May is here and for Florida residents, it means that hurricane season is just around the corner. Now is the right time to check your home’s hurricane protection system. While you may have hurricane shutters, impact doors and impact windows at your home, just having these doesn’t mean you are automatically ready. Your hurricane protection system also requires some amount of care and maintenance to function optimally. Here’s a simple checklist that can help you maintain your systems and keep yourself protected during harsh weather conditions.
1. Inspect Your Hurricane Shutters
Every year, you must check your hurricane shutters, look for any signs of rust, jammed tracks, or loose parts. Make sure the shutters are opening and closing correctly. In case you feel they are getting stuck or are not opening as smoothly as usual, then there might be some debris buildup. To improve your shutters’ performance, you can call for professional maintenance and cleaning.
2. Check Your Impact Windows and Doors
Impact-resistant windows and doors have a sturdy build, but they also need periodic maintenance. You must visually inspect the glass for cracks and cloudiness between the panes. If you notice any such signs, then it can indicate seal failure. So open and close all your impact windows and doors to see if all handles, locks and latches work correctly. Also, inspect the frame and the drainage channels around it. This check is quite important, as a window/door that doesn’t lock properly can compromise your safety during storms.
3. Clean and Lubricate Moving Parts
You must clean your shutters periodically by removing dirt, leaves and cobwebs. This can help ensure they operate smoothly. While people clean their shutters and remove debris, they often forget to apply a lubricant. It’s vital to apply the right lubricant for your storm shutters and impact windows, preferably a non-corrosive, silicone-based lubricant spray. This kind of lubricant can keep your shutters/windows operating smoothly and extend the life of your system.
4. Test Your Backup Power Options
During power outages, if you depend on a generator for backup power, now is the right time to test it. Check your generator by starting and running it for 15 to 20 minutes and make sure it’s powering the important items in your home. You should check the fuel level, look for signs of leaks and any strange sounds that could mean there’s a problem with the generator. Doing this is vital as when generators aren’t used for long periods of time, their functioning gets impacted and they need servicing to function optimally during power outages.
5. Update Your Emergency Plan
Other than paying attention to shutter and window maintenance, it’s also essential to have a safety plan for emergencies. Take some time out to check if you have emergency supplies like packaged food, bottled water, flashlights, batteries and a first-aid kit stocked. Also, store your important documents like insurance papers, property papers, etc., somewhere that is waterproof and easy to grab.
Get in touch with 1st Choice Hurricane Protection to get robust impact windows in Fort Myers, FL. Visit our website to learn more about services like custom manufacturing, shutter servicing, installation and more.
