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Jul 05, 2023

Here’s how to stay safe and cosy this winter

This winter could be cold and dark for millions of South Africans, with warnings

This winter could be cold and dark for millions of South Africans, with warnings of up to 16 hours of loadshedding per day in the coming months.

As more people look to alternative heating sources like gas and paraffin heaters and open fires to keep themselves warm, it's important to take some basic precautions to make sure you don't become one of South Africa's winter home fire statistics.

Staying safe starts with staying as warm as possible. Keep your curtains closed and make sure all windows are properly closed. Close the doors to unused rooms, and put rolled-up towels in the cracks under your doors.

All heating equipment can be dangerous if not handled carefully. Make sure the pipes on your gas heaters are secure and keep anything that can burn at least a metre away from the heat source. Only plug one heat-producing appliance into one outlet at a time. You should also plug power cables directly into wall sockets, and not extension cords.

If possible, don't use candles for lighting. When the power goes off, rather use flashlights or LED lights, or invest in some rechargeable bulbs. Surge protection at all plug points can save your appliances from being ‘fried’ by power surges when the electricity comes back after loadshedding.

Don't ever use a generator inside your home, garage or shed, even if you have doors and windows open. Carbon monoxide poisoning kills many South Africans every year.

"You can't just buy a generator at your local hardware store and stick an extension cord into a wall socket. That's called back-feeding, and it's dangerous. All generators and alternative power supplies must be installed professionally by an electrician, or you run the risk of fires and damage to your appliances," says Van Vuuren.

You should always get a certificate of compliance from the electrician who did the installation of your generator, inverter or solar system.

Rather be safe than sorry. Make sure your buildings and home contents are covered properly. This includes making sure your home contents are covered for their current replacement value, not what you paid for them. To help you assess your home contents correctly, here's a handy home contents inventory.

For your buildings, make sure you have enough insurance to rebuild your home from the foundations up, including all the fixed fittings like taps and tiles, if you need to.