8 tips to protect your car and home from hail damage

WHILE locals gear up for another scorching Zululand summer, hail season is also making its comeback – and it’s leaving a nasty trail of pricy destruction behind.

With a number of hail storms already leaving parts of the country battered and bruised, historical data shows that every season has at least one or more hail events in which hail related insurance claims exceed R30 million.

Counting the cost of hail is not just about the expenses related to vehicle repairs.

Also included in the cost equation are the resulting inconveniences and related costs that impact the consumer, business and the overall economy.

Economic impacts include time lost owing to traffic delays which further result in road freight and delivery cancellations. The additional cost of car hire and lost sales opportunities whilst the vehicles of representatives are undergoing repairs also contributes to the total cost.

‘For the general insurance industry, hail events can result in a huge dent in the insurer’s income statements but that is what insurance is there for,’ said Head of Personal Lines Underwriting at Santam, Attie Blaauw.

‘Claims from these storms can often lead to very expensive repairs that can have a negative impact on motorists without adequate insurance cover, placing these individuals at serious risk of a major financial setback.’

Predicting the likelihood of extreme hail events is a more complex process. It is not always possible to predict when and where hail storms may occur.

It therefore becomes important to monitor and track weather patterns – particularly those that have the potential for storm or hail damage.

Here are some tips to protect your vehicle and home from hail damage.

What to do during a hail storm?
1. Make a note of covered parking garages in your area to ride out storms.

2. Stock up on fleecy blankets. When a hailstorm hits, layer them on top of your vehicle to minimise damage.

3. Drive cautiously during a hailstorm to minimise damage and further risk of accidents.

4. If you’re caught in a hailstorm and can’t find cover, pull over at a safe location, grab the floor mats and put them on the roof, bonnet and boot lid. This solution has its limitations, but it will help to minimise damage to the vehicle.

5. Clear gutters of debris regularly. Overflowing gutters could lead to water push backs and internal water damage.

6. Close all blinds and curtains to prevent broken window glass from injuring you or your family.

7. Make sure you maintain your trees to prevent any broken branches or debris causing damage to your home during a hailstorm.

8. Always make sure that your home and household contents are insured for their new replacement value, and that your car is insured for its reasonable market value.

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