Cold winter weather is on the way, and you’ve begun the process of preparing your home for the winter months ahead. You’ve done all the winterizing chores that you do every year; you’ve caulked around windows and doors, you’ve weather-stripped, you’ve cut back trees and branches that might fall on your home, and you’ve made sure that your pipes are wrapped against the cold so that they don’t freeze.
But there’s something you can do to protect your home during the winter’s ice and snow storms that you probably haven’t through of: You can install storm shutters. How can storm shutters protect my home during winter storms, you say?
Storm Shutters keep your home safe during winter storms by:
Reducing heat loss inside the home – storm shutters are another barrier against the cold outside, and another layer of protection against heat loss. You lose more heat through cracks around windows and doors – no matter how well you caulk and insulate – than in any other part of your home. Storm shutters reduce this loss, keep your home warmer, and protect you against the freezing weather. If the power goes out during a storm, storm shutters keep the heat trapped in your home for a much longer time, keeping you warm and cozy until the storm subsides and the power comes back on.
Protecting your windows against missile impacts thrown by high winds, or by falling trees or branches laden with snow. Storm shutters are used in hurricanes and tropical storms, and are missile impact tested. Falling branches and debris thrown by the storm is no match for them. One of the worst things that can happen during a winter storm is something coming through your window. Can you imagine fixing the hole, or trying to get a repairman to your house during a winter blizzard? Shutters can take this worry from your mind.
Saving you money on your home insurance: Many insurance companies will give you a break on your policy if you add storm shutters to your home. They make your home much more secure, reducing the risk of damage during winter storms, and so insurance companies have a lower risk of payout. This leads to savings for you. Check with your insurance company to see how much your payment will go down if you add storm shutters to your home.
Winter storm shutters are a good idea for any home, and especially if you live in an area where severe storms or blizzards are common during the winter months. Adding them to your home reduces the risk of damage during a storm, and can only help to protect your home from the effects of a winter storm.
New England has a lot of coastal area, and that makes it vulnerable to storms. The New England coast is often hit by hurricanes and tropical storms. Flooding is common from both storm surge and inland rivers, and wind damage can be considerable. There are ways, however, to protect your home and property. Good preparation is key, and with a little work you can greatly increase the likelihood of safety for your home and family.
You should have a written plan and everyone in your family should be familiar with it. Find out if your home lies in an evacuation area, or if your property is vulnerable to storm surge, flooding, or wind damage.
At the beginning of hurricane season, check the hurricane and disaster supplies in your kit. You should replace the batteries in this kit periodically, and rotate out the food as well. You don’t want dead batteries and spoiled food when it’s critical to have these supplies.
Monitor the hurricanes forming in the tropics, either online or through a weather channel.
Monitor NOAA Weather Radio on a regular basis, and definitely turn it on when a storm threatens. It’s the official source for real-time weather information and warnings. Listen to local broadcasts when a storm is imminent, as well.
Fit your home with some kind of storm shutters. They are a major part of a home protection plan.
If you live in coastal New England, your insurance and wind deductibles will most likely be reduced by installing storm shutters. You should check with your insurance agent to find out what savings are available. Hurricane shutters are a barrier against the elements, and protect you from wind damage, pressure changes, and debris flung by the high winds. Also, they provide protection against the tornadoes that often come in the outer bands of hurricanes. Hurricane shutters can save you money on your energy bill in the summer, as well. In the closed position, they darken your home and help prevent air leaks, keeping your home cooler and cutting down on your air conditioning use.
Whether what’s coming is a hurricane, a tropical storm, a noreaster, or you just want to install them to protect your place of business, storm shutters are a necessity in New England. Storm and hurricane shutters and panels can save you money, protect your home, and give you the peace of mind that you need when you know a storm is coming. Storm shutters are a smart investment, and you should install them today.
New England is comprised of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. You probably think of New England as a place where you go in the fall to look at pretty leaves or a summer vacation destination, and you probably don’t think of it as a place where hurricanes hit.
But you’d be wrong. Hurricanes originating in the Atlantic Ocean routinely affect the states of New England. Just since 2005, more than 16 tropical storms and hurricanes have hit the New England Coast. Tropical Storm Danny was the most recent; Danny had 60 mile per hour winds reported, and the system impacted New England with high winds and heavy rainfall. Danny caused flooding and toppled trees and ripped boats from their moorings, along with the heavy rainfall it brought to the area.
Some of the storms that hit New England have caused major damage, some only increased rainfall, but there is always a possibility of a major strike during hurricane season. It is important to realize that these are not just coastal problems, but that everyone in the New England area can be seriously effected by a major storm. New England is in the bad position of receiving all three types of hurricane damage. Depending upon the where the storm makes landfall, New England can experience widespread coastal flooding from the ocean, major inland river flooding, and devastating wind damage.
So what can a shrewd New Englander do to protect their home and property from the damage of hurricanes? Rolling shutters are your best bet.
Rolling hurricane shutters are the best shutter that to retro-fit or add to a new home if you are worried about hurricanes. They’re convenient and hurricane safe, providing impact resistance, wind resistance, and even security against intruders. Rolling shutters glide up and down in side rails mounted on the exterior of the window or door. They can be conveniently operated both electronically or manually from inside the safety of your home. There’s no running outside when a storm is coming to put up storm shutters; just flip a switch and the shutters roll down.
Rolling shutters can also be rolled down to increase the security of your home, protect your belongings from sun damage, reduce your heating and cooling costs, or even to darken your home. They can be made to fit to almost any shape window, even arches and other odd sizes, and they come in a wide selection of colors.
Don’t get caught unprotected: Add Rolling shutters to your New England home today to keep you, your property, and your loved ones safe from harm.
