As Floridians, we know firsthand the damages heavy winds can cause throughout tropical storm season. Things like loose roof shingles, detached rain drains and exposed, vulnerable pipes can all cause hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in damages after a storm hits.
Now, we’re Floridians so we can take a hit from the weather and still remain standing, but what if there were a way to help better protect against the range of damages caused by wind and also save some money at the same time? As it happens, there is a way! By undergoing a Wind Mitigation Inspection, the work you perform on your house can potentially save you up to $1,000 or more per year by doing these things:
- Installing hurricane shutters – Shutters have to be installed or closed before the arrival of a storm. As this requires action on the part of the resident, a variety of products exists to address varying abilities and preferences of residents.
- Installing wind resistant doors – Wind resistant doors are generally heavy, solid doors. The most obvious feature of wind resistant doors is that it opens out. Wind resistant doors also have at least three and generally four mounting brackets with screws that are 2 1/2 to 3 inches long.
- Installing wind rated garage doors – Garage doors should be shuttered, replaced with a wind rated door or in some cases can be reinforced by adding a bracing bar behind each panel.
- Reinforcing the connections to the roof and the wall below / Anchoring the walls to the foundation – the first floor to the second floor and the walls to the roof, you establish a connection of roof to foundation and your home can resist the various forces that exist when winds push on your roof and walls, and penetrate your home.
Here’s how it works:
When coastal, storm-prone states like Florida were hit hard by hurricane winds in the mid 2000’s, insurance companies lost millions just trying to keep up with the repairs and costs involved in the damages claimed. As an incentive for insurance buyers, insurance companies worked out a way to help protect homeowners and save them money at the same time by offering policy discount credits on those who signed up for wind mitigation inspections.
A form is prescribed by the Office of Insurance Regulation. This form describes generally what actions the policyholders may be able to take to reduce their windstorm premium. The form and a list of ranges can provide credits. In order to qualify for these discount credits, homes must undergo a certified home wind inspection. The form includes:
- Clearly notify the applicant or policyholder of any personal lines residential property insurance policy, at the time of the issuance of the policy and at each renewal
- The availability and the range of each premium discount, credit, other rate differential, or reduction in deductibles
- Combinations of discounts, credits, rate differentials, or reductions in deductibles, for properties on which fixtures or construction techniques demonstrated to reduce the amount of loss in a windstorm can be or have been installed or implemented.
Savings are largely dependent on the features of your home, but the numbers show that Florida homeowners save an average of about 30% on their insurance policy each year after a qualified inspector performs a Wind Mitigation inspection.
Pettineo Insurance is a local insurance agent that can provide you with invaluable homeowner’s insurance. This is quite necessary in Florida after discussing the potential disasters above. Contact them at (954) 493-9424 to get a quote and more information before hurricane season!
