Accordion shutter yearly tune-up
Shutters that sit open all year need one visit before the season: tracks cleaned, hinges and pins lubricated, locks checked and every shutter closed and locked once so nothing surprises you when a storm is named.
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What people call about
- Shutters that have not been closed since last season, or for several seasons.
- A new home where nobody knows whether the shutters work.
- Seasonal owners who want the house ready before they leave for the summer.
- Rental and managed properties that need a record of the shutters being checked.
- A wind-mitigation inspection coming up, where every shutter has to close.
What happens on the visit
- Every shutter on the house is run closed and locked, then opened and stacked.
- Bottom tracks are cleaned and flushed and drainage slots cleared; top-track wheels are checked.
- Hinges, pins and locks get a dry lubricant; seized locks are freed.
- Loose anchors, bent blades and worn parts are noted, and small ones are fixed on the spot where parts are to hand.
- You get a list of what was checked and anything that needs a separate repair, so it is done before the season.
What to have ready
- Book the tune-up in spring, before June 1, while installers have open days.
- Have the shutter keys together, and clear patio furniture and planters from in front of the shutters.
- Mention any shutter you already know is hard to close, so time is allowed for it.
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 for all of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, and the spring months are when installers across the three counties have time for tune-ups. Coastal homes and homes with sprinklers hitting the tracks benefit most; so do seasonal homes closed for the summer.
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Questions people ask
- How often should accordion shutters be serviced?
- Once a year, before hurricane season, is the usual advice, with a rinse of the tracks after yard work or a storm. Homes right on the coast may want the tracks rinsed more often.
- What is included in a tune-up?
- Every shutter is closed and locked and opened again, the tracks are cleaned, hinges and locks are lubricated, and anything worn or loose is noted or fixed. You get a short list of what was found.
- Can I do the maintenance myself?
- Rinsing the tracks and spraying a dry lubricant on the hinges is easy to do yourself. Closing and locking every shutter once a year is the part people skip, and it is the part that finds the problems.
- What lubricant should be used?
- A dry silicone or PTFE spray. Not oil, grease or penetrating oil in the tracks: they hold sand and make the shutter drag.
- Will the tune-up find problems that need a separate visit?
- Sometimes: a corroded track section, several bent blades or a lock that needs a new cylinder. Small things are fixed on the spot where parts are to hand; anything larger is quoted so you can book it before the season.
- Can you check the metal panels and roll-downs too?
- Tell the installer what else is on the house. Panels can be laid out and counted against their openings; roll-down shutters are a different product and are checked if the installer services them.
Get an installer out
Free estimate. The price is agreed before the work starts.
Other shutter services
- New accordion shutters
- Shutter won't close or lock
- Panels stuck in the track
- Lost key or broken lock
- Close them before a storm
- Bent, cracked or missing blades
- Replace rusted or old shutters
- Condo and balcony shutters
- Storefront and business shutters
One Call Accordion Shutters arranges the visit; the installer does the work and gives you the price.