If you thought loadshedding was bad, say hello to its best friend: an ice-cold shower on an early winter’s morning. As a result of spiking power surges when Eskom turns the lights back on after a dreaded two-and-a-half hour blackout, many household appliances become damaged beyond repair. Geysers seem to be the first to go, thanks to voltage fluctuations.
They say an early morning ‘reset’ (what 5 am’ers refer to as a morning dip in the body-numbingly cold ocean) does wonders for the body. But when all you’re yearning for is the warmth and comfort of piping hot water quite literally showering you with the strength to get through the workday, better circulation and increased metabolism are the last things on your mind.
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Last month, Business Tech reported that an increase in power surge accident claims and excess costs are giving Insurance companies and their clients a whole new kind of headache.
“We have also noted a spike in geyser repair costs, amplified by an increased volume of geyser and accidental damage claims caused by loadshedding,” said Soul Abraham, Chief Executive for retail at Old Mutual Insure.
“To combat the sudden spike in general prices, the South African Reserve Bank and other central banks across the globe have raised interest rates, further putting pressure on the consumer’s spending power.”
In an attempt to protect ourselves, our properties, and our appliance, The Southern Courier offers some advice to survive during what seems to be the never-ending reality of loadshedding:
- Switch off any devices that could cause a fire risk if power is restored
- Switch off fridges and air conditioners during load-shedding. As soon as the power has been restored and is stable with no flickering or dimmed lights switch on these appliances one by one
- Ensure that alarm systems, garage doors, and electric gates which generally rely on electricity all have good backup batteries.
- If you need to manually open and close your gates when you get home, try to have someone come and meet you at your entrance or arrange an escort from your security company.
- Use padlocks, burglar bars and deadbolts to provide an extra level of home security that isn’t electricity-dependent.
- Ger a few high-wattage solar-powered lights for your house’s exterior and a few rechargeable LED lights for the inside. Light is a deterrent to potential burglars.
- Keep a torch or a solar, battery-powered light that is charged beforehand in multiple, easily accessible locations around your home. Be sure to also have plenty of spare batteries.
- Have updated loadshedding schedules on hand so that you and your family will have enough time to prepare for the blackout session.
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