How to prepare your home for hailstorms

Australian weather is notorious for its unpredictability, so when humidity and heat collide with cool change – don’t wait for the worst to happen. Here’s how you can double down on your home’s safety before a hailstorm rolls in, whether you rent, own or lease.

With hail storms being one of the driving factors in household claims, it’s never been a better time to keep an eye on the skies. A recent survey revealed that 53% of the respondents who have lodged an insurance claim identified hail as the reason behind their property or vehicle damage. Meanwhile, scientists from UNSW Sydney and the Bureau of Meteorology discovered that the number of ‘hail-prone’ days has increased by up to 40% in some heavily populated areas in the southeast and southwest of Australia, including Sydney, Canberra, and Perth.

Even if you’re not in a storm-prone area, or a region typically affected by wild weather, it’s a good idea to have a plan in place for when the weather changes without warning. Monitor the local forecast, prepare your home and outdoors, and make an emergency plan in case a severe hail storm is forecast.

Hailstorm prep

1. Check what your insurance policy covers

   The damage a hailstorm can cause could be anywhere between very small, to very costly. Checking that your insurance policy is up-to-date and that you have a level of cover for hail damage that suits your home and/or contents will help you understand what you can claim in case of loss or damage.

   For example, Honey can cover loss or damage to your home or contents caused by a storm, including heavy rain and hail. Always read the PDS to know what your insurance provider does and does not cover during or after a hailstorm hits.

2. Safeguard windows, doors and skylights

   Protecting your windows and glass doors with secure shutters could help prevent them from hail damage, and consider using a skylight safety screen to minimise damage. Look for materials with appropriate storm ratings to help ensure the quality of protection.

3. Place loose items inside

   Large objects that could be picked up by wind present a danger to your home, the objects themselves, and other breakable items. An outdoor umbrella or gazebo can easily be picked up by high winds and be hurled into a window. Move anything that hail could damage into an indoor area, like portable garden lights, furniture or pool accessories.   

4. Cover your garden

   Use netting or tarps to protect your carefully manicured flower beds, veggie patches and prized plants from getting pummelled by hail. You can also add extra soil to your plants to help keep them standing upright.

5. Protect windows from the inside

   It seems obvious, but closing your indoor curtains, blinds or shutters can offer protection to your home and everyone inside, if hail smashes a window. Curtains may hinder the spread of glass inside your home - keeping little ones safer, and making the clean-up easier.

6. Protect your solar panels

   Though solar panels are designed to withstand small hailstones, golf-ball-sized ice stones can damage even the most durable panels. Placing hail blankets over your solar panels is recommended, but ensure it is safe to do so! 

7. Keep an emergency kit on hand

   In case the power goes out, or the storm’s damage is severe enough that you have to evacuate your home, an emergency kit can add a little piece of mind. The SES recommends torches with spare batteries, a battery-powered radio, a portable charger, a first aid kit, medications, and spare clothing.

8. Check your roof condition

   It’s no secret a roof in good repair has a better chance of withstanding a hailstorm than a damaged one, so routinely having your roof checked for any damage or missing tiles will help negate hailstorm damage. 

9. Trim overhanging branches and clear gutters

   This is something you should do regularly, even outside of hail season. This could prevent drains from clogging, which can lead to flooding when heavy rain accompanies hail. Keep in mind, even if you have insurance, while it’s always important to understand what you are and aren’t covered for, it’s just as essential to keep on top of home maintenance. 

“Honey is on a mission to prevent claims from happening – but when they do happen, we want to make sure that customers are in a position to have their claims paid quickly. By educating Australians about the standard home maintenance required, we can help give them the best chance of their claims being paid quickly,” said Angelo Azar, COO of Honey Insurance.

The information in this article has been prepared for general information purposes only and not as specific advice to any particular person. Any advice contained in the document is general advice and does not take into account any person’s particular investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on anything based on this advice you should consider its appropriateness to you, having regard to your objectives, financial situations, and needs. You should obtain and consider the Product Disclosure Statement or terms and conditions relating to the products mentioned, before deciding whether to acquire any products.