Preparing Your Home for La Niña

While we’re welcoming the warm weather with much needed rain in parts of Australia, it is also time to prepare your home for the wet season. A La Niña is currently underway in the tropical Pacific and is likely to persist through summer, peaking in December*.

What is La Nina?

Australia’s weather is influenced by climate drivers including the La Niña, which is part of the El Niño Southern Oscillation that cycles from one to eight years. La Niña conditions result in above average rainfall, as well as:

• Earlier onset of monsoon
• Greater tropical cyclone numbers
• Shift in temperature extremes

Current climate outlooks predict that November 2020 to January 2021 will be wetter than average for Australia. La Niña increases the chance of widespread flooding, with the severe Australian floods of 1955, 1988, 1998 and 2010 all associated with La Niña.

Prepare Your Home

Don’t get caught out when the torrential rain hits. You can start preparing your home in anticipation and be ready.  As the saying goes, ‘It is better to be proactive then to be reactive’. Here are some preparations that you do now for your home:

Clearing Drains

An influx of rain can cause blockages in your drains increasing the chance of flooding. This is the time to clear your gutters of leaves and debris, and also check the condition of your roof. Replace any broken tiles to ensure water doesn’t get through the ceiling during heavy downpours.

If you’ve had issues in the past with flooding from overflowing drains, consider installing additional drainage points as well.

Trimming Plants

With the Spring weather your plants might have had a lovely growth spurt. However, it is important to trim down branches that could block gutters, and be aware of leaves from trees that are close to or above your drains.

Unusual Dampness

Walk around your home and check for any signs of unexplained dampness such as mould, warped walls and door frames, or wet patches in your lawn. If you have a hidden leak already on your property, sudden heavy rainfall will compound the issue and may cause unexpected flooding.

It is best to sort out your home now while you have the time to prepare. If you need a hand with your drains, whether it be a suspected blockage, hidden leak, additional drainage installation or just needing an assessment on the conditions of your drains, Wild Water Plumbing can help.

Our team can help you identify blockages and leaks that are not easily visible, using the latest technology and equipment such as CCTV drain camera, and assist with clearing blockages and repairing drains with minimal disruption to your property.

Don’t wait for the rain to come, act now! Give us a call on: 0405 692 151