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South Australia's summers can bring soaring temperatures, which may require some form of preparation for the heat. You may need to prepare your plumbing to avoid burst pipes or blocked drains. Likewise, you may also need to prepare your plumbing for the bushfire season since bushfires are common around this time.
This article will explain why you need to prepare for fire danger season and give you tips on preparing your plumbing for Adelaide's bushfire season. You can also read up on bushfire management plans and the services of plumbing contractors for bushfire season.
Reasons to Prepare for the Fire Danger Season
There are important reasons to get a licensed plumber to inspect your home during fire season.
Bushfire bans
Fires tend to run rampant during the hot, dry summer. Complete fire bans are usually put in place to protect businesses and residents from bushfires. You must ensure you do not defy these bans during the bushfire season.
Avoid bushfire damages
Being prepared to take speedy action in the event of bushfires can help you protect yourself and your property from bushfire damage. Without immediate action, an otherwise controllable burst of fire can explode into dangerous flames.
How to Prepare Your Plumbing for Bushfire
Summer's hotter weather increases the chances of bushfires. The Country Fire Service usually prepares for the possibility of severe fire due to South Australia's extreme weather events and conditions. You, too, can take the following steps to prepare your plumbing for the bushfire season.
Do a general home inspection
You may get experienced plumbers and gas fitters to inspect your home for little problems. They can then check that fixtures meet engineering standards, repair any plumbing issues, and prevent possible plumbing disasters.
For example, licensed plumbers can check for burst drains and inspect gutter plumbing.
Remember that failing to fix plumbing problems promptly, such as low water pressure, can lead to dangerous issues during the bushfire season.
Check water supplies
Bushfire season is a period when everything needs to be peachy water-wise in your home. After all, you always have many uses for water. Therefore, you must plan and ensure efficient and integrated water management for the season.
Similarly, they can inspect the essential components of your plumbing systems, water networks, water metering, and water connections. While at it, they can confirm that your water's quality and efficiency are standard. This is a time when you do not want to lose access to running water.
Make arrangements for water sources
To fight fires effectively, it is vital to have water sources with a storage capacity of up to 5,000 litres. These can include rainwater tanks, ponds, or swimming pools. It can be helpful to be close to a bulk water storage facility. This way, you may not have to deal with the possible challenges of sharing inadequate water sources.
Remember to have your plumber inspect water sources such as taps and hoses. They can then make the needed repairs. Again, decent water pressure can give you a good chance of minimising the damage if a bushfire outbreak is near your home.
Install sprinkler systems
Installing a sprinkler system during bushfire season has several benefits. Wetting down your home and garden can reduce the impact of radiant heat and embers. Remember to use metal fittings instead of plastic ones, as the plastic will melt.
Keep functional fire extinguishers near bushfire-prone areas
It can be crucial to have a working fire extinguisher close by if a bushfire outbreak occurs. Ensuring that fire extinguishers are functional is an essential preparatory step for bushfire season.
Inspect your water tanks
You can arrange pre-summer inspections, including checking your water tanks for accumulated sedimentation and possible leakages. In addition, you can do checks for leaking pipes, blockages, and water pressure tests.
Provide plumbing audits as part of aged care
If you have older and independent parents, you can arrange for plumbing audits. This is in addition to other audits and arrangements, such as online payments, so they do not need to ask, "How do I pay my bill?" before the weather gets too hot. An Adelaide plumber can come in and inspect the entire plumbing system.
Explore insurance cover options
Double-check that your insurance policy covers community events like bushfires and smoke damage. After large events, you may also discuss cover options for temporary accommodation or replacement income. A good home care package can also cover relevant fees that increase the safety of your home.
Make bushfire management plans
You may not be able to win tenders and contracts or community grants for significant projects relating to the bushfire season. However, you and your family can make bushfire plans. This may include a disability access and inclusion plan if necessary.
All household members should know what items to grab quickly and where to go during evacuations. Everyone should also know what to do on days of extreme fire danger. You may keep a high-pressure fire fighting pump or fire retarders to help with small spot fires on your property. You can also water your garden in preparation.
Set up community bushfire management strategies
Community fire safety concerns are considered along with issues such as community transport and other matters. Community bushfire management plans help manage vegetation and implement strategies for fuel reduction on reserves and road verges.
Bushfire management plans are usually prepared by state governments in partnership with various stakeholders.
These stakeholders include the following:
- Emergency management bodies
- Local custodians of land and waters such as Traditional owners (the state government is representative as we pay our respects to elders past and present).
Permits to use fire equipment
The Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005 allows for the issuing of permits to use fire or prescribed equipment during the fire danger season. If you need permit application forms, you can contact fire prevention officers.
Tips for Preparing Your Property for Bushfire Season
Use the following tips to prepare your home and family for bushfire season.
- Clear off accumulated dead branches and shrubs
- Plant trees and native gardens away from your home. This way, branches do not drop leaves or hang over your roof. They can quickly ignite if burning and fire embers touch them.
- Making arrangements for recycled water and implementing waste and recycling strategies are sound. However, keep flammable materials at least 20 metres away from your property. For example, do not leave stockpiled newspapers or cardboard.
- Also, prepare your property by removing all flammable materials.
- Remember to include your pets in your survival plan. For example, you could prepare a pet emergency kit. It is crucial to rehearse Bushfire Action Plans with household members.
- Take the precaution of having proper fire protection clothing when travelling through bushfire-prone areas.
- Consider psychological, emotional, and physical reactions as you plan and develop your bushfire survival plan.
- Fire trucks should have enough space to access your property entrance. Also, create enough turn-around areas for emergency vehicles as part of getting bushfire-ready.
Services of plumbing contractors for bushfire season
Australian bushfires can get quite devastating, and many people have had to evacuate their homes in the past. People have lost lives, and homes and businesses have been damaged. Plumbing contractors can use their services to help you prepare for bushfire season.
Trade waste drainage
Civil plumbing contractors can also provide effective trade waste drainage and disposal before the bushfire season comes. These services are usually eco-friendly and are compliant with local regulations.
Emergency plumbing
It makes sense for you to plan for plumbing emergencies even as you do other emergency planning in preparation for fire season. You may keep an Adelaide emergency plumber service contact handy for when plumbing emergencies occur. These emergency plumbers are usually available to fulfil emergency plumbing requests. They can check gas leaks, and repair or replace hot water systems.
Bushfire safety resources
- The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services has information on preparing for bushfire season: https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/prepare/bushfire/prepare-for-bushfire-season
- You can get a Bushfire Survival Plan from NSW Rural Fire Service: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/bush-fire-survival-plan
- The Department of Fire and Emergency has information on preparing for bushfires: https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/hazard-information/bushfire/prepare
- Stay tuned to radio stations that can help you stay updated on bushfire information relevant to Adelaide, Adelaide Hills, and Victor Harbor.
- You can also keep the bushfire information hotline - 1800 362 361, @Countryfireservice, and @CFSalerts – handy for learning more about bushfire safety.
- You can also get guidelines for the fire season from your local council.
- Your local fire and emergency services unit can provide specific technical guidelines on protecting your property.
- South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) resources include bushfire-safer places and last resort refuges.
- The service also includes Bushfire safety information.
Get Help Preparing Your Plumbing for Bushfire
This article has considered various aspects of preparing your plumbing for Adelaide's bushfire season. You need good bushfire planning and prevention strategies to effectively reduce the risk of bushfires.
Taking this seriously can help protect lives and reduce damage to the environment. You can contact a professional plumbing contractor in Adelaide to help you and your property stay bushfire-ready.
