After 16 years of loadshedding there is hardly anything new to say on the topic. However, to be in denial about the fact that things seem to have gotten worse recently, could be disastrous. While on stage 5 and 6, loadshedding is often 4 hours long, exceeding the battery life of many electronic devices – including the ones that are supposed to protect your home. Criminals have become experts at exploiting your “dark spot” to gain uninvited entry. Here are 5 tips to make sure your alarm is in tip top shape to keep your home and your family safe.
Test your alarm
It might be worth it to pay the call out fee in order to test your alarm. Make sure everything works the way it should, even without the added pressure of loadshedding. Also, discuss the situation with your alarm company so you can better understand how functional your alarm is when the power is out.
Back up battery power
When the power is out, your alarm is dependent on backup battery power. However, this will likely be depleted before a 4 hour loadshedding stint is over. Consider adding more battery power to your system to ensure that all the layers of your home security system work when the power is out. Check with your alarm company about larger battery options so you can make an informed decision about sufficiently powering your alarm system.
Surge protection
Place surge protection plugs on everything, but especially on the plugs that power your alarm. When the electricity comes on after loadshedding, there is always the possibility of a surge. Electrical surges can damage appliances and batteries (putting your backup battery power at risk).
Alarm app
Many residents of the area served by Onverwag don’t live here permanently. These residents depend even more heavily on their alarm systems to keep their homes safe when they are not there. Check with your alarm company if they have a system that works with an application / app that enables you to monitor things remotely.
Buddy system
Have a friend in the neighbourhood, or maybe a trustworthy neighbour? Ask them to keep an eye on things and let you know if your alarm has been going off at odd times. This way you will be able to detect a fault (either caused by loadshedding, or not) a lot earlier / faster. Also, consider leaving a spare set of keys with a friend or neighbour you trust so they can better keep an eye on things.
If you have any questions about home security or need advice on how to secure your property, you are welcome to get in touch with Onverwag on 079 419 9276, theowl@onverwag.org.za, or via the contact form on our website.