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Roo Roofing Blog

DIY & HOME OWNER TIPS

19
Jul

Holiday safety: securing and protecting your home

With the end of the year fast approaching, many of us will be on holidays (be it a break from work or school/university) throughout Christmas and the New Year. 

While it's a great time to get out there and relax, it's always important to not forget about keeping your home (and yourself) safe and secure, regardless of whether you'll spending the break at home or away.

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Heading away

If you're heading away at any time during the holiday break (be it for a few days, a few weeks, or longer), keeping your home secure while you're gone is a logical safe practice. But during the Christmas period, it's also worth remembering to account for any additional lights or decorations you may put up - this is especially applicable if you're an avid fan of Christmas.

It goes without saying that if you're away you should make sure you don't have your Christmas tree set to turn on automatically at night. While this can deter burglars, it can also be a fire hazard. Instead of having your Christmas tree lights going, why not consider an automated switch for a different, more effectively covered light such as a desk lamp or bedside light?

Regarding external lights, besides a security light they should all be turned off. This applies to any Christmas/fairy lights. In fact, it's probably best to bring in any decorations in case of severe storms that could blow decorations or exterior lighting around and turn them into potentially dangerous projectiles.

And, of course, besides this, make sure your home is properly secured/locked up and alarms set (if applicable). It's also a good idea to bring in loose objects from outside for the same reason as you should bring Christmas decorations and lights.

At home

Even if you'll be staying at home during the Christmas holiday period, many of the aforementioned safety steps still apply. No, you won't have to worry about turning off lights, but remember to be mindful of impending storms or strong winds that could turn outdoor items, lights or decorations into genuine hazards.

With the increased temperatures and less predictable weather, it's important that you don't get caught in a situation where the heat gets too much or where a sudden, severe storm takes you by surprise. Storm season preparation is key, which you can read more about here. In terms of dealing with extreme temperatures and avoiding conditions such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, you need to make a conscious effort to keep cool and stay hydrated. More information surrounding avoiding/managing heat stroke can be found here.

If you live in a bushfire-prone area, you'll want to make sure no trees or plants are reaching too close to your home. Be sure to trim back anything that could facilitate a fire jumping across to your house, and reduce any other flammable objects residing outside (e.g. wooden chairs, wooden tables, etc.) as much as you can if there are reports of an impending fire. If possible, fire retardant materials can be used on the exterior of your home to better protect your house, though most modern-day homes being built in fire-prone areas typically have to hit specific fire-resistance standards, anyway. Still, it never hurts to check if your home is as protected as it could be from such a hazard.

In the event that you believe a fire will likely damage your home or you're ordered to evacuate, make sure you have some plan in place regarding where you will go and what you will do if you have to be away from home for a notable stretch of time. 

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