Warning re security in December.

A number of insurers have asked us to warn our clients of the effect of power trips on burglar alarm batteries.

These batteries are not really designed for heavy, regular charging and discharging, and may become ineffective, running flat in 1-2 hours instead of the 4-6 hours generally expected.

If your household insurance is subject to having an alarm operating when unoccupied, and your battery is flat an hour after a blackout starts, insurers are warning they may decline your burglary claim during that period as you have not shown due care.

However, the consensus is that if you can show you have shown due care, had battery checked/replaced, insurers will meet any claim exacerbated by a non-functioning alarm during an extended electricity failure. You will just have to show that the alarm had been set when you left.

ALSO

Check if your Insurers cover loss/damage caused by power surges following blackouts.

MANY Insurers cover surges from Lightning, but exclude "natural" surges. When power is turned back on after a blackout, there are HUGE surges for a few minutes, This can burn out electrical equipment, fridges, and the like. It can hurt you if you end up with an R80,000 loss (as happened to one of my clients) and it is not covered (as did NOT happen to my client)!