Weather is ramping up and hurricane season is predicted to be very active this year in Florida. Preparation is important to protecting your home and loved ones. Hurricane shutters can help you withstand Southwest Florida’s severe weather. They help protect your house from high winds, driving rains, and flying debris. But like with anything, they require routine care and maintenance to keep them in top-notch condition. Proper hurricane shutter maintenance will ensure they work as intended and last decades.
So without further ado, here are a few essential tips for maintaining hurricane shutters to ensure you’re well-prepared for oncoming storms.
1. Storm Shutter Maintenance Routine Inspections
Doing regular inspections of your hurricane shutters will help you identify minor issues and problems. Inspecting your shutters is beneficial because you can identify problems before they become more prominent and more expensive. Hurricane shutters will protect your home, but severe storms can cause wear and tear because the shutters are taking the brunt of the storm’s abuse. Florida’s extreme heat and moisture also can cause issues over time.
Inspect your shutters, making sure you:
- Check for significant rust and corrosion preventing the shutters from working correctly
- Inspect all screws, bolts, and fasteners are secure and rust-free
- Open and close the shutters regularly to check they move smoothly and open/close fully
2. Cleaning and Care
At least once a quarter, use a small brush or vacuum attachment to remove dirt and debris from your hurricane shutters’ tracks and moving parts.
Do they sound a little creaky? A dab of recommended shutter lubricant on the hinges, tracks, and other moving components will ensure smooth operation.
Notice your shutters getting a little dirty? Simple, mild soap and water are perfect for a good clean. Avoid harsh chemicals, like bleach, that could damage and/or corrode the materials.
Learn more about Cleaning Shutters: How to Clean Hurricane Shutters
3. Repairs and Replacements for Damaged Parts
Hurricane shutters are your first defense against debris that could slam into your home during a severe storm. But during a storm your shutters can be damaged by impacts. So timely repairs and replacement of parts are essential. If you discovered damaged or broken parts during your inspection you will want to get your shutters repaired or replaced to ensure they work right. Repairs are usually as simple as a new fastener, but sometimes it requires more involved repairs.
If you are handy you can buy your own Hurricane Shutter Hardware & Parts. Or if you prefer, you can hire a Hurricane Shutter Repair Service in Southwest Florida.
4. Ensuring Proper Installation
This one is something that is not typically included in hurricane shutter maintenance tips articles. However, we run into improperly installed shutters a lot. And if your shutters are not installed correctly, they will fail. They may not fail immediately, but they will eventually. So identifying improperly installed shutters is a critical part of your hurricane shutter maintenance plan.
This step is especially important if you know your shutters were installed incorrectly, either by you or someone else. Another situation is if you bought your home with the shutters already installed and are suspicious.
At Eurex Shutters, we ensure proper installation of our hurricane shutter systems the first time, every time. This is because improper installation leads to failure. Professional installation and inspection guarantees that your hurricane shutters are up to local building codes and standards, offering optimum protection against major hurricanes. If you feel that your storm shutters are not installed correctly you can have a professional hurricane shutter company look at them. It may require corrections or installing new shutters (depending on the condition and state of the shutters).
5. Prep and Practice Your Hurricane Safety Routine
Okay, this one is not exactly hurricane shutter maintenance. But it is critically important. When a severe hurricane is approaching, you and your loved ones must act quickly to protect yourselves and your home. It is critical to follow the TRIPLE P (PPP) method during hurricane season.
What the heck is PPP you ask? Great question. The three P’s stand for”
- Prepare – be prepared
- Plan – have a hurricane preparation plan
- Practice – practice your hurricane safety routine as a family
How does this relate to your hurricane shutters? Teach everyone how to deploy the hurricane shutters and conduct regular drills to test your household’s ability to prep before a hurricane hits.
Conclusion
Hurricane season varies in severity every year, and the only way to prepare is to expect the worst and prepare for the worst. Installing storm shutters is the first step to protecting your home and family. And following these hurricane shutter maintenance tips is critical to ensure your shutters are working correctly.
Hurricane shutters are a must-have this (and every) hurricane season, so contact us today for a free, professional quote on routine inspections, installations, repairs or replacements, or general care. If you suspect something may be wrong with your hurricane shutters, don’t wait until the last minute to give us a buzz. Even if it proves to be nothing, as the old saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Stay safe and prepared, and protect your home and loved ones with superior, working hurricane shutters this hurricane season!
Contact us to get started!
Or call (239) 369-8600 for immediate service.
