Your Annual Hurricane Shutter Maintenance Checklist (Expert Guide)

Investing in high-quality hurricane shutters is one of the smartest decisions a Carolina homeowner can make. But like any important piece of mechanical equipment, your shutters require a little bit of regular care to ensure they operate flawlessly when you need them most. The time to discover a stuck track or a corroded lock is during a calm, sunny afternoon—not when a hurricane is hours away.

At American Hurricane Shutters, we believe that proper maintenance is a key part of our commitment to your family’s safety. We’ve compiled this comprehensive annual **hurricane shutter maintenance guide** based on our years of experience. Following these simple steps once a year will keep your investment in top condition and provide you with lasting peace of mind.

The Golden Rule: Operate Your Shutters Regularly

Before we dive into the checklist, here is the single most important piece of advice: **operate every shutter on your home at least twice a year.** Just like starting a car, moving the parts keeps them from seizing up. This simple act of opening and closing them will alert you to any potential issues long before they become an emergency.

DIY Annual Maintenance Checklist

This checklist covers simple tasks that most homeowners can perform themselves to keep their systems in good working order.

1. Thoroughly Clean All Tracks and Housings

Our coastal environment is harsh. Salt, sand, dirt, and pollen can build up in the tracks and mechanisms of your shutters, causing them to bind and become difficult to operate.

• What to Do: For accordion and rolldown shutter tracks, use a soft brush or a vacuum with a brush attachment to clear out all loose debris. Follow up with a cloth dampened with fresh water and a mild soap to wipe down the tracks and the shutter blades. For rolldown shutter housings, wipe down the exterior to remove grime.
• Why it Matters: A clean track is a smooth track. Removing abrasive sand and corrosive salt is the number one thing you can do to extend the life of your shutters.

2. Inspect All Visible Hardware and Panels

Do a slow walk-around of your home and visually inspect every component of your shutter system.

• What to Look For: Check for any loose or missing screws on tracks and housings. For storm panels, check the anchors to ensure they are secure and the threads are not stripped. Look for any dents or dings in the shutter blades that could impede operation. Test the thumbturns and locking rods on accordion shutters to ensure they engage smoothly.
• Why it Matters: A loose screw can become a major failure point under hurricane-force winds. Identifying issues early allows for simple repairs before they become big problems.

3. Apply the Correct Lubricant (This is CRITICAL)

Proper lubrication is essential, but using the wrong product can cause more harm than good. The goal is to lubricate the moving parts without attracting more sand and dirt.

• What to Use: The best lubricant for hurricane shutters is a **silicone-based spray**. It lubricates the moving parts and then dries, leaving a slick surface that does not attract dirt.
• Where to Apply: For accordion shutters, spray the lubricant into the upper track where the wheels run. For rolldown shutters, spray a small amount into the side tracks. For locking mechanisms and thumbturns, a quick spray will keep them operating smoothly. Operate the shutter a few times after application to distribute the lubricant.
• Why it Matters: Proper lubrication reduces friction, prevents corrosion, and makes your shutters significantly easier to operate by hand.

When to Call a Professional for a Shutter Tune-Up

While DIY maintenance is great, some tasks are best left to the experts. We recommend a professional service call every 2-3 years, or immediately if you notice any of these issues:

• The Shutter is Extremely Difficult to Move: If a shutter is binding, grinding, or requires excessive force to operate, don’t force it. This could indicate a serious mechanical issue.
• A Motor is Straining or Not Working: Electric rolldown shutters are complex. If a motor sounds like it’s struggling or won’t operate at all, it needs professional diagnosis.
• Visible Damage to a Blade or Panel: A significantly bent blade on an accordion or rolldown shutter can compromise the entire system. We can often replace individual slats without replacing the whole shutter.
• You’re Unsure About Anything: If you’re not comfortable performing maintenance or you have questions, it’s always best to call for help. A service call is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

admin

See Full Bio