The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. Shutters, generators and supplies get most of the attention, but your doors and locks matter too. A door that doesn’t latch properly is more likely to be forced open by wind, and after a storm, lost keys and damaged doors are common. Use this checklist before and after the season.
Before a storm
Exterior doors and deadbolts
- Close each exterior door and make sure the latch catches and the deadbolt extends fully without pushing or lifting the door.
- If a deadbolt sticks or only locks when you push on the door, the door or strike is out of alignment. Get it adjusted before a storm.
- Check that strike plates are held in with long screws that reach the wall framing, not just the door jamb. Short screws are a common weak point.
- Replace locks that are loose, rusted or hard to turn.
Double doors and French doors
- The inactive door (the one that usually stays closed) should have bolts that lock into the top of the frame and the floor. If those bolts are loose, missing or not engaging, the pair of doors is much easier to push open.
Sliding glass doors
- Make sure the latch engages and the door can’t be lifted off its track.
- Use a security bar or pin lock for extra holding strength, and follow your shutter or impact door manufacturer’s instructions.
Keys and access
- Keep spare house and car keys with your important documents in a waterproof bag you can take if you evacuate.
- If you have a smart lock, replace the batteries at the start of the season and keep the backup key handy. Most smart locks run on batteries, so they keep working during a power outage.
Impact doors and building codes
Impact-rated doors and shutters are covered by the Florida Building Code and the manufacturer’s installation requirements. Check with your door installer or local building department before modifying them.
After a storm
- Check every door before you rely on it. Water, debris and shifting can cause doors to stick or latches to stop catching.
- Rekey if keys went missing. Keys are often lost during an evacuation, and neighbors, contractors, adjusters and cleanup crews may have been given access.
- Rekey after repairs. If you used a lockbox or handed out keys to contractors during rebuilding, rekey or reset codes when the work is done.
- Replace corroded locks. Salt water and flooding can corrode lock cylinders and latches, even if they seem to work at first.
Need doors adjusted, locks replaced or rekeyed before or after a storm? Call (239) 412-2998. We serve Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, Naples and all of Lee County. See lock replacement and lock rekeying.