Florida experiences more hurricanes than any other state in the country. It’s regularly in the crosshairs for tropical storms and hurricanes. And that doesn’t even count seasonal thunderstorms and tornadoes, many of which can also be very dangerous.
So how do you protect against hurricanes and other severe weather? Hurricane shutters in Florida are your best line of defense against these storms.
Hurricane shutters help protect your doors, windows, and even patios / lanais from high winds, flying debris, and more. They prevent windows from breaking, which allows wind and rain into your home and causes more severe damage. The right style and design can last for decades, providing you with long-lived protection and immense peace of mind.
However, you’ll need to maintain your hurricane shutters if you want to benefit from that protection. The good news is that keeping them in great shape isn’t all that hard, especially when you know how to do it correctly.
Not sure how to maintain your hurricane shutters? We’ve got you covered. Check out the top maintenance tips below to keep yours in great shape for years to come.
Regular Cleaning
Whether you live in Southwest Florida, the Florida Panhandle, or South Florida, your hurricane shutters are at risk from several things. These include:
- Dirt and Dust: Florida’s dry season often leads to dusty conditions. Construction, traffic, and wind kick that dust into the air. It can settle on your hurricane shutters, causing build-up and issues over time.
- Salt: Salt is ever-present in Florida, even in the central part of the state, away from the coasts. Salt adheres to hurricane shutters and can lead to rust and oxidation that will compromise them over time.
- Humidity: Florida is hot and humid. That humidity can be a problem for hurricane shutters, particularly when combined with pollen, dirt, and salt. It accelerates build-up and rust and can reduce your shutters’ lifespan.
- Pollen: With Florida’s year-round growing season, there’s pollen in the air pretty much all the time. This can build up on your hurricane shutters very quickly, leading to problems.
The best defense against these threats? Regular cleaning your storm shutters removes build-up and prevents corrosion and oxidation. Thankfully, cleaning your shutters isn’t all that hard.
Tips to clean your shutters
Here’s what you need to do:
- Clean your hurricane shutters at least twice per year.
- If appropriate vacuum your shutters, hinges, and other parts with a vacuum using a soft bristle brush attachment.
- Use mild soap and water to wash your shutters (skip the harsh chemicals).
- Opt for a sponge, rag, or soft bristle brush. Stay away from hard bristle brushes, steel wool, and other stiff cleaning tools that can cause damage to your shutters’ coating.
- Rinse everything well to remove the soap, but also salt, dirt, and dust particles.
- Make sure you know the right cleaning techniques for your specific type of shutters – accordion, roll-down, Bahama, and Colonial shutters all require different approaches.
Inspect Your Hurricane Shutters
Cleaning is just one aspect of hurricane shutter maintenance for Florida homeowners. You should inspect your shutters several times per year. You’ll get an up-close look while you’re cleaning them. B don’t limit your inspections to your twice-yearly cleaning.
When to inspect your shutters
We recommend that you inspect your hurricane shutters at these intervals:
- Each spring
- Each May before hurricane season starts in June
- After any serious storm (including thunderstorms, not just hurricanes)
- Each fall when hurricane season ends (November)
How to inspect your shutters
Now that you know when to inspect your hurricane shutters, let’s talk about how to do it and what you want to look for.
Take your time with each shutter. Make sure to inspect the entire structure, including the shutter itself, as well as the hinges/rollers/glides. Look for anything out of the ordinary, including:
- Rust spots
- Oxidation
- Bent metal
- Damage to powder-coated finish
- Cracks
Making sure your shutters operate correctly is critical. When it comes time to use your shutters you want to make sure they work as they are supposed to. So open and close each shutter, making sure that it:
- Moves freely as it should
- Closes and secures as it should
Depending on the age and type of hurricane shutters you have, you may also need to apply anti-corrosion products at this time. This is particularly important if the powder coat has been compromised, as that allows moisture and salt to attack the metal directly. If you notice significant damage, it might be time to consider replacing those panels or components.
Note that these instructions don’t cover wood, because wood shutters are not hurricane resistant. Metal, aluminum, and new advanced fabric designs are resistant to hurricane-force winds and impacts.
Lubricate Moving Parts
All types of hurricane shutters have moving parts. That’s because, when the weather is nice, the shutters are open, leaving the window clear. When a storm approaches, you can close the shutters, protecting windows and doors, as well as the interior of your home.
However, those moving parts are the first place to look for potential problems. A lack of lubrication can mean metal-on-metal contact, which can lead to damage and corrosion. Friction is your enemy when it comes to the longevity of your shutters. You’ll need to check and lubricate the following:
- Hinges
- Rollers
- Tracks
Don’t forget to check and lubricate other moving parts, like locking mechanisms if necessary as well.
What lubricant should you use? We recommend using a silicone-based lubricant or a dry lubricant. Avoid oil and water-based lubricants (motor oil or WD-40, for instance) as they contribute to more build-up of dirt. Learn more in our guide on What is the best lubricant for accordion shutters?
Do a Test Run
The entire point of having hurricane shutters on your home is so that you can close them to protect your at-risk windows and doors. However, if your shutters won’t close as intended, they can’t protect your home.
We recommend testing your hurricane shutters regularly to ensure that they work properly. This also gives you the opportunity to notice things like difficult-to-operate shutters or alignment problems. Doing it in advance will give you time to repair them before they become safety risks.
Removable Shutters? Store Them Properly
While many hurricane shutter styles are designed to be installed permanently, some are removable. Armor Panel fabric panels as well as storm panels are good examples of this. If you remove your shutters during the off-peak season, make sure to store your removable shutters properly so they’re protected.
Removable shutters should be stored:
- Away from direct sunlight
- Somewhere cool and dry
- Away from foot traffic
- With their fasteners for easy reinstallation
Before reinstalling your fabric hurricane shutters, clean and inspect them thoroughly. There should be minimal cleaning needed if they were stored properly, but a good dusting can help.
Let the Pros Handle It
Hurricane shutter maintenance and repair is critical. If you’re not sure you can handle it on your own or just do not have the time, let the pros deal with it. At Eurex Shutters, we have almost 40 years of experience installing, maintaining, and repairing hurricane shutters throughout Southwest Florida. So if you need a hand we would be happy to help keep yours in perfect condition. Get in touch for a quote on your shutter maintenance needs!
Or call (239) 369-8600 for immediate service.
