It’s hard to plan with the fluctuating loadshedding stages and last-minute power cuts but there are a few home DIY hacks that will help you stay positive no matter watt. Better yet, it doesn’t require a complete house makeover!
The nights may be dark (thank you, strained power grid!) but these six solutions will help brighten your life while the power is out. From DIY home improvement ideas to food options, we’ll help you through stage six and beyond.
It’s time to pull the plug
Just before loadshedding, unplug your electrical appliances. This will protect your gear from any surges caused by the power being switched on again.
On that note, surge protectors are a great way to protect against power and voltage spikes. Replace your multiplugs with these special adapters (an easy DIY project for you!) or have them added to your distribution board as an easy house alteration (electrician required). Some insurance companies won’t cover damage caused by power spikes if you don’t have proper surge protection, so this is a handy tip!
A can-do attitude
For those who don’t have a gas stove or a camping gas stove, tinned food is your friend if you need a meal in a pinch during loadshedding! But if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous and – don’t feel
like a braai, then food prep is the key. When you have power, prepare rice, boiled potato, egg or any other grain you enjoy. It can be added to salads or used to bulk up a meal. You can also used boil eggs for later to add in a salad or enjoy in a sandwich or wrap. Or even better, prepare a health snack board with some nuts, crackers, your favourite cheeses or crisps. These are light meals that can be enjoyed at any time of the day!
Other ideas include investing in a Wonderbag. This amazing invention was created here in South Africa and is a non-electric slow cooker. It will keep your food warm for hours! You can also make overnight oats, buddha bowls and cheese boards. Pickling your veg before it goes off is another great option.
Power move
Stay ahead of power cuts and replace your important fixtures with gas or solar equipment. Depending on your budget, a small camping gas stove will make all the difference – or replace your electric stove with a gas hob. A solar geyser is also a great swap, as it will ensure that your water is always hot. Fun fact – fitting a solar geyser is more affordable than installing a solar panel roof. There is also a wide range of inverters and uninterrupted power supplies, ranging in price and size, on the market.
Don’t forget – any fixed features that you add to your property to make it less reliant on the national power grid will most likely increase your property’s appeal to future buyers. Bonus!
Stay lit
If you have an alarm system, make sure it is on a backup battery and test the battery regularly so that you aren’t caught unawares. If safety is a concern, keep your property lit with rechargeable or solar outdoor lighting. This makes for a great DIY home project. For electric gates or garage doors, take the manual override keys with you when you leave home in case the battery fails and you cannot open up the gate.
Cool solutions
Worried about your food going off? Set your fridge’s thermostat to its coldest setting or keep your perishables in the freezer – it isn’t foolproof, but it does help. For freezers, we recommend packing it tightly. You can do this with bags of ice or frozen water bottles. When your freezer is full, it keeps more of the cold air in so when you open it up, it doesn’t have to work as hard to keep everything chilled. It will also take longer to thaw during loadshedding.
