The weather may be changing in Australia from year to year but one thing is certain
. There will always be storms and there will always be damage and catastrophe somewhere in Australia.
It's one thing to keep your home and contents insurance up-to-date to give you the peace of mind you need, but is plenty more you can do to protect yourself from the ravages of a sometimes dangerous storm season.
Every year we read of the tragedies that occur in various parts of the country, usually in summer, suffered by the unfortunate victims of storms and floods. Whilst there is little we can do to stop Mother Nature from wreaking havoc in our community every year, we can at least reduce the impact by taking some precautionary measures to keep our families safe.
Here are some tips you can follow the or make your house safer during the next storm season.
Check all your windows and doors to see whether there are any cracks in the sealings through which water can seep. Many window seals have dried caulking that needs to be replaced your house sealed off adequately.
Make sure all trees and bushes are trimmed right back so that large branches cannot fall or be blown into your property. Any tree which is within falling distance of your home should be a target for a good pruning well before the storm season begins.
Clean out your gutters. Make sure all leaves and branches are removed from the guttering as these can cause a backlog of water from flowing from your roof during heavy rain. While you're at it, you should also check the roof to make sure there are no loose tiles or roof panels that can be affected or lifted during a heavy storm.
Keep the water level in your swimming pool lower than normal during storm season. This will prevent your pool from overflowing and causing a minor flood either in your yard or in your house.
If you have an automated watering system for your garden, make sure it is turned off during a storm season as this is not only a waste of water but it can also add to flood conditions if you forget to turn off.
If you live in low-lying areas, it's a good idea to have some sand and sandbags ready to lay across low entry points to your house to prevent rising floodwaters from entering your house. This is a simple precautionary measure and you'll save yourself a lot of time and effort by preparing well in advance.
Check the exterior walls of the lowest parts of your house to make sure there are no cracks that could allow water into rooms under your house.
These tips are a good starting point for you to prepare your house for the storm season. One of the most important steps you can take however is to make sure your home insurance is up-to-date and that you have adequate cover for storm and flood damage.