Make loadshedding less of a hassle this winter
Category News
Rather than getting frustrated about loadshedding, which is going to be part of life for the foreseeable future, take the time to think about how your home can be better equipped to overcome the frustration of the lights going out. Measures such as putting in an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) or larger battery backup system, investing in a gas stove and putting up some solar lights will not only make life easier during loadshedding. They are also likely to add value to your property.
Backup power systems
When Eskom turns out the lights in your neighbourhood, there are various ways to keep your appliances - and in some cases, your lights - on. The most affordable option is to invest in an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). Also known as a battery backup, a UPS can keep your computers and small appliances (such as desk lamps) on. The size of the UPS will determine how long it will keep you powered up.
Another option is to install a larger backup system that would enable more of your home, including lights and appliances, to stay powered up during loadshedding. This will involve consulting an electrician, who will tailor a solution for your home, consisting of an inverter, batteries and possibly solar power. This system can be linked to the various electrical circuits in your home to provide seamless power. As is the case with a UPS, the size of the inverter will determine how much of your home's electricity demand can be met by your backup system at any one point. The size of your battery bank will determine how long your home will be able to run without power from Eskom's grid. Adding solar power to the equation will increase the amount of time that your system will remain powered up. With the help of solar, you could install a smaller battery bank and let sunshine do some of the work for your backup system.
Get your kitchen gas-powered
There's nothing worse than the 6pm to 8pm loadshedding session - unless you have a gas stove. Being able to cook a meal while the power is off removes the need for unnecessary takeaway meals or rushing home from work to get a meal prepared before 6pm. Over and above being impervious to Eskom's woes, the advantages of gas cooking include more precise temperatures, which can help you to follow recipes exactly and get consistent results. Gas also cooks more quickly than electricity. It's environmentally friendly, which means that a gas stove is likely to appeal to a millennial who may be interested in buying your home if you should decide to sell.
Surge protection
When power returns to the grid at the end of a loadshedding session, it is possible for there to be a power surge, which is an abnormally high voltage that lasts for a short time. Unfortunately, power surges often have costly consequences, with household appliances and computers being "fried" by the sudden electricity overload. Surge protector plugs provide a safeguard by detecting when there is excess current and safely diverting it away from any appliances connected through that plug.
Light your garden with solar power
For security reasons as well as aesthetics, it's important to have lights in your garden - whether or not Eskom is loadshedding. A wide array of solar lights is available, from fairy lights and lamps to flood lights and spotlights. These lights can be relatively inexpensive, and provide your family with much-needed light while also creating a memorable ambience for those looking to sell their property.
Making your home as loadshedding-proof as possible is only one of the ways to promote its value when it's time to sell. Since the late 1960s, Jawitz Properties has been "shedding light" on the process of buying and selling property. Contact us for more information.
Author: Jawitz Properties
