Following on from the informational video created by the State Emergency Services Mackay Regional Unit, we discover why it is vital to pay attention to external home maintenance in the lead-up to storm season.
To start with, check on the status of your insurance policy, whether it is up-to-date and what it covers. If your policy doesn’t adequately cover your home, contents and car, you could be liable to pay out-of-pocket for damages.
On top of that, if your gutters and downpipes haven’t been regularly maintained, you could be unknowingly voiding your home insurance.
A good clean out of your gutters and downpipes is pretty much a non-negotiable part of storm preparation. If your gutters are full of debris, water can’t drain away from your residence.
This can cause a host of problems, such as water flowing into wall cavities and roofs, leading to serious complications like electrical short circuits and power outages.
If you have storm water sumps or drains around your home, it is critical to make sure these are cleaned out to ensure that they can drain water effectively.
Trim tree branches and remove any weak or dead branches from trees around your property, as they can fall onto your home or become airborne during strong winds.
It is important to check the condition of your roof. Look out for loose tiles, eaves or screws that need repairing.
Once these problems are resolved, there will be a limit on the amount of damages that can potentially occur during rough winds or intense storms.
