Proactive Steps For South Africans To Protect Their Homes During Winter

WHY WILL NO ONE INSURE ME?

If your car insurance has been refused, cancelled, or voided, this could happen for a wide range of reasons. However, if you are having trouble finding cover for your vehicle, try not to worry as there are plenty of options out there. What is non-disclosure? One...

Defensive Driving Techniques to Avoid Accidents and Insurance Claims

If you want to reduce your risk of traffic accidents and the insurance claims that accompany them — which could cause your premium to go up — you need to drive defensively. Here are some driving tips to help you avoid crashes and stay safe on the road. Always Assume...

Avoid deadly distractions behind the wheel

Not texting is a start, but there's more to safe driving. Here’s the bad news: Distracted driving causes thousands of accidents every year, many of them fatal. The good news? If you're driving, it's 100% preventable. You've seen them around your city or town. You may...

10 Tips to Protect Your Car’s Suspension System

Your vehicle's suspension system ensures a smooth and safe ride, protecting critical components from wear and tear. Understanding and maintaining the components of the system is essential, not just for comfort but also for the stability of the car on rough roads....

The what, why and how of a Vehicle Identification Number

If you’ve ever bought motor insurance, you’re likely to have come across the terms Vehicle Identification Number or VIN and chassis number. You must wonder why insurance companies insist on having this information. That’s because VIN is like a genetic identifier for...

What Is ORVM In Car And How Does It Work?

When you adjust the side mirrors before driving, you deal with the Outside Rear View Mirrors (ORVMs). These mirrors are essential for safe driving, helping you see what’s happening beside and behind your car. This post will discuss what ORVMs are, how they function,...

How to Track a Vehicle with GPS: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

GPS-based vehicle tracking is today, one of the most helpful tools since it can be employed by any individual or company who wishes to keep track of their cars, trucks or any other vehicle. Thanks to today’s cheap GPS tracking devices, a vehicle owner can easily place...

How To Rebuild Your No Claims Bonus After An Accident

If you’ve had an accident, it can feel like all the good work you’ve put into building your No Claims Bonus (NCB) has gone down the drain. But here’s some good news, you can rebuild it. Your NCB in car insurance works like a reward for safe driving, and that lovely...

Safety Tips For Driving In Floods

Often when we get stuck while driving through floods we panic and force through the water. Instead you need to stay calm and follow these instructions. Situation One: Water Level Is Above Tyre Level  When water level is above the tyre level it's no use forcing...

Car Defogger and How to Use Them?

Have you ever experienced your car windows and windshield suddenly fogging up? It can be scary since poor visibility may cause a dangerous road accident. Driving in the cold or rainy seasons can often lead to foggy windows. This is a common problem, and can quickly...

Ahead of the winter period – during which storms and heavy rainfall occur regularly – consumers need to conduct appropriate maintenance checks to ensure their vehicles are in a roadworthy condition to travel in unpredictable weather, as well as conduct comprehensive maintenance repairs and checks to relevant areas of their homes. Important home maintenance checklist ahead of heavy rains:

Water supply:

When it comes to preventing water damage, the most important thing all home owners need to know is the exact location of shut-off valves for the following: the main water supply, appliances that utilise water (e.g. dishwasher, washing machine and ice makers), sinks and toilets. This will ensure that, in the event of a leak, the water supply can be quickly shut off before it causes further damage before a plumber can arrive to fix the problem.

Water pipes:

It is vital to conduct regular inspections along plumbing lines for any leaks, damage or corrosion. The sooner these problems are detected, the sooner the homeowner can contact a licensed plumber for further inspection and repairs to avoid higher costs of damage.

Walls and floors:

Inspect foundation walls and floors for cracks that might allow water leakage, particularly when living in an older home or an area with poor soil drainage. Also, avoid storing valuable items in a basement; however, if absolutely necessary, items should be stored on racks and shelves above the floor level to minimise damage.

The roof:

A home’s roof is one of the most important parts of the home as it protects the occupants, belongings and the structure of the building. Regularly check the roof for missing, worn or broken roofing materials that can allow water to infiltrate and weaken the roof’s structure. Also, look around for any water spots, standing water or mould. Dampness on ceilings or walls can signal leaks that are just getting started. After a severe storm, inspect the roof thoroughly or contact a licensed roofer for further evaluation and repairs.

Gutters:

Clean gutters and drain pipes to avoid leaves and other debris from clogging them up and damaging your exterior siding. It is also vital to ensure that the water is draining away from your house. Clogged gutters can cause water to pool on the roof which will result in rotting and leaks. Gutters should be checked at least twice a year; the best time to do so is during the transitional seasons of spring and summer.

Emergency home assistance:

Ensure that you have emergency home assistance in place and have these emergency numbers on speed dial in case off an incident at home, like flooding, or a tree have fallen on the roof. During storm periods the use of home assistance services can add tremendous value to homeowners should they experience any type of emergency. Being pro-active and bearing the above tips and advice in mind, consumers can lower the possibility of damage to their belongings caused by extreme weather conditions.

Don’t have household contents cover? Not to worry , send us an email or drop a whatsapp message with your details and a consultant will call you back with an obligation free quote!