Hotel Maintenance Checklist

Cycle the keycard, confirm the deadbolt throws fully, and verify the privacy latch swings cleanly. Low battery on RFID locks (Saflok, Onity, Assa Abloy) is the #1 lockout call from the front desk — replace at any sign of slow read, don't wait for failure.

Check window restrictors are intact (life-safety code in most jurisdictions limits opening to 4 inches above the second floor). Look for cracked panes, failed seals showing fog between panes, and torn screens.

Press to test, listen for the alarm, and confirm the indicator LED. Dead batteries on guest-room detectors are the most common fire-marshal citation — log the test date and any battery swap in the room's PM history.

Run heat and cool for 3-5 minutes each, listen for compressor short-cycling, and check the filter. Pull the filter for cleaning or replacement on the quarterly rotation. Note any iced coil, water in the drain pan, or thermostat drift greater than 3°F.

Use a plug-in tester for ground and polarity. Confirm bedside USB ports power up. Bathroom and wet-bar outlets must be GFCI — press TEST and RESET. Replace any scorched, loose, or warm-to-touch device immediately.

Confirm hot water reaches 110-120°F at the fixture within 60 seconds. Check pressure-balance and anti-scald valves — required by code in guest bathrooms. Watch for slow drains as the basin fills.

Listen for a continuously running fill valve (a single phantom flush wastes 200+ gallons a day across a property). Inspect the wax ring perimeter for moisture and any movement at the floor flange.

Cracked grout and failed caulk at the tub-to-tile joint are how rooms develop hidden mold and how water reaches the unit below. Flag any soft spots in flooring or stained ceiling on the floor underneath.

Hold a tissue to the grille — it should hold without falling. Weak exhaust drives mildew on grout and ceilings. Pull the cover quarterly to clean lint buildup from the blade and housing.

Use a probe thermometer, not the dial setting. Mini-fridges drift over time and a unit running at 50°F will spoil any guest-stored items and is a health-code concern if mini-bar stocked.

Run a 30-second water heat cycle in the microwave; brew a half-pot in the coffee maker; descale Keurig units that show slow brew. Replace any frayed cord or cracked carafe immediately.

Check soft-close hinges, drawer slides, and counter seams. Loose pulls and chipped laminate are common downgrades a guest will photograph for a review before they call the front desk.

Press the test button on each emergency fixture and confirm the battery-backed LEDs hold for 30 seconds. NFPA 101 requires monthly 30-second tests and an annual 90-minute load test — log both in the life-safety binder.

Look for lifted seams at thresholds, frayed edges at elevator entries, and stuck debris in the door track. Trip hazards in public corridors are a top general-liability claim category for hotels.

Confirm the day's free chlorine, combined chlorine, pH, and ORP readings are entered. Check the pool lift battery and chair operation — ADA Title III requires a working lift any time the pool is open. Inspect drain covers for VGB compliance.

Pull the safety key on each treadmill, check the belt for fraying, and confirm the emergency stop. Wipe sanitizer dispensers should be full. Tag any cardio piece OOO that shows error codes — a guest injury on a flagged-but-not-tagged unit is a documented liability.

If a defect prevents the room from being sold (broken HVAC, plumbing leak, failed lock, missing detector), it goes OOO in the PMS now. OOS — saleable but with a known minor issue — is logged differently. Don't let a sellable-with-issue room get OOO'd; that costs ADR.

Set the room OOO in Opera, Mews, Cloudbeds, or your PMS with a return-to-service date. Notify the front office manager and revenue manager — pulling inventory at peak occupancy needs a conversation, not a silent status change.

Open a work order in Quore, HotSOS, ALICE, or MaintainX for every defect found, attach photos, and assign priority (guest-impacting vs. cosmetic). Reference the room number and the PM run ID so engineering management can trace defect trends by room.