With storm season on the horizon, now is the time to get your home ready. There are a lot of things you can do around your home to minimise damage in the event a bad storm hits.
Secure any items outside your home that could blow away in strong winds
It is important to tie down or store away any objects that could blow away in the wind. This includes outdoor furniture, gardening tools and toys!
Regularly clean your gutters and downpipes to prevent blockages
Clean gutters and downpipes are a non-negotiable part of storm preparation. If your gutters are full of debris, water can’t drain away from your home quickly, which can cause a host of problems. More often than not, the water flows into your wall cavities and roof space, which can lead to serious complications such as causing your electricity to short circuit. At Gutter-Vac, we can clean your roof, gutters, downpipes and valleys quickly and effectively to reduce the likelihood of your roof leaking in heavy rain.
Check the condition of your roof
It is important to check the condition of the roof, so that you know if you have any loose tiles, eaves or screws that need repairing. Gutter-Vac provides a free roof and gutter report with every gutter cleaning service, so we can check on the condition of your home for you and provide you with the necessary advice.
Clean up around your home
It’s a good idea to trim the branches on any trees around your home. It is particularly important to remove any dead or weak branches, particularly if they can fall onto your home or become airborne in the wind.
If you have storm water sumps or drains around your home, it is also critical to make sure these are cleaned out to ensure that they can drain water effectively. Gutter-Vac can also help with this.
Check your insurance policy is up to date
Before storm season hits, you should check that your insurance policy is current and what it covers. Check if your policy adequately covers your home, contents and car, and if your policy includes the clean-up and disposal of debris. It is important to keep in mind that if your gutters and downpipes haven’t been regularly maintained, you could be unwittingly voiding your home insurance. It could be worth getting a professional in to service them before the bad weather hits, as they can provide you with a record of having them serviced.