Prepare your home for the upcoming fire season

A well-prepared home is more likely to survive a bush fire. Even if your plan is to leave early, the more you prepare your home, the more likely it will survive a bush fire or ember attack; and a well-prepared home can also be easier for firefighters to defend.

The NSW Rural Fire Service recommends to keep your gutters free of leaves and twigs that could ignite a fire. Clean gutters also help water to flow to defend your home against fire threats.

Here are some basic maintenance tips from the NSW Rural Fire Service to help you prepare your property:

• Clean your gutters of leaves and twigs
• Install metal gutter guards
• Repair damaged or missing tiles on the roof
• Install fine metal mesh screens on windows and doors
• Fit seals around doors and windows to eliminate gaps
• Repair or cover gaps in external walls
• Attach a fire sprinkler system to gutters
• Keep lawns short and gardens well maintained
• Cut back trees and shrubs overhanging buildings
• Clean up fallen leaves, twigs and debris around the property
• Have hoses long enough to reach around your house
• Check and maintain adequate levels of home and contents insurance

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How to clean your gutters

Follow our helpful guide “How to Clean Your Gutters” to learn how to thoroughly clean your gutters. Consider using a professional Sydney gutter cleaning service like The Gutter Cleaning Co. if you are not confident using ladders to access the roof, or if your gutters and downpipes are in hard-to-reach places.

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