Load-shedding appears to be a way of life for the foreseeable future. On different days, various load-shedding schedules are announced. Unfortunately, load-shedding brings a lot of safety risks, but there are some precautions you can take while waiting for power to be restored.
Since the majority of our safety and security features rely on technology, load shedding has the potential to leave your home vulnerable while the power is out. To help you avoid this, here are a few tips for keeping your home safe during load shedding.
1. Invest in backup security measures
Having a home security system is more important than ever before. However, now that we have a problem with our national power supply, electric security systems such as video surveillance and alarm systems may not be as effective in the event of load shedding as traditional burglar bars and safety gates. Invest in a security system with backup batteries that will activate in the event of a power outage. Before the next power outage, make sure the backup batteries are fully charged and operational. You should also consider purchasing a 17-amp hour battery, which will last longer in the event of extended load shedding schedules.
Power banks should be one of your go-to load-shedding solutions because they keep your devices running in an emergency. Our top recommendation is to buy several power banks for your phones, as well as a UPS system for your computer. You should also get a battery for your WiFi router so that it can stay connected during load shedding. You can have peace of mind knowing that you are only a phone call away from friends, family, and armed response companies in your area with these items.
2. Have a well-lit home
To reduce the likelihood of your home becoming a target of criminal activity, keep your property as well-lit as possible during a power outage. You could also consider installing solar-powered or battery-powered lights in front of your house to improve lighting and visibility during load shedding. You must use battery-operated lights inside and outside of your property if the lights go out while you work from home or if you arrive home to load shedding after work. Battery-powered floodlights can be purchased to illuminate your outdoor area, as well as a variety of torches and lamps to brighten up your home. Criminals are less likely to enter a home that appears to be occupied from the outside.
3. Secure surrounding areas
Before load shedding occurs, you must double-check every entry point in your home, closing all windows and locking all doors for the duration of the load shedding hours. This is especially critical if the batteries in certain security devices have died.
Keep manual locks on electric gates that are easily opened when the power goes out. Certain electric gates, particularly those that have aged, can open without resistance when the power is turned off. You should test your electric garage doors and backyard gates to ensure that your home is not easily accessible when the power goes out.
4. Be vigilant during loadshedding
When returning home in the dark, be cautious. Install battery-powered motion-sensor lights in your front garden to ward off any intruders who might be hiding in your bushes to catch you off guard when you get home. As previously stated, keep manual locks on electric gates to avoid being stranded outside your home during load shedding.
5. Protect your technology
Outages caused by load shedding can fry tech equipment and appliances that are not connected to surge protector plugs. You should get a variety of surge protector plug points as soon as possible to avoid something breaking when the power goes out unexpectedly. Light surge protection plugs can save your PC, laptop, TV, security equipment, and other electronic devices. All of these items are required for updates on load shedding and criminal activity via forums and groups, as well as preventative security features that can halt criminal activity.
You should also pay close attention to text messages from your armed response company, especially those relating to potential low battery warning signals. By resolving these issues as soon as possible, you can relieve the strain on monitoring systems caused by a flood of signals received during load shedding.
Regular power outages have an impact on a variety of technologies and communications systems, including alarm systems, which begin to malfunction in the absence of adequate battery backup. Malfunctioning alarm systems during load shedding increase the number of false alarm activations, reducing armed response companies’ ability to respond to true emergency signals.
Homeowners can help by taking ownership of their alarm system hardware to ensure it operates as efficiently as possible during these rolling power outages, which appear to be becoming more frequent.
Please contact your armed response company as soon as possible if you have any questions about your home security system and its battery backups. They will assist you in testing to determine whether any technical issues require immediate attention.
Conclusion
Prepare for longer power outages and beyond by investing in battery-powered lighting, power banks for phones and laptops, inverters to power your home, and security equipment. The top load shedding security tips listed above will keep you and your loved ones safe.
Home Break-Ins See a Rise During Loadshedding.
