Insurance Benefits for Residential Impact Windows

As we are ending the hurricane season here in Florida, a lot of South West Florida residents are thinking about ways to protect and obtain a jump start on their home for next year. In this coastal state, most homeowners are familiar with the dangers of hurricanes and tropical storms, and they are often prepared with their emergency supply kits, evacuation plans, and plywood for boarding up vulnerable windows and openings. In the majority of cases, impact-resistant windows can provide you with a much better value. From increasing the property value of your home to providing a truly strong barrier when storms hit, impact windows offer a variety of advantages that plywood simply is unable to provide.

Insurance Benefits from Installing Residential Impact Windows

There are many benefits to installing impact windows on your property. Impact glass windows offer amazing protection from hurricanes, keep your house safe from burglaries, and also help to save money on your energy bills. One of the benefits they offer that is less talked about is the money it can help you save on insurance. Florida passed a law requiring insurance companies to offer their customers discounts and credits for existing building features and home improvements that reduce damage and loss from wind. In order to qualify for this discount, homes must undergo a certified home wind inspection.  Statute 627.0628 states that “a rate filing for residential property insurance must include actuarially reasonable discounts, credits, or other rate differentials, or appropriate reductions in deductibles, for properties on which fixtures or construction techniques demonstrated to reduce the amount of loss in a windstorm have been installed or implemented.” Impact windows fall under this definition, which basically means that you can earn some significant savings! Every insurance provider varies, but in some instances, homeowners have received up to a 45% discount on their home’s insurance premiums.

Why You Should Install Impact Windows

Since insurance discounts can vary a bit from each provider, it is best to consult with your homeowner’s insurance provider to see what insurance incentives are available to you if you install hurricane windows. Typically, however, the following information is necessary to receive a discount on your insurance premiums:

• A wind mitigation inspection report
• The mitigation techniques must cover all openings in your property
• Mobile homes not applicable
• The insurance discount only applies to any wind damage which is part of your policy
• The impact windows have to comply with the current Florida Building Code

Contact Us Today

There are many benefits to installing residential impact windows, and getting a discount on your insurance premiums is certainly a good one to know!  Harper’s Hurricane Protection is a top provider of glass impact windows in Charlotte and Sarasota counties. If you’re looking for impact windows for your home, call Harpers and schedule your free estimate today.