Keep your home safe
Weather. Insurance. They go hand in hand. Never more so than in recent years where we have seen an increase in the severity and frequency of severe weather.
So with this in mind, here are 5 top tips to prepare your home for winter.
Keep gutters clear: Removing leaf litter reduces the risk of blocked gutters and down pipes. When heavy winter rain cannot flow away freely, gutters can overflow causing water damage to ceiling and eaves. By regularly checking your gutters, you help reduce the risk of water damage.
Check your roof: A roof in good condition is more likely to handle extreme weather so it's good practice to check roof tiles or corrugated sheets for damage. If your roof is tiled, check for deteriorated ridge capping which can separate from the underlying tiles with age. Once repaired, you can reduce the risk of water damage to roofing during wet weather.
Trim vegetation on fences: During the warmer months, fences can become overgrown with vegetation, like creepers and vines. The extra weight can be significant and can lead to a fence falling down where moderate to strong winds are experienced. Reduce this risk by trimming or removing vegetation.
Trim tree branches: Winter weather can often make tree branches brittle causing them to break off and land on the house, car or power lines. Trim trees regularly to help avoid this type of damage.
Secure outdoor items: During a storm and particularly, heavy winds, outdoor items such as furniture, pot plants and toys can become projectiles. To avoid damage, safely store these items inside the home or in a shed or garage. Larger items that cannot be stored should be weighed down.
And to keep you safe this winter, it's good practice to keep an emergency pack in your home which contains a torch, spare batteries, first aid kid and battery-operated radio.
Useful information
- For the latest weather information visit www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 213.
- If your home is severely damaged during a storm, call the SES on 132 500.
- If you are in a life threatening situation call 000.
Find out more
For more information about your cover, refer to your PDS or call 133 723.