During storm season in Queensland, our Ehlerth Electrical team receive a staggering number of call-outs from clients who have unfortunately had their homes/appliances damaged due to storm season. While Mother Nature can be unpredictable and you can’t prepare for everything, these are our top ways to safeguard your home as best as possible and prevent damage to your home (and even office) during the brunt of storm season.
1.Home Maintenance
Number one! Keep up with general home maintenance to ensure everything is in working order. Ensure that your roof gutters, downpipes and drains are cleared; trees around your home are trimmed and remove any tree branches that are close to your house. If you are in an especially cyclone-prone area, you may consider installing shutters or metal screens to prevent window breakages. Along with this, if there’s a storm coming, make sure to secure any loose items around your property which could pose a threat.
2. Surge Protectors
Surge protectors are great as they help prevent damage from - you guessed it - sudden power surges. Although it seems obvious, you wouldn’t believe how often people don’t consider surge protectors until they have an appliance damaged in a storm. We recommend that all your devices and appliances in your home be plugged into surge protector to prevent a power surge or outage from damaging your expensive appliances - and to keep you safe. Additionally, we highly recommend looking into having surge protection installed on your switchboard by a professional to protect against possible surges to the main hub.
3. Unplug
Unplugging devices that are not in use during a storm will help prevent damage to them, as well as prolong their life and reduce energy usage. While surge protectors are great, they may not be able to withstand the voltage of a powerful storm. For this reason, your safest bet is to unplug any important devices / appliances when not in use, especially during a storm. Remember your outdoor appliances too and bring in any outdoor TVs which may be damaged, and try to avoid using your air-conditioning system during a storm.
4. Insurance
It may seem obvious, but it doesn’t hurt to ensure that your insurance cover for your home and/or business are up to date. Check what exactly what sort of events you are covered for. This might include flash floods, storm water run-off, damage to properties by trees, or lightning strikes. Important to note, your insurance likely will reject your claim if signs of negligence are shown - which is why #1 Home Maintenance is absolutely critical.
5. Home Safety Plan
Lastly, ensure you have a home safety plan incase of an emergency or power outage. This includes learning how to safely turn off your power, water and gas systems; keeping water containers, a portable stove, and fuel safely on-hand, and identifying the safest room to shelter in.
Contact Ehlerth Electrical on 1800 940 413 or send us an email to info@ehlerthelectrical.com.au to organise an electrical home safety assessment to prepare for storm season.
Image: Adrian Olichon via Pexels
