Maintenance
Windows and Shutters Before and After Hurricane Season
By Solpath Window Detailing · Published · Updated
Before hurricane season starts on June 1, clean the tracks and weep holes on windows and sliders, clean and test storm shutter tracks, and check the glass and seals for damage. After a storm, rinse salt spray off glass, screens and frames within a few days, clear debris from the tracks, and check impact glass for cracks. A cracked impact pane needs replacing, not cleaning.
Before the season
- Vacuum and clean sliding door and window tracks, then clear the weep holes so water can drain
- Clean accordion and roll-down shutter tracks so shutters close without forcing
- Find, count and check storm panels and their hardware before you need them
- Look for cracked glass, failed seals and loose frames while there is time to repair them
- Trim branches that hang over windows and the roof
Why tracks and weep holes matter
Wind-driven rain gets into the sill track of every window and slider. It is meant to drain back out through the weep holes. When sand and debris block them, the water backs up over the sill and into the house, which is how a lot of storm water damage happens with the windows still intact.
After the storm
- Rinse salt off glass, screens and frames within a few days, because storm winds carry salt spray well inland
- Clear leaves and grit from the tracks before forcing a slider open
- Check impact glass for cracks and haze, and photograph any damage before cleaning it
- Wash shutter panels and tracks before storing them, so salt does not sit on them until next year
- Keep pressure washers off windows, seals and screens, however dirty they look
What cleaning will not fix
Laminated impact glass is designed to crack and stay in the frame. A cracked pane has done its job and needs replacing. Moisture between the panes of an insulated unit is a failed seal. Both are jobs for a window or glass company, and we will point them out rather than clean around them.
