We’re more than midway through February and temperatures have already started to soar across Victoria, with bushfires raging from Longwood to Ravenswood and even on the outer northern edges of the state.
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And with total fire bans staying in effect both here in Kyabram and across neighbouring townships, now is the time for residents to make sure their home and property is thoroughly prepared for the oncoming heatwave that late February is also set to bring.
Here are just a few measures you can take to make sure your property and household stay well-protected against the health and safety risks that accompany Victoria’s summer peak.
Get your home cooling system serviced
On 40+ degree days, you’ll find that most ceiling fans and oscillating standing fans just end up blowing hot air around your living space, so if your A/C unit at home is in need of servicing or any repairs, then it’s best to handle these as swiftly as possible.
If you don’t get to call a HVAC specialist in time before our next forecasted 35+ degree day, consider instead calling up any local 24/7 emergency electricians who may be able to assist with timely A/C repairs for Kyabram residents.
Note too that summer storm season can also exacerbate allergy symptoms indoors if your A/C units have blocked or faulty vents.
If any members of your household are experiencing allergy symptoms due to air pollutants, either a dedicated HVAC team or your trusted household electricians should be alerted immediately to conduct thorough vent cleaning and diagnostics testing on your A/C unit.
Kyabram families are also advised to keep a working carbon monoxide detector in their homes to help stay on top of any potential monoxide leaks.
Install blinds, shutters, or awnings to combat solar heat
Solar heat dispersion through uncovered windows can result in hot air getting trapped in your home, which will ultimately lead to sweaty and sleepless summer nights.
This is why it’s recommended that you keep your blinds drawn during hot summer days.
Installing blockout blinds with white reflective backings can also help reduce solar heat gain into your home.
If your blinds aren’t proving enough to keep the solar heat out, then consider also installing external shutters and awnings that allow for either automatic (electronic) or manual operation.
With electronic shutters, you can make quick work of covering all your windows before the hottest part of the day hits, ensuring you can still enjoy some natural sunlight to start your day and to feed the plants.
Prep your garden for heatwaves
Speaking of plants, prepping your garden for summer heatwaves is just as important as making sure your home’s interiors are ready for when the mercury begins to climb.
Not only can an unkempt garden quickly turn into potential kindling for bushfires, but your garden beds will rapidly wither when exposed to the full intensity of 40℃ days.
Local green thumbs are advised to maintain early morning irrigation cycles to ensure that plants have ample time to soak up water before the intensity of the afternoon sun speeds up evaporation.
Similarly, consider moving heat-sensitive plants into pots – ideally placed in sun rooms, greenhouses, and not on exposed concrete, which may cause soils to dry via heat transfer.
And of course, alongside making sure your plants and garden beds are ready, gardeners are also encouraged to trim back any tall trees and shrubs on their property to keep their home safe in the event of a bushfire.
Any trees or shrubbery surrounding your home should be cut back, and all felled branches and other plant debris should be cleared before a heatwave strikes. These are all essential components of being prepared for our bushfire season.
Keep your cars parked in a carport or garage
Risks of heatstroke are ever present in the height of summer here in Victoria, but our highest risks of getting heatstroke often involve spending too long in cars on a hot day.
On hot days, the temperature inside a parked car can reach even 20-30 degrees hotter than the temperature outside. This means that on a 30 degree day, the interior temperature in a car that’s been parked in the sun can climb as high up as 60-70 degrees!
Earlier this month, we also saw a car with a hot exhaust pipe start a fire in Katunga by driving through a paddock and inadvertently causing grass to catch alight from the radiant heat.
With the danger risks being this extreme, it’s recommended that Kyabram residents not only keep their cars securely stored in shaded carports or in their garage, but also refrain from driving on unmapped roadways or through bush areas without roads.
Install solar panels on north- and west-facing rooftops
The increase in A/C usage in summer places a seasonal strain on our local energy grid, which also results in a higher risk of power failures across the February summer peak.
Thankfully, growing rates of solar investments across Kyabram are set to alleviate the grid strain, with more residents relying on their solar inverters to keep their fans whirring and their split system powered during the summer months.
If you’re yet to take advantage of the Federal Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries rebate, now is also an ideal time to invest in your home’s solar system, including in a strong solar battery to support energy retention for your household and making it easier for you to access solar energy during peak demand periods.
And if you don’t have the budget for a solar battery just yet, then you can also consider installing solar panels on both north- and west-facing rooftops to ensure you maintain great access to evening solar gains where local grids are at peak demand.
Review your bushfire emergency plan
Finally, preparing your home and property for bushfire season is just one part of the equation when it comes for fire preparedness.
You also need to make sure every member of your household knows what to do in the event of a bushfire and an evacuation notice from your local emergency service providers.
Prepare a bushfire emergency kit for your household if you’re yet to do so, and make sure information for your local emergency broadcasters and first responders are readily available to all members of your household if needed.
Tuning into ABC Emergency Radio and keeping up-to-date via the Vic Emergency App are must-dos for all Kyabram families over this coming summer peak.
Stay safe this Summer with these temperature control tips
Keeping your home, property, and family safe during summer is ultimately a team effort, so make sure the entire household is onboard for all the measures we’ve outlined above.
With everyone staying well-informed and ready to respond in the event of an emergency – be it a bushfire or a faulty A/C unit – you can make sure the summer peak goes by with minimal health and safety risks for you and your family.