Top Tips to Help You Survive Load Shedding

Persistent load shedding is the new normal in South Africa as energy utility Eskom struggles to keep the lights on. All indications are that load shedding is here to stay for the foreseeable future. While dinners by candelight are great every now and again, it helps to be prepared with the necessary gadgets, devices and solutions that make load shedding a little more bearable.

Here’s our line-up of top 12 load shedding hacks to make your life easier:

1. Know your load shedding schedule. It goes without being said that it’s a good idea to know your load shedding schedule so that you can prepare ahead. Download EksomSePush on your phone so that you can stay up to date with last minute changes to the load shedding schedule.
2. Invest in surge protectors to protect your appliances. Appliances and sensitive electronic devices that are plugged in when power is restored after load shedding are at risk of being damaged from power surges. Remembering to unplug appliances and electronic devices every time there is load shedding is a big ask. Surge protectors are a good alternative. They monitor the flow of electricity that reaches your appliance or device and act as a buffer between the socket and the appliance to direct power surges away from your electronic devices.
3. Back up batteries or solar power to keep your security up and running during load shedding. Load shedding is affecting home security systems, making people more vulnerable to crime. Some insurance companies have reported an increase in burglary and robbery claims when load shedding is scheduled. To avoid your home being a vulnerable soft target, install solar security lights and a back-up battery system for your alarm, electric gates and security fencing.
4. Don’t open fridges or freezers unnecessarily during load shedding. If you keep your fridge door closed it will keep the contents of your fridge cold for up to six hours so try not to open the door unnecessarily. It’s a good idea to fill a few 2litre bottles with water and freeze them if you have space in your freezer. In the event of a longer power outage, move two of the frozen bottles into your fridge which will help to keep the contents cool for longer.
5. Plan ahead to prepare meals. If you need to prepare a meal in the midst of a load shedding session, rather get out whatever you need from the fridge and place the items in a cooler box with an ice-block or bottle of frozen water to keep it chilled. Store boiling water in a flask for tea and coffee. Prepare meals ahead of time when possible. A non-electric slow cooker like the Wonderbag from The SOOQ [https://www.thesooq.co.za/search?q=WONDERBAG] is a great investment to keep stews, casseroles and soups simmering even once the power has gone off. Wonderbags are designed to keep a hot pot simmering for several hours without the need for electricity.
6. Keep your devices charged. A power bank is a very nifty device for when your phone’s battery is about to die and you don’t have power to recharge it. Keep a phone charger in your car so that you can make the most of driving time to charge your mobile device. Its also a good to invest in a few good quality rechargeable lights so that you are not sitting in the dark at night. Don’t forget to recharge them when they start looking dimmer.
7. Upgrade to gas appliances if possible. A gas hob and oven means you can still cook dinner during load shedding and, as winter approaches and the risk of higher stages of load shedding looms, keeping warm is likely to also be a priority. A gas camping hob is a more cost-effective solution which will also work.
8. Switch to a solar geyser. A solar-powered geyser will ensure you always have hot water even during extended power outages. Solar-powered geysers have the added benefit of significantly reducing your electricity bill.
9. Rechargeable LED light bulbs are a good idea to provide light at night during load shedding. Providing light for up to four hours during load shedding, they have an internal battery which re-charges when switched on when power is available.
10. Rechargeable fans. South Africa’s balmy summers make fans a necessity to keep cool and to keep the mozzies at bay. There are a number of rechargeable fans on the market starting from as little as R250 each.
11. Get an inverter. An inverter with batteries switches on automatically when load shedding kicks in. Inverters comes in a variety of sizes so choose one that fits your budget.
12. Get a generator. Like inverters generators come in different sizes. A small generator will keep the fridge running and charge your cellphone and laptop, while a larger one will be able to power your entire home. Bear in mind that many complexes and estates don’t allow generators because of the noise they produce.

About The SOOQ

The SOOQ is an online e-commerce store which provides a platform for small businesses in South Africa, offering products from fashion, accessories, shoes, baby items, food and more into one easily accessible store. The name The SOOQ is from the Arabic name for “marketplace” and is inspired by the amazing marketplaces of the world and the excitement, mystery and surprises that marketplaces naturally encompass.