Hurricanes are tropical storms in which the winds can reach sustained speeds of 74 miles per hour and higher. Generally, a windspeed like this can uproot trees, destroy light poles, break glass and lift objects. In any of these situations, these objects potentially become “missiles” that can impact the glass of your windows and doors causing breakage and, in some cases, breaching the building envelope. This can be dangerous for the integrity of your home, since the wind and water can enter through these penetrations causing extreme pressure changes.

Over time, studies on the formation and evolution of hurricanes have improved. In turn, security protocols have been increased in terms of planning and protection against hurricanes, especially in places historically affected by them. The data extracted from these studies is of vital importance for the design, manufacture and installation of hurricane-proof window and door systems. These systems are called “impact” systems due to their ability to resist the force of hurricane winds and their resilience over time. These are most made of high resistance aluminum, manufactured under rigorous production processes, and tested in laboratories. It must be considered that, like everything else, these products must be properly maintained since its resistance capability depends largely on the proper functioning of all its components.

Maintenance protocols may vary depending on the state and design of your windows and doors, starting with basic maintenance to more complex ones. Below, we reveal different maintenance methods that can be applied to impact systems:

Maintenance protocols for sliding doors and horizontal sliding windows:

If your door or window is not working smoothly, the following basic maintenance protocol can be applied:

  1. Cleaning and vacuuming of tracks for dust and debris.
  2. Track lubrication.
  3. Lubrication of operable components.
  4. Adjustment of operable panel, handle and locking mechanism.

If your door or window moves with great difficulty or does not move at all:

  1. Cleaning and vacuuming of tracks for dust and debris.
  2. Track lubrication.
  3. Lubrication of operable components.
  4. Adjustment of operable panel, handle and locking mechanism.
  5. Replacement of wheels.
  6. Track repair or track cover installation.
  7. Replacement of handle and locking mechanism

If your door or window is noisy due to wind intrusion:

  1. Operable panel adjustment.
  2. Replacement of weatherstripping and rubber gaskets.
  3. Cleaning and unclogging weep holes.
  4. Protection and sealing of installation screws and assembly screws.
  5. Removal and reapplication of silicone on the perimeter and in assembly joints.

If your door or window has a broken glass:

  1. Glass replacement.
  2. Removal and reapplication of structural silicone seals around the glass perimeter.

If your door or window presents salt accumulation and/or oxidation on the surface of the aluminum.

  1. Chemical cleaning on all aluminum profiles surfaces.
  2. Removal of salt accumulation and cutting of rubber gaskets.
  3. Filling of aluminum in surfaces with holes affected by salt.
  4. Application of activator and primer.
  5. Application of electrostatic painting of the corresponding color.
  6. Curing and drying of the applied paint.
  7. Application of structural silicone in the perimeters of the glass and assembly joints.

Maintenance protocols for single hung windows:

If your window won't stay open and it's hard to open or close:

  1. Cleaning and vacuuming of windowsills for dust and debris.
  2. Lubrication of operable components.
  3. Adjustment of operable panel, handle and locking mechanism.
  4. Replacement of spring balances.
  5. Replacement of missing plastic guides.
  6. Replacement of weatherstripping and rubber gaskets.

With the above we want to express the general concern with the lack of maintenance that is seen daily on existing impact doors and windows; There are cases in which it is necessary to replace integral components that can take months to be delivered by the manufacturers. Sometimes the damage is so severe that the maintenance and repair protocols require extensive amounts of time and labor to be carried out. For these reasons, it is necessary that basic maintenance protocols be carried out at least every 6 months.

IMPORTANT!

Keep in mind that your impact window and door systems are manufactured and installed by certified companies, Likewise, it is necessary that the maintenance protocols are carried out by a specialized company like us. If maintenance is not performed on a regular basis, it is very likely that the components that make up the systems will not work correctly and therefore lead to major problems in the future.