Just a little friendly tropical storm wind advice
/Mother Nature can throw us for a loop when it comes to protecting our valuable window investment. Windows in our homes and buildings are our structures “eyes to the world”, so we want to do our best to protect them as well as we can. As a homeowner, here are a few things you can do to help protect your windows from flying debris created by tropical storm winds.
- Pick up all loose debris, such as dead branches and sticks, and place them in the garbage
- Bring the following items inside so they don't become flying objects (your neighbors' will appreciate it as well)
- outdoor patio furniture
- garbage cans
- BBQ grills
- hoses
- yard signs
- flower pots
- lawn ornaments
- wind chimes
- and anything else that is not secure
- Check to ensure your windows are sealed and latched securely
- Make sure your screens are placed in the window sill properly.
- Covering your windows with storm shutters will help in protecting your valuable window investment.
Once the storm passes, carefully check each window for damage that may have occurred. If damage has occurred, seek a professional to have the window fixed or replaced.
It is also wise to have your windows cleaned thoroughly after a storm that produces heavy winds. The rain itself will not make your windows dirty, but the dirt and debris that the wind blows on them, will. Rain actually helps keep clean windows clean, but will also make dirty windows look dirtier. Rain will cause the evenly layered dust and dirt to clump together leaving them looking dirtier. The dirt and particles accumulate and once dried, they will leave “water spots”. Most homeowners just spray their windows with ground water, aka “their hose”, but that can cause “hard water spotting” which can only be removed with a chemical based cleaning solution if left untreated. In our next post we will go over the differences between rain water and ground water. We will discuss how they each affect your windows.
Be safe!