Preparing your home for Queensland’s unpredictable weather
News
With wet and humid conditions forecast for parts of Queensland, RACQ is warning homeowners to make sure their home maintenance is up to scratch, and they remain vigilant for signs of mould.
RACQ Property Assurance Specialist Chris Brock said concerningly, our building and insurance assessors still find many Queenslanders don’t realise the importance of home maintenance.
“Simple tasks include having your roof checked yearly for damage, leaks and loose sheeting or tiles, keeping gutters, drains and stormwater pipes clear of debris and ensuring doors and windows are properly sealed,” Mr Brock said.
“We also urge homeowners to make sure garden beds against the home have adequate drainage, so water is diverted away from the building rather than pooling against external walls.
“The level of damage isn’t necessarily determined by the age of the home, rather the design and how regularly it’s maintained.”
Peter Dubiez from tree maintenance firm Enviro Frontier said the sodden ground was also causing trees to move or be uprooted.
“If trees aren’t trimmed back or maintained the weight of the limbs, particularly with how wet the ground is, can cause them to act like sails and become unstable, which poses a risk to your property,” he said.
“We recommend being proactive in mitigating the risk of trees causing damage to your home, vehicles, sheds or fences by having an arborist assessment done yearly.”
Mr Brock explains keeping your property well-maintained can also help prevent secondary issues, like mould growth.
“A combination of heat, humidity and water is the perfect breeding ground for mould, particularly in closed up and poorly ventilated areas,” he said.
“It’s important to be mindful of water leaks, damp and mouldy smells, and discolouration on walls or ceilings.
“To reduce the risk of mould following wet weather, open up windows when possible, use fans and dehumidifiers, and turn your air-conditioner to the dry setting. However, check your air-conditioner isn’t harbouring mould inside before turning it on.”
Mr Brock reminded Queenslanders that mould may not be covered by insurance policies.
“Mould damage to a home or its contents isn’t covered by RACQ Household Insurance, unless it occurs within 21 days of damage caused by an insurable event, like a storm or flood,” he said.
“As mould isn’t always visible, we encourage people to thoroughly check inside wardrobes, cabinets, cupboards, air conditioners and storage areas and have any mould cleaned immediately.
“Breathing in, eating, drinking or touching mould can cause health issues, so it’s vital we keep our homes clean and well-maintained to help prevent outbreaks, and if mould is detected, it’s removed as quickly as possible.”
Read more on how to remove mould from your home.
Things to note: The information in this article has been prepared for general information purposes only. Any advice contained in the document is general advice, not intended as legal advice or professional advice and does not take into account any person’s particular circumstances. Before acting on anything based on this advice you should consider its appropriateness to you, having regard to your objectives and needs.
Disclaimer: Insurance products issued by RACQ Insurance Limited ABN 50 009 704 152. Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. This is general advice only and may not be right for you. Consider the PDS, SPDS and TMD available at racq.com
“Simple tasks include having your roof checked yearly for damage, leaks and loose sheeting or tiles, keeping gutters, drains and stormwater pipes clear of debris and ensuring doors and windows are properly sealed,” Mr Brock said.
“We also urge homeowners to make sure garden beds against the home have adequate drainage, so water is diverted away from the building rather than pooling against external walls.
“The level of damage isn’t necessarily determined by the age of the home, rather the design and how regularly it’s maintained.”
Peter Dubiez from tree maintenance firm Enviro Frontier said the sodden ground was also causing trees to move or be uprooted.
“If trees aren’t trimmed back or maintained the weight of the limbs, particularly with how wet the ground is, can cause them to act like sails and become unstable, which poses a risk to your property,” he said.
“We recommend being proactive in mitigating the risk of trees causing damage to your home, vehicles, sheds or fences by having an arborist assessment done yearly.”
Mr Brock explains keeping your property well-maintained can also help prevent secondary issues, like mould growth.
“A combination of heat, humidity and water is the perfect breeding ground for mould, particularly in closed up and poorly ventilated areas,” he said.
“It’s important to be mindful of water leaks, damp and mouldy smells, and discolouration on walls or ceilings.
“To reduce the risk of mould following wet weather, open up windows when possible, use fans and dehumidifiers, and turn your air-conditioner to the dry setting. However, check your air-conditioner isn’t harbouring mould inside before turning it on.”
Mr Brock reminded Queenslanders that mould may not be covered by insurance policies.
“Mould damage to a home or its contents isn’t covered by RACQ Household Insurance, unless it occurs within 21 days of damage caused by an insurable event, like a storm or flood,” he said.
“As mould isn’t always visible, we encourage people to thoroughly check inside wardrobes, cabinets, cupboards, air conditioners and storage areas and have any mould cleaned immediately.
“Breathing in, eating, drinking or touching mould can cause health issues, so it’s vital we keep our homes clean and well-maintained to help prevent outbreaks, and if mould is detected, it’s removed as quickly as possible.”
Read more on how to remove mould from your home.
Things to note: The information in this article has been prepared for general information purposes only. Any advice contained in the document is general advice, not intended as legal advice or professional advice and does not take into account any person’s particular circumstances. Before acting on anything based on this advice you should consider its appropriateness to you, having regard to your objectives and needs.
Disclaimer: Insurance products issued by RACQ Insurance Limited ABN 50 009 704 152. Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. This is general advice only and may not be right for you. Consider the PDS, SPDS and TMD available at racq.com