Is It Illegal To Keep Shutters Up After Hurricane

Hurricane shutters protect your home from current of air, rain and flying droppings. With Florida'south sometimes unpredictable hurricane atmospheric condition, most Floridians would concord that they can't go without them come storm season!

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Because of their necessity, storm shutters are available in a variety of options: from the stylish, permanently affixed Bahama shutters for high-rising windows to the sturdy Accordion shutters for retractable protection. And let'southward non forget about cost-effective storm panels or heavy-duty roll-down shutters for larger openings.

Merely all besides oftentimes, people put up or engage their hurricane shutters early, or leave them upwards all year— either to avoid the hassle of frequent deployment or for other presumed safety reasons. However, keeping your hurricane shutters upward and engaged when there isn't a major storm can be dangerous and plush.

Here are four big reasons assuasive your hurricane shutters and screens to encompass your windows year-circular may do more than harm than good:

i. Deployed hurricane shutters go far the manner of fire rescue missions and can pb to larger-scale burn destruction.

When your shutters are upwardly and engaged, they block your windows and keep your home tightly sealed. Call up, storm shutters are designed to withstand hurricane-force winds. If they can keep 100+ mph winds and flight droppings from entering your dwelling house, they can also keep firefighters from entering your dwelling and block spray-points needed to extinguish a blaze.

There take been several instances in Florida where firefighters haven't been able to get into burning homes due to hurricane shutters being deployed outside of storm season.

Ane firefighter told Florida Today why that is… "One, it blocks our view. It also impedes the airflow, which doesn't permit smoke or the contents of combustion to exit the house," Battalion Main Gaius Hall shared. While firefighters typically accept the equipment they need to break down doors or remove hurricane coverings over windows, this just adds more time to their rescue mission— precious time that those defenseless in a burn down often don't take to spare.

Burn rescue authorities accept stressed for years that window coverings such every bit hurricane shutters should only be engaged when storms are threatening, such as right after a hurricane scout is announced and a hurricane is on its mode.

ii. While it'southward assumed that hurricane shutters improve your security, they could actually invite burglars if permanently deployed.

Many storm solution providers use the added security features of hurricane shutters as an upsell when advertising their products. While it is truthful that these heavy-duty window coverings go far harder for criminals to suspension in through your windows, there'south 1 big reason leaving your storm shutters continually upwards could backfire.

Keeping up your hurricane shutters engaged all twelvemonth can really attract burglars instead of deterring them, leading them to believe no ane is home. If they know at that place's no tempest on the horizon, they may assume yous're a snowbird who's out of boondocks and attempt to break in through your doors instead. Leaving your shutters up also blocks your view from the outside globe when you are home, limiting your ability to catch suspicious activity in action.

Storm Panels

iii. Constantly opened hurricane shutters take a shorter lifespan.

Dissimilar shutter types are designed for different purposes. While some shutters similar Commonwealth of the bahamas are especially intended to human action as permanent fixtures over a window, they are typically only used on high-rising windows and made from stronger, weather-proof materials.

Other shutters like roll down or Accordion shutters fold upward and hide abroad in protective housing when not engaged, sheltering them from Mother Nature when not needed. While they are designed to withstand blunt force and winds during a storm, many aren't intended to withstand long-term sunday exposure and month-subsequently-month weather weather. By leaving them constantly deployed over your windows, y'all may be cutting down on their overall lifespan.

Same goes with storm panels, which are meant to exist removed and stored safely in your garage during the off-flavour— simply to be put upwardly when needed come a tempest.

4. Keeping your shutters open all twelvemonth long means more maintenance (and probably hidden costs!)

Considering most storm shutters weren't made to withstand long-term exposure to Florida'south harsh sunshine, extreme temperatures, and corrosive, salty conditions, engaging them all year long is certain to hateful more than maintenance work on your part.

To avoid grime build-upward, yous'll have to clean them more than often. And while y'all might think leaving them open means yous won't have to clean the windows behind them, that's not the case! Trapping excess moisture between the shutter and glass might lead to bigger problems later.

If your shutters are fabricated of metal materials, long-term outdoor exposure may lead to rust or corrosion, while plastic materials may crack from excessive sun damage. Really, your best bet is to only use your hurricane shutters when they're needed for an actual hurricane!

The All-time Time to Deploy & Remove Hurricane Shutters

Hurricane shutters, when used correctly, are 1 of the smartest investments you tin make for your family unit'southward safe. But you should simply deploy your storm shutters when at that place'due south an bodily threat of a hurricane hitting your area.

Florida's hurricane season officially begins in June and runs through Nov xxx, according to The Florida Climate Center. With this in listen, it'southward crucial that you lot pay attention to the news, radio and other forms of advice during these months. If you believe a hurricane is headed your manner, put upwardly your hurricane panels or appoint your other storm shutters (i.e. deploy your scroll downward shutters or Accordions).

After a storm passes, you should take downwardly your shutters or retract them in their protective hooded housing as soon every bit your area is rubber.

Tired of the Shutter Hassle?

If you're sick of putting up your storm shutters or opening and closing them every hurricane watch, you're non solitary.

Many Floridians opt to replace their windows with hurricane-resistant windows instead. Storm windows won't obstruct the view of your cute holding, but yous can rest assured knowing they'll hateful less hurricane prep before the next tempest.

Thinking about making the switch? Here are a few questions to help yous choose between touch on glass and hurricane shutters.

Topics: Hurricane Shutters