Home explorer: everyday risks you need to know

The Santam Home Explorer is a guide to making your home a safer place to live for you and your family. We show you where everyday risks can occur and how to prevent them.

In this blog post we'll take you through some of the most common risks that you should be aware of:

Outside The House:

• Cover all entrances to the property with good quality motion detectors or sensors.
• Test your alarm system every six months and have your security company test the battery and backup battery annually. Your battery should last at least six hours.
• Use a remote panic button outside. This will ensure that your security company will get to you quickly in case of an emergency.

The Roof:

• Check gutters for leaves before they start overflowing. Gutters clogged with leaves and debris can cause home flooding, especially in rainy months.
• Invest in a lightning mast if you're in an area with frequent lightning storms.
• Thatched roofs have special underwriting requirements.

Inside The Home:

• Ensure you have professionally installed security bars and gates - the most common home security measure.
• Panic buttons should be installed in strategic places inside your home, this will ensure that your security company will get to you quickly, in case of an emergency.
• Small, yappy dogs can be useful deterrents that help draw attention to intruders.

The Kitchen:

• Make sure you are prepared for kitchen fires by installing a smoke alarm.
• Keep a fire extinguisher or fire blanket in a visible and accessible place.
• Fire extinguishers should be serviced once a year to ensure they are in working order.
• Save important contact numbers in case of an emergency. Make sure your family is familiar with an action plan, should a situation arise.

The Living Room:

• List all essential items in your home in an up-to-date inventory.
• New technology and other valuable items such as jewellery may need to be specified in your All Risks cover.
• Always keep receipts for items of value and make a note of any serial numbers.

The Bathroom:

• Watermarks on the ceiling are a good indication of geyser problems.
• Your geyser needs regular attention and maintenance to prevent bursts or leaks.
• Have a plumber check the sacrificial anode, which prevents the water and trace minerals from eroding the geyser.

Ticking off only a few of the risks we've just explored will help you sleep more soundly tonight. And remember, when risks do become a reality, all the solutions you need are only a call away. Santam. Insurance good and proper.