Hurricane impact windows have quickly become an essential part of any modern South Florida home. They give homeowners peace of mind by protecting their properties from high-speed winds and other damaging weather conditions that characterize hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricane protection is just one of the many benefits of impact windows. There’s also noise cancelation, energy savings, theft protection, and insurance credit.
Do impact windows reduce insurance premiums in South Florida? Insurance companies are required to offer a discount on homeowners’ insurance for homes with impact-rated windows. This requirement is written in the Florida Statute 627.0629(1).
“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.” 1
Florida Impact Windows Insurance Discount & Wind Mitigation Credits
Since the state of Florida is a hurricane-prone area, home insurance companies offer wind-related discounts and credits. These Florida impact windows insurance discounts are known as Wind Mitigation Credits. They are offered to homeowners after a certified inspection is done to your home. An inspector will examine these key safety features:
- Roof Shape
- Roof Bracing of Gable End
- Roof Deck Attachment
- Roof Covering
- Roof-to-Wall Connections
- Secondary Water Resistance
- Doors
- Protection of Openings such as Windows
Green Home Builders Florida can ensure your house has the majority of these safety features. Our hurricane protection contractors specialize in not only hurricane impact windows, but also hurricane impact doors and wind resistant roofing. If you don’t have these safety features, know that insurance companies will not penalize you or raise your premiums. Still, homeowner’s insurance premiums do go down significantly if your home qualifies for wind mitigation credits.
How Much Do You Save On Insurance with Impact Windows?
According to Jenny Naughton, executive vice president at Chubb Personal Risk Services, wind protection upgrades will result in significant insurance credit for homeowner’s insurance. Those who live in wind-prone areas could potentially see 10 to 15 percent in savings off their homeowner’s insurance policy.2 In South Florida, impact windows or hurricane shutters could result in 8 to 10 percent discounts.3
There are numerous reasons to install impact windows, but with insurance savings like those, they are definitely worth the investment. Contact us to learn about our installation and repair services. You can also ask us about our financing options. Schedule a free consultation today!
Sources
- Florida Legislature – Florida Statute 627.0629(1)
- Emily Long, NBC News – These 4 upgrades can lower the cost of your homeowners insurance
- Investing Answers – 7 Homeowners Insurance Discounts Your Agent Won’t Tell You About
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