logo
How to protect the appliances that power your life

How to protect the appliances that power your life

The Citizen18-05-2025
Now that load shedding rears it ugly head again, consumers have to ensure that they protect their appliances against power surges.
If you ever wonder how you would get through life without the appliances in your house, you will know how important it is to protect them.
The most expensive fridge in South Africa costs a whopping R1 million, while a top-of-the-range TV could set you back even more. However, for most of us, the total value of every single household appliance we own does not even come close to this figure.
ALSO READ: Power surges and insurance: How to deal with the other load shedding monsters
But this does not mean that we can do without them and should not take every precaution when it comes to protecting them, Wynand van Vuuren, client experience partner at King Price Insurance, says.
'Protecting our fridges, TVs and other appliances from power surges and the effects of wear and tear will help to ensure that they continue to work for years to come.'
Van Vuuren warns that power surges can damage sensitive electronic components like circuit boards and processors, causing appliances to stop working altogether. Power surges are sudden spikes in electrical voltage when the power supply to your home is suddenly interrupted or switched back on, or if lightning strikes.
Best way to protect your appliances against power surges
The best way to help prevent power surge damage is to install a surge protection device on your home's electrical distribution board (DB), he says.
'Using one device to protect everything that has a plug makes much more sense than buying separate adapters for each plug point. Because it covers all the phases and is always on, DB surge protection removes 'user error' from the equation and will likely also work out to be more cost-effective.'
Van Vuuren says when choosing power surge protection for your DB, look for a SABS-approved device and have it fitted by a qualified electrician who can provide you with a certificate of compliance.
ALSO READ: Load shedding can destroy your appliances – here's how to avoid it
If you want to buy a new appliance, it is important to balance quality with affordability, he says. 'Some of the less expensive brands only offer guarantees or warranties for short periods of time and there may be no technical support if some of the parts fail.
He points out that there are things you can do to prevent damage from wear and tear and extend the lifespan of the appliances you already have. 'Washing machines and dishwashers will benefit from being serviced regularly and keeping their filters and water connections clean.
Why maintenance of your appliances is also important
'Most of the claims for household appliances that King Price sees are for fridges and while these cannot be serviced, keeping them clean, topping up the gas and defrosting them when necessary and dusting behind them regularly will help to keep them working efficiently for longer.'
Van Vuuren notes that insurers generally do not cover damage due to wear and tear and therefore regular maintenance is critical. Insurers also do not cover damage that is the result of grid interruption, making protection at the DB board a very wise move.
'Ask your insurer if it has the option of adding cover for power surge damage due to loadshedding. Most home contents policies cover lightning damage. We advise all consumers to check their policy schedules to confirm whether they have this cover and also to check their policy documents to understand the difference between 'grid interruption' and 'loadshedding'.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mercedes-Benz changes its mind again: A-Class staying until 2028
Mercedes-Benz changes its mind again: A-Class staying until 2028

The Citizen

time29 minutes ago

  • The Citizen

Mercedes-Benz changes its mind again: A-Class staying until 2028

Reported back in March as being discontinued next year, a new claim from Germany is that Mercedes-Benz has extended the lifecycle of the current A-Class by another two years to 2028. Change of plan First announced in 2022 as being on the chopping block, the current W177 A-Class, which received its one and only update two years ago, will become the longest-lasting generation yet, based on the latest claims. Supposedly part of Benz's range reduction strategy announced two years ago, in which it aimed to lower complexity by cutting its product portfolio from 33 to 14 models, the A-Class will now seemingly live on alongside the new CLA until before the end of the decade. 'It's not our goal to be a competitor of the volume producers. That's not what the Mercedes-Benz brand stands for. So stay tuned as far as our product portfolio is concerned,' Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius told Britain's Autocar in 2022 about the same time as the A-Class' pending demise. In a related statement, Mercedes-Benz's chief technology officer Markus Schäfer told Italy's quattoruote: 'We need models that work all over the world, including China and the USA. I know that the hatchback is the favourite in Europe, but it was not part of the plans and we had to make choices, even difficult ones.' Why the U-turn? Largely believed to be replaced by the incoming junior G-Class, called g-Class that will also succeed the B-Class, GLA and GLB, Mercedes-Benz production head Jorg Burzer hinted that ongoing demand had been the reason for the decision to continue with A-Class production for the additional two years. This is according to Automotive News Europe's German outlet, Automobilwoche, in which the executive also confirmed the end of the B-Class by next year as still being on the cards. As such, production will move from Germany to Hungary for the A-Class' final two years, hinting that another series of updates could soon be applied on top of those rolled-out two years ago. Recap Locally, the A-Class range spans six models, two hatches and four sedans, priced from R813 124 for the A200 Progressive, to R991 046 for the A200d AMG Line Sedan. In addition, the current AMG based models including three derivatives range from R1 173 973 for the A35 Sedan, to R1 457 119 for the A45 S hatch. This article first appeared in The Citizen. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.

Visa launches data centre in South Africa as part of R1bn investment
Visa launches data centre in South Africa as part of R1bn investment

IOL News

time15 hours ago

  • IOL News

Visa launches data centre in South Africa as part of R1bn investment

Michael Berner, the head of Southern and East Africa at Visa, speaking at the launch of Visa's data centre. Image: Independent Media Visa, an American multinational payment card services giant, on Wednesday launched its data centre in Johannesburg, its first in Africa and part a R1 billion investment over the next three years into South Africa. 'This investment reflects our commitment to the long-term potential of South Africa and its economy,' said Michael Berner, the head of Southern and East Africa at Visa. 'With the launch of this state-of-the-art Data Centre, we are building the digital foundations needed to drive inclusion, unlock innovation and power the broader vision of sustainable economic growth across the region.' In announcing the investment, Berner said part of the investment will also cover creation of the new jobs. It will support entrepreneurs, SMEs, female leaders and the broader communities, which need some additional financial literacy. Visa's new Data Centre represents a significant expansion of its global processing network, VisaNet, which powers more than 100 billion transactions annually across 200 countries and territories. This cutting-edge infrastructure brings Visa's world-class capabilities closer to South African businesses and consumers, enabling secure, seamless and resilient transaction processing within South Africa's borders. Visa's local infrastructure will play a vital role in advancing South Africa's dynamic digital economy by enabling the core technologies that power secure, fast, and reliable payments. It will support Visa's partners in driving forward key industry innovations, including digital wallets, e-commerce, commercial transactions, and card-based person-to-person payments—while laying the groundwork for globally relevant solutions that align with the ambitions of the local financial sector. 'South Africa has made impressive strides in digital payments, with contactless transactions now accounting for over 60% of face-to-face payments,' said Berner. 'This Data Centre is a critical enabler of that momentum, further strengthening the country's real-time commerce infrastructure.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Berner said Visa had been in South Africa for 30 years and over time the business has grown very significantly. "We see tremendous growth in tokenized transactions. We see that almost half of all transactions are now contactless, but the potential is even larger, and that prompted the decision to bring the local data center to the ground in South Africa," Berner said. "But the data center here in South Africa is not only for South Africa. This is our platform for the further growth in the entire continent, and also a sign of the importance, which the continent has in the global economy, and the growing importance of the continent in digital payments and in the economy overall." He said building the data centre, one of very few that are built outside of Visa's core locations, which is US, the UK and Singapore, was evidence of this commitment to Africa. Lineshree Moodley, Country Manager for Visa South Africa, said the launch of the data centre was an "exciting moment, a monumental milestone for Visa and it serves as an affirmation and commitment to the market in which we are operating." 'Visa is proud to support South Africa's national vision for digital inclusion and economic resilience,' said Moodley. Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies of South Africa, said, "This investment demonstrates the growing global confidence in South Africa as an investment destination. It further reinforces South Africa's position as the digital gateway into Africa. This vote of confidence is welcomed at a time where we aim to transform our country's economy through digital technology." He said the development of local data centers directly supports South Africa's national priorities. It aligns with the National Development Plan and the strategic plan of the Department of Communications by establishing local capacity for advanced digital services. "Visa is helping to lay the digital foundations that will empower private sector and citizens and by handling transactions here at home, this facility reduces reliance on overseas infrastructure and boosts our national financial sovereignty. This investment supports South Africa to build a secure and inclusive digital economy. We welcome Visa's commitment to South Africa as a partner in progress," he said. BUSINESS REPORT

The smart move: How having life cover when you're young is a power play for your future
The smart move: How having life cover when you're young is a power play for your future

The Citizen

time16 hours ago

  • The Citizen

The smart move: How having life cover when you're young is a power play for your future

While living benefits are important, it is still important to have life cover if you have parent, child dependants or debt. Concerts, weddings, and wild adventures – your crew is making memories. What about your future? Life insurance may not be on your radar yet, but locking it in early could be the smartest financial decision you ever make. This Savings Month (July), Discovery Life shares insights on why young professionals should consider the invaluable benefits of life cover. When you're in your early 20s to mid-30s, life insurance is probably the last thing on your mind. It's easy to think, 'I'll deal with that later'; 'I already have cover through work'; or 'I'm healthy now, so I'll wait'. However, waiting for 'later' could come at a large cost to those with the majority of their future earnings still ahead of them. Do you have a plan if you're no longer able to earn a salary due to a life-changing health diagnosis or a permanent disability? How would you pay your rent or bond, for groceries, medical aid, car and family responsibilities? 'What many young people are unaware of is that life insurance offers far more than just cover that pays out when someone passes away. Life insurance is an incredibly powerful tool and can be a financial safety net if a severe illness or disability stops an individual from being able to earn an income,' says Gareth Friedlander, Discovery Life Deputy CEO. Younger than 30? You're probably underinsured A 2022 Association for Savings and Investment South Africa (ASISA) Life and Disability Insurance Gap Study revealed that the average income earner aged 30 and younger is underinsured. This means they will be unable to maintain their own, or their dependents' current lifestyle if they become disabled or pass away. The average income earner aged 30 and younger earns a little over R10,000 per month, but typically needs more than R2.7 million in disability cover to maintain their standard of living post claim. On average, they only have disability cover of around R1 million, leaving an insurance gap of R1.7 million. 'The insurance gap for South Africans under 30 is concerning,' says Friedlander. 'Having holistic life cover in place that includes income protection, severe illness cover, and disability cover when you're young is one of the smartest things you can do.' How living benefits are an insurance lifeline for young people 'Along with paying out an insured amount to your loved ones if you pass away, life insurance can also protect you against financial risk if something unpredictable happens while you're alive,' explains Friedlander. The three main 'living benefits' are income protection, severe illness cover, and disability cover. Income protection – This benefit pays you a regular income if you are unable to work due to injury, illness or disability. Severe illness cover – Severe illness cover pays out a lump sum based on the severity level of the illness and can be used to cover costs such as treatment costs and lifestyle modifications. Disability cover – Disability cover pays out a lump sum if you become disabled. It can help cover any associated costs such as buying or maintaining specialised medical equipment, lifestyle modifications or settling debt. Alarmingly, severe illnesses like cancer are increasingly affecting younger people. Over the past 30 years, cancer rates in the G20 nations (which includes South Africa) have increased faster for 25 to 29-year-olds than any other age group – by 22% between 1990 and 2019. This is according to the Financial Times, which analysed data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Discovery Life's Claims Experience for the 2024 calendar year shows that for severe illness claims, cancer was the leading claim cause at 41%, with heart and artery claims next at 16%, followed by nervous system claims at 13%. Of the severe illness cancer claims, skin cancer was the top cause among men aged 40 and younger (44%), while breast cancer accounted for 43% of cancer claims among women aged 40 and younger. Cancer was also the largest cause of disability claims in this age group (29%). Friedlander adds that two in five income protection claims were paid to clients aged 40 or younger in 2024. One in four of these were for permanent conditions. However, these permanent claims made up 67% of the total rand amount paid out. This highlights the value of income protection, especially for permanent claims where these clients will receive an income going forward. Musculoskeletal claims make up almost one-third of these claims and include, for example, injuries to or surgery for the back and neck, ankles, hands, etc. While living benefits are important, it is still important to have life cover where people have parent or child dependents or debt. Of the death claims in 2024 for those aged 40 and younger, motor vehicle accidents (18%) were the largest cause, followed by heart and artery conditions (16%), and then cancer and trauma, each contributing 14%. For these younger ages, 42% of life cover claims were due to unnatural deaths, highlighting the uncertainty of life. 'Taken altogether, these insights highlight the growing importance of holistic life cover for young people that includes living benefits,' notes Friedlander. The younger and healthier you are, the cheaper your premiums 'Young people also need to know that life insurance premiums are mostly determined by age and health. The younger and healthier you are when you apply, the cheaper your cover is,' explains Friedlander. When you take out life insurance at younger ages, your risk is lower, and you can spread the payments over a longer term. This means that your premiums at earlier ages subsidise your premiums later, resulting in more sustainable premiums at older ages. Waiting to take out cover when you're older, or after you're diagnosed with a chronic condition or severe illness, means higher premiums or potential exclusions from cover entirely. 'Not only does getting life cover when you're young protect your future self and your loved ones, but it also sets a solid foundation for long-term financial wellbeing. Getting life cover when you're young isn't just about planning for the worst. It's about making a confident move that secures your financial journey and your ability to protect what's most important to you. Future you will thank you,' concludes Friedlander. Ready to future-proof your financial plan? Learn more about Discovery Life's suite of protective cover and benefits that reward healthy living and safeguard your financial future.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store