irregular holiday trash pickups and facility staff vacation schedules compound the problem. If left unchecked, these sanitation problems can create cascading issues for property managers.

Here are some of the top reasons why professionally servicing your trash chute is highly recommended, especially at the beginning of the year.

KEEP PESTS AWAY

Trash chutes are the perfect breeding ground for pests. Cockroaches, flies, maggots, mice, rats, raccoons, and all kinds of other pests thrive in dirty trash environments. These conditions offer everything pests need: food, humidity, darkness, privacy, and accessibility. Roaches and rodents can even use filthy chutes to climb from floor to floor, taking their infestation to a higher level. At the lower level, the area immediately around a dirty trash bin can become a breeding ground for these pests. In no time, a building could be facing a full-blown infestation.

PREVENT ODORS FROM SPREADING

There are more than 30 types of bacteria and biological growths that commonly occur in uncleaned trash chutes. These growths and other accumulated waste thrown down the chute can lead to repulsive odors that permeate the building. Occupants will soon be dealing with the lingering smell of dirty trash. 

DAMAGE CONTROL

If neglected, some trash chutes can start to show serious damage. Corrosive bacteria and acids can line the walls of a dirty trash chute. These elements can destroy protective finishes and weaken fasteners, leading to structural damage of the chute. Not only will you be dealing with pests and odor, but you will eventually have to replace the chute. Regulations also require properly functioning discharge doors, which limit the spread of odors and serve as fire breaks between floors. 

IMPROVE AIR QUALITY

While smell can be an indicator, unclean garbage chutes can create poor air quality throughout a building. Airborne spores and mold can develop in this environment and spread from floor to floor with each opening of a chute door. Toxic conditions can lead to illness among building occupants and visitors. Also consider tenant satisfaction and occupancy retention. Less tenant turnover leads to higher operating income for property companies.

UPHOLD SAFETY

Damaged chute doors are a common problem, especially among older buildings. Doors that do not close completely can offer a permanent passageway to unwanted odors, molds, and pests. Unclosed chute doors can also create fire hazards and leave your building vulnerable to safety code violations and fines. NFPA 82 requires an annual inspection and certification of chute intake and discharge doors.

Since 1987, CAM Property Services has provided a full range of building and common area maintenance for customers throughout California. Professional trash chute services include free inspections, steam cleaning, high-pressure washing, chute repair, full replacement, door maintenance, eco-friendly enzyme solutions, innovative odor blockers, and industry safe practices.

After a month of especially hard use, now is the time to refresh your building’s trash facilities. Call the property professionals now at CAM Property Services to discuss and evaluate your specific cleaning needs.

For the residents who live there, a multifamily building is more than just a place to dwell — it’s home. When one thinks of home they think of safety and security, but your property could be riddled with potential risks.

They can exist anywhere, from high traffic areas littered with filth to unclean trash chutes contributing to poor air quality throughout the building. Fortunately, you don’t have to tackle these problems alone. CAM Property Services can help increase the overall wellness, cleanliness and health of your property inside and out.

DAY PORTER SERVICES

Identifying potential problems before they occur is the key to prevention, and it requires a knowledgeable team of professionals with experience in floor care, maintenance, janitorial, handyman services, and property inspection.

With CAM Property Services, you get that and more: A Property Pro who can tend to everything your building needs — including things you probably haven’t considered. Our highly visible and responsive day porters also help put tenants at ease by increasing the safety of your property. Peace of mind like that is priceless, and CAM can provide those services without going over your budget.

ENHANCED CLEANING

Residents rightly expect the building in which they live be kept up to a certain standard. Fortunately, CAM’s Property Pros are Global Biorisk Advisory Council certified to help you do just that: keep your building up to snuff.

Our experts in the field identify high traffic where diseases can spread and neutralize them before an outbreak occurs. We provide multiple tiers of cleaning services, from preventative measures to sterilizing confirmed infection zones.

TRASH CHUTE MAINTENANCE

Another aspect of your property that contributes to the well-being of your building is trash chutes. Maintaining your chutes is not only mandatory to avoid safety code violations, but it can also contribute to a more sanitary atmosphere that your residents and their guests will truly appreciate. With CAM Property Services, you can have cleaner, more efficient trash chutes and by extension, cleaner air and less unwanted odor, at a price you can afford.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to help revitalize your multifamily property to make it healthier, cleaner, and happier. Contact CAM Property Services today and let us get to work.

Have you ever thought about what happens when the doors of a trash chute are opened?  It’s definitely something you should be thinking about and be aware of. Recent studies have discovered the inner surface of a chute can carry more than 30 different biological and bacterial growths. If a trash chute doesn’t receive proper and timely cleaning care, all of these germs and bacteria become airborne every time the chute doors are opened. These bacteria carry all kinds of illnesses and infections throughout the building, potentially affecting occupants.

Harmful Pathogens

Trash chutes are breeding grounds for some harmful fungal pathogens; for example: E. Coli, Salmonella, Legionella, Stahylococci Aureus and Pseudomonas. According to Environmental Research & Restoration, the lack of trash chute cleaning is potentially responsible for the increase in frequency of doctor’s office visits. Many pathogenic molds have the ability to inhabit the respiratory tract and become life-threatening. Items found in trash chutes contain organic waste ingredients, a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and disease-causing organisms to thrive and spread throughout the building.

Fire Hazards

Property owners and managers face building violations, odor, and fire hazard risks on a daily basis. The potential possibility for fire risks is the most dangerous. Dirty or substandard trash chutes can cause all of these conditions, although they are entirely avoidable and affordable within a community’s budget. Grease, sludge, and grime build-up, faulty trash chute doors, and clogged air vents are all genuine threats.  When gooey residue builds up, it prevents the chute doors from closing and can even ignite. If, during a fire, the trash chute doors do not close properly, a wind tunnel effect is created, funneling the fire up and down the building. The risk of fire is reduced when a chute is functioning properly and the chute doors are safety-approved. Your building is in violation of fire and safety codes if your chute doors don’t close or latch automatically. In order to keep a chute functioning properly, grease and sludge and grime build-up must be removed on a regular basis; otherwise you risk damaging the components of the chute which occur from build-up, therefore preventing the doors from closing. Furthermore, the collection of goo on the inside of the chute has been proven to be flammable even at temperatures as low as 180 degrees. It’s very important to eliminate risks of a flash explosion by keeping the chute clean and properly maintained. Chute doors that don’t close automatically can create a wind tunnel and increase the severity of a fire.

Cleaning Schedule

Trash chutes should be cleaned a minimum of twice a year, preferably in the summer and winter.  It is also recommended that you clean your trash chutes before and after major holidays; tenants welcome a cleaning in anticipation of holiday entertaining and an increase of visitors. A top notch cleaning process should also include maintenance and repair services.

A properly cleaned trash chute should include the following steps listed below:

Cleaning Process

■ Pre-treat interior chute walls and doors with biodegradable enzyme solution to de-grease, disinfect and deodorize

■ Pressure wash interior chute walls and doors at up to 3,000 psi to strip away grime

■ Steam clean trash room floor and walls

■ Service options: Trash room odor control blocks and water reclamation (important for water conservation during this severe drought or when you have a lack of drainage)

A properly cleaned trash chute leads to more than just a safe and cleaner living environment, it also eliminates breeding a breeding ground for vermin, neutralizes odors, and reduces the possibility of resident complaints.

Listed below are several basic maintenance and repair services associated with a properly maintained trash chute.

Maintenance and Repair Services Offered by CAM Services

■ Inspection of intake and discharge door each cleaning visit

■ Repair and replacement of worn hardware performed by trained technicians

■ Refurbish your existing trash chutes and doors to bring them up to code

The seemingly small task of cleaning and maintain a trash chute is more important than some would think and can be good for your business.  Putting forth the effort to keep your tenants healthy and happy increases the likelihood that they will stay in your building longer and reduces your liability.

As the world continues to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, many commercial building owners and shopping center managers are feeling optimistic for a return to pre-pandemic conditions. And with that expectation comes an emerging trend in which tenants are seeking out new locations that offer superior leases and amenities.

We call it, “The Great Relocation.”

After successfully weathering a global pandemic, now is not the time to get left behind. Restoring your property to its pre-COVID shine should be of utmost importance in order to retain your current tenants and gain new ones.

Luckily for you, CAM Property Services is here to help. Our property experts perform an array of critical services that can help bring your building back to life without breaking the bank. From making a strong first impression with superior outdoor maintenance to keeping your interiors looking as good as new, CAM has you covered.

EXTERIOR SERVICES

People make first impressions, and so do places. This is why properly maintaining the exterior of your building is so critical. Visitors form an impression long before they step inside. Is it clean? Is there paint chipping away? Is the landscaping up to date? Is the parking lot well lit? Are there potholes?

All these elements should be considered before introducing a potential new tenant to your property.

Cigarette butts, glass, trash bags, and other debris aren’t just eye sores — they’re hazards that can cost you a tenant in the long run. CAM can help prevent this from becoming an issue with our parking lot sweeping services. We don’t just make your parking lot feel safer, we’ll make it more appealing. Additionally, CAM can haul illegal dumping from your property.

Other headaches like damaged facia from sign removal, old signage, vandalism, and neglected landscaping can further damage your property’s image and value. CAM’s experienced team can handle these problems and others. From using nutrient-rich mulch in landscaping to repairing damaged areas surrounding the building, we’ll have your property looking its best in no time.

INTERIOR SERVICES

Once potential tenants are inside, the real sales pitch begins. Having a clean space to showcase can make or break a deal. CAM can help smooth the transition from one tenant to the next through our vacancy prep services. These services include cleaning the interior and exterior of your vacancy, shelling out the space, and smoking out the windows to effectively showcase your property.

After a new tenant has signed on, keeping them happy is paramount. An attentive area manager can do just that. CAM’s experts have a keen eye for floor care, maintenance, and handyman services. Both tenants and customers will feel at ease knowing that your property is well maintained and monitored.

Getting your property back to pre-pandemic levels can feel like a major challenge. With help from CAM, you can make your property appeal to new tenants while retaining your current ones. From maintaining your parking lot to keeping your interiors looking as good as new, CAM is your property management partner.

Call us today to get started at (800) 576-3050.

When it comes to managing trash collection at a facility, good logistics can make a huge difference. Small problems compound easily when taken to a large scale at places such as a multifamily apartment, high-rise office, hotel, or sports stadium. Trash chutes can make a big impact on many levels. They can improve facility cleanliness, air quality, labor costs, and even workplace safety.

Multifamily residences are unique in this category as tenants of all ages are most likely to be accessing the trash chute door. Safety is a top priority. The first step is to make sure that the trash chute was professionally installed. Facility managers should also regularly schedule crews to clean and maintain trash chute equipment properly to prevent injury or harm to users, as well as financial liability.

There are regulations that require proper inspection and maintenance of trash chute systems for a variety of health and safety reasons. Although concern is far more than a fire safety issue, the main authority is NFPA 82 (National Fire Protection Association). Local laws may have regional variances, so be sure to check. A reputable commercial contractor should be familiar with related building codes and annual inspection requirements.

Another code consideration is that the installation complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). There are requirements about aspects such as accessibility, door handle hardware, height, and enclosure space. Chutes not in compliance may require retrofitting or stiff penalties may be assessed. A CASp inspector can help identify and avoid these costly problems.

Industrial trash chutes face the same regulations, although they are typically confined to “employees only” areas accessed by professional cleaning staff. Places like office buildings, commercial complexes, hotels, and assisted senior living facilities often have trash chutes for hauling away large volumes of garbage quickly and easily.

Hauling trash indoors in this manner can minimize odors in common areas, hallways, elevators, and stairwells. It can also prevent slips from leakage and other employee injuries from hauling trash.

These industrial chutes are typically installed during initial building construction, however, there are methods for installation in existing buildings. Experienced and licensed construction companies can provide more detailed information.

Keep in mind that many large construction companies shy away from this type of work, so a reputable, specialist construction company may be the ideal partner.

A sports stadium is well suited for trash chute system installation. Volumes of baseball, football, basketball, soccer, and hockey fans generate tons of trash at each sporting event. Their unique building structure allows for trash chute installations before, during, and after primary construction.

Trash chutes often deposit trash directly into lower-level dumpsters or trash compactors. This convenience can save time and labor costs. It also reduces the number of times trash is handled directly, in a time when cleanliness is at the forefront.

While this can be convenient it also poses a problem. Combustibles and other hazardous materials commonly cause fires in trash areas. To prevent the quick spread of fire through these conduits, fire safety closures must be properly installed at the end of the chute. Upper-level access doors must also be fire-rated.

Chutes are either rectangular or round. The shape may be determined by construction constraints or the manufacturer’s equipment. However, when presented with the option, one should consider the benefits of a round trash chute. Much like the infamous query “Why are manhole covers round?” – a round chute is more likely to prevent oversized items from becoming wedged as they cannot be rotated for a different fit as rectangular chutes allow.

Modern trash chutes may also come with extra features. Deceleration tracks and noise dampeners are common. Built-in cleaning systems are also prevalent, dispersing cleaning agents and sprays to help alleviate internal grime and odors. However, cleaning personnel may still be required for more extensive power washing and external hardware.

If you are considering the benefits of installing a trash chute or need professional maintenance on existing equipment, the best resource for referrals may be your janitorial or facility maintenance crew. They are likely to already offer those services or work in conjunction with those who do. For installation try specialist commercial construction companies that are familiar with industrial buildings and local codes.

Commercial trash chutes are more than a useful convenience, they can provide significant savings on labor and accident costs. Larger commercial facilities should consider the installation and regular maintenance of trash chute systems to improve the health and safety of those around.

Written in conjunction with CAM Property Services, a facility maintenance company offering a broad range of property services throughout Southern California.

The construction of linen chutes for commercial use is a modern necessity for an operation such as a senior living facility, hotel, hospitality business, multifamily high-rise, or industrial facility. These convenient conduits can be installed inside internal building shafts or as external structures. While relatively simple in design they feature several elements that require construction expertise.

Placing linen chute access points on upper floors allow for the easy transport of dirty laundry down to a central location, often directly into the laundry facility. Dirty and odorous linen can avoid elevators and other common areas. This also prevents potential injury from moving heavy laundry down long hallways or stairs.

Linen chutes are classified as gravity chutes because they are non-mechanical, relying on basic physics to move the load to a lower floor. The main vertical chute is either round or rectangular, traversing several floors.

Building codes and compliance are the top considerations for new laundry chute construction. Proper installation demands mechanisms are in place for the safety of the building and its occupants.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has strict guidelines about linen chute equipment. The governing codes in NFPA 82 include section 11.2.2, which states “Waste and linen chutes and transport systems including chute intake and discharge doors, shall be inspected and maintained not less than annually in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions.”

Fire suppression devices are important features as fire can travel and spread quickly through open conduits such as chutes. The first safety device is a sliding closure at the bottom level. Normally in the open position, it is held in place by a pin assembly that discharges under high heat. This automatically closes the shaft to prevent air, smoke, and fire from spreading rapidly if the laundry room is the point of origin.

Laundry chutes are accessed at each upper floor through hinged metal doors. These doors are typically fire-rated at 90-120 minutes, depending on local codes. They may have other fire suppression features, such as sprinklers at each floor level.

Chutes also have child-safe latches to prevent accidental opening. Doors are self-closing and openings are commonly limited to 18”. All door heights and hardware must be ADA compliant.

Clearly the maintenance and inspection of linen chute systems are important. If you have maintenance questions, repair needs, or concerns about compliance inspections, a good place to start is your facility services team. They may provide this service or can refer you to a reliable source.

Regular cleaning of linen chutes is also essential to maintain hygiene and a good working condition. Even if your system has an internal self-cleaning function, the exterior doors, hardware, and hopper require supplemental cleaning to stop contamination and prevent corrosion.

Linen chutes may appear similar to ventilation shafts but they are typically made of a thicker gauge sheet metal to withstand the weight of heavy linen, which may also be wet. There are other structural elements to account for the heavy load, such as deceleration tracks, braces, and reinforcement at impact points.

Constructed of stainless steel or aluminized steel, long shafts are welded together. The interiors are smooth and fitted to prevent damage to falling linen. Noise dampeners are also employed to reduce banging and ringing sounds. Rooftop exhaust ports are also essential.

While basic in appearance, there are many components that require professional expertise in the construction, custom fabrication, and installation of linen chutes. Incorporating them into existing facilities demands knowledge of commercial construction methods and practices.

Linen chute manufacturers may offer installation but can be unfamiliar with building construction challenges. Chute projects often fall below the minimum threshold required to interest a large construction company. Therefore, the ideal sweet spot for linen chute installation is a small construction company with the industry expertise and flexibility to meet your needs.

A company such as Omnia Pacific Construction is ideally suited to install your linen chute system in California. With decades of experience in the commercial space, they have worked with assisted living facilities, multifamily apartments, hotels, and industrial warehouses to bring convenient and cost-effective upgrades to their facilities. Call 800-974-4515 today to find out what they can do for your property.

Although they are commercial properties, multifamily facilities fall into a unique category with regard to upkeep. Unlike most commercial properties for business use, these properties are occupied continuously. Multifamily maintenance requires a wider range of skills and resident diplomacy, whether a high-rise apartment building, sprawling garden style community, condominiums, or townhouse community.

Multifamily properties typically have more paying tenants to keep satisfied. The demands on common areas and amenities also tend to be higher. The lifestyles of the occupants tend to follow less rigid patterns of behavior, whereas business tenants more closely follow a uniform code of behavior.

Working with a property services company that has a cooperative team across multiple disciplines will save busy property managers time, money, and frustration. Imagine the convenience of contacting just one point-person for nearly all property needs such as landscaping, janitorial, power washing, garbage area cleanup, trash chute repair, virus disinfecting, ADA compliance, and parking garage sweeping.

General maintenance is the first concern for servicing multifamily properties. As property occupants are staying home more and paying attention to sanitizing and cleaning procedures these days, a more professional standard of cleaning is demanded. Janitorial services are less behind-the-scenes than they may have been in the past.

Pristine common areas are the first key to making tenants happy. Indoor cleaning may require extra attention on frequent touch point and high traffic areas. Community rooms and fitness centers require additional sanitization. Expert carpet cleaning and floor care can extend the life of your asset. Day porter services also provide a higher level of concierge service.

Common areas are the most visible and important to keep clean. Lobbies, entryways, elevators, stairwells, parking garages, and walkways that are not maintained can become eyesores and liability hazards. A company that properly repairs and maintains trash chutes and garbage collection areas can reduce odors, disease, and safety hazards from properties.

Professional landscaping provides a great first impression for prospective residents and visitors and can add value. Exterior maintenance also covers a lot of ground and includes services such as hard surface steam cleaning, parking lot sweeping, and underground parking maintenance, to name a few. Although these areas may be lower profile, they are equally important to maintain.

Perimeter inspections, aerial drone video inspections, hauling large illegally dumped items, graffiti removal, alleyway cleanup, and handyman services should also be offered by a full-service company.

Hiring a good team that recognizes preventative maintenance issues is also valuable. The more skills a facility services team brings, the more qualified they are to identify and report potential problems. They can prevent small abnormalities from escalating into large, full-blown problems that create headaches and unwanted expenses.

This is the type of depth you should look for when hiring a company for multifamily maintenance. A strong team can save property managers considerable time and expense in the long run. Your property will provide an enhanced living experience and tenants will be routinely happier.

If you are an owner or manager of multifamily real estate in California, you should call upon CAM Property Services. From now on all your multifamily property needs could be handled with a phone call to just one company. They are a premier provider, trusted by many of the top residential property companies in the state since 1987.

Call 800-576-3050 to get started today.