We live in a day and age where water is one of our most precious and sought-after resources but unfortunately, we are facing a water shortage all over the country. Luckily, there are a few small things we can do to help save water.

Stephen Welstra of Better Plumbing shared his tips for saving and using water wisely:
1. Make sure that your gutters are clean and that they are not running into your drainage system as it can block up with leaves.
2. Make sure that you have a drip tray for your geyser to protect your house from any water damage should your geyser burst.
3. Make sure that your taps and toilets do not leak, as this can result in your water bill going up.
4. Installing solar or gas geysers can cut your electricity bill and you will still have hot water during load-shedding.
5. Turn off the water while you are brushing your teeth or washing your hands to save water.
6. Catch rainwater in a tank to use around your house and garden instead of letting it go to waste, and save on your water bill.
7. Make sure all your taps are closed properly to avoid wasting water.
8. Avoid pouring fat or pieces of food down your kitchen sink to avoid blocking.
Details: 084 569 8232 or 7 Suffolk Street, Greenhills, Randfontein.

• A solid roof will help you avoid severe hail damage to your home.
• The condition of your property is one of the most important factors determining the amount of damage a hail storm will inflict on your personal belongings. The integrity of your roof should be your primary concern, as it will keep you safe during a storm.
• Inspect and maintain your roof. Replace broken or damaged parts without delay. Do not neglect apparently minor defects that may make your roof susceptible to hail damage. Make sure the overall condition of your chimney is good and that it can be properly closed if necessary.
• Keep trees and shrubbery well-trimmed. It is very important to eliminate the risk of trees or branches

falling on your home during a storm.
Maintain all the trees and shrubbery in your yard but pay special attention to branches that are directly over your roof or too close to windows – in the event of a storm they are most likely to damage your home.
• Properly maintain your outdoor area and avoid potentially dangerous materials. It is not only falling trees and branches that may cause severe damage to your home – all kinds of debris such as decorative or waste materials blown by the fierce winds during a hailstorm pose a great risk.
• Keep gutters and drainpipes clear of leaves and debris. Make sure water can drain quickly or your home may sustain water damage in addition to the typical hail damage.

Myth: Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
Fact: Lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly, especially if it’s a tall, pointed, isolated object.
Myth: Rubber tyres on a car protect you from lightning by insulating you from the ground.
Fact: Most cars are safe from lightning, but it is the metal roof and metal sides that protect you, NOT the rubber tyres. When lightning strikes a vehicle, it goes through the metal frame into the ground. Don’t lean on doors during a thunderstorm.
Myth: A lightning victim is electrified. If you touch them, you’ll be electrocuted.
Fact: The human body does not store electricity. It is perfectly safe to touch lightning victims to give them first aid. This is the most chilling of lightning myths. Imagine if someone died because people were afraid to give CPR!

1. Make a conscious effort to adjust your speed and following distance. Your car needs more distance to stop on wet roads. Allow at least four to eight seconds between your car and the car in front of you.
2. Always turn on your vehicle’s headlights when driving in wet weather.
3. In heavy rain, use the brightest setting for your car’s tail lights to improve visibility to vehicles behind you.
4. Make sure that your wiper blades are in good condition and do a good, clean sweep to ensure maximum visibility.
5. Avoid the build-up of fog on the inside of your car windows as this

dramatically reduces visibility. Use the anti-fog features or open the window slightly.
6. Check that you have sufficient tread on your tyres. This minimises the chances of aquaplaning. Though the South African legal limit is a minimum of 1mm of tyre tread, anything below 3mm can greatly increase the risk of aquaplaning.
7. Worn shock absorbers also increase the chances of aquaplaning, even with the best of tyres fitted. It also limits the ability of ABS systems to work efficiently, so be sure to check your car’s shock absorbers and replace them when necessary.
8. Cloudy and rainy weather makes for poor visibility, so take extra care when passing other vehicles. Spray from other vehicles reduces visibility considerably.
9. Avoid abrupt acceleration, braking and steering movements. Sudden stops and turns may result in skidding.
10. Be wary of oily patches on the road. Rain, especially at the beginning of the rainy season, often causes oil that has sunk into the road to rise to the surface, making it extremely slippery.
11. If you have no option but to drive through an area with high water levels, drive slowly in a low gear, holding the steering wheel steady.
12. Do not drive through flooded areas unless you are sure that the water is below the bottom of your wheel rims. If you have any doubt, don’t drive through the pool of water – rather find an alternate route.