Row.co.uk Blog

For once, long-suffering UK residents have so far in 2018 actually been able to talk about ‘summer weather’ using terms other than drizzle and disappointment.


The running joke is, of course, that as soon as the mercury does start to rise, we all take up complaining about it being too warm!


Not that we want to put a dampener on the lovely early summer weather we’ve had, but when temperatures do go up, it makes the occurrence of certain household issues more likely. And not often being blessed with extended periods of hot weather, these can be emergencies that we are not always best prepared to deal with.


Here are some of the more common home emergencies that are associated with warm summer weather.

Fridge and freezer failure

There are a few different factors which contribute to fridge and freezer failures becoming more of a problem during the summer. For one, the higher the temperature, the harder the appliances have to work. Once you get to a room temperature of around 30oC, standard refrigerators and freezers sold on the UK market start to struggle to lose the heat they generate at the back, which is an integral part of the cooling process.


An indoor temperature of 30oC and above is high, but if you have your appliances in a room that gets a lot of sunshine, it can become an issue. Another factor is that we tend to fill our fridges and freezers more during warm weather, for example to stock up on cool drinks. This also puts the appliances under greater strain.


A third factor is the increased risk of electrical blackouts during the summer - see below for more on that.


Fridges are more likely to lead to spoiled food if they fail as they will only keep their temperature for a few hours once power is lost. But the worst case scenario is that your freezer fails while you are on holiday, and you lose all of the food you had stored in it. It is well worth checking to make sure your appliance warranty or home insurance covers you for lost food.

Summer storm damage

We are used to late autumn and early winter storms bringing strong winds and high rainfall, with flooding across parts of the country a now seemingly an annual occurrence. But summer storms can be just as destructive.


Indeed, the thunderstorms associated with warm, humid weather can often bring intense deluges which lead to localised flash flooding - as experienced in parts of the West Midlands this summer, when a month’s rainfall fell in an hour.


As well as flooding, intense sudden downpours will test out your guttering, fascias and roofing, exposing any faults and perhaps even causing damage directly. There is also the risk of overwhelmed drainage systems backing up, or fast-moving waters carrying debris into your pipes and blocking them up.

Electrical blackouts

Summer thunderstorms also bring another threat aside from heavy rainfall - lightning. Electrical storms are capable of knocking out power supplies over significant areas, playing havoc with a world that relies more and more on electrically-powered gadgets and infrastructure.


We have already mentioned the risk a power cut poses to your fridge and freezer. A full freezer will hold its temperature with the door closed for up to 48 hours, and it is extremely rare for power outages to last that long. However, the bigger risk is that the power failure causes damage to the motor or fuse. Indeed, all appliances are at risk from power cuts and surges that can occur in electrical storms, so it is worth making sure your most valuable items are fully insured.

Pest infestations

While the chances of rodents deciding to move into your home go up when the weather gets colder, fo other pests - particularly insects - the opposite is true. Wasps, hornets, ants and flies are most active during the summer, and this is when you are most at risk of large colonies appearing on your property.


Wasps and ants can build their nests in very awkward-to-reach places, making eradication tricky. Having pest control insurance ensures you can afford to call in top quality professional help.

Burglary

We might think of burglary as a crime that best suits the long dark nights of winter. But actually, the summer months provide plenty of opportunities for criminals to target your home. For one, during warm weather we tend to open lots of windows and use our patio doors. It only takes us to forget to close and lock window at night to give a keen-eyed burglar the opportunity they are looking for.


Then, of course, there is the summer holiday season, when millions of us leave our homes unattended for a week or two at a time.

Extra peace of mind

None of this should spoil the joys of a long, hot summer. But to give yourself that little bit of extra peace of mind, it is worth checking you have got all of your insurance policies in order. At Row.co.uk, we offer affordable home emergency cover that will keep you protected for everything from electrical supply problems to broken windows, burst pipes and pest control. Get in touch to get a quote today.


*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.

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The art of mobile conversation

Row.co.uk Blog

The art of mobile conversation

Before the inception of the telephone, communication was achieved face to face or via the written word. Fast forward to the present day and not much has changed, except perhaps for the gadgets we now use to facilitate this.

Not only has the mobile phone replaced tin cans connected with string, it has left our previously trailblazing landlines well and truly indoors. Isn’t it funny how a device primarily invented for relaying the voice has evolved into a device more commonly used for delivering the ‘written’ word?

Spread the word
Whether this is via text, email or by posting on social networking sites, the smartphone is our gateway to multi-layered communication. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. Except for when we’re on holiday and the office expects us to respond to emails…

Word of mouth
Do you have a preference for voice-only or no talk, just text? Or do you love a bit of FaceTime on your iPhone? With the introduction of Apple’s FaceTime, those who perform best on the end of the phone, but seize up in person, now have the added discomfort of video calling to contend with.

Narcissist or introvert?
The narcissists amongst us relish this airtime, smug in the knowledge that our face and voice are penetrating someone else’s world. Whoever you’re FaceTiming may be in a coffee shop, bar or taking the bus home, but your audience is likely to be more than just one person.

Let’s face it, ‘showing off’ to an audience via FaceTime is a kin to your own TV show. Whether your video call’s content is more Loose Women than The Andrew Marr Show, is up to you.

For the introverts amongst us, FaceTime induces anxiety, self consciousness and ties our tongues in knots. The ability to articulate is stripped from us like metaphorical clothing, leaving us vulnerable and naked. The mere thought of effectively being on speakerphone with accompanying visuals is enough to end the call before it’s even started. Enough said.

Socially unacceptable?
Chatting on the phone, as opposed to in person, has enabled us to relax somewhat. Physically yes, that goes without saying, but also socially. For instance, there are certain activities you wouldn’t carry out or states of undress that you wouldn’t be comfortable with, if you were having the same conversation in person. Well, for most people anyway.

How many people think nothing of having a bath, stuffing their face or even using the toilet whilst speaking on their mobile phone? Would those people behave in the same way if they were having the same conversation face to face? There will always be an exception to the rule, but in most cases social etiquette dictates that many wouldn’t.

Face-off
With FaceTime it’s good to remember that you are on show even though you are talking on the phone. And where we might only be conscious of our tone of voice or choice of words on a call, we should be aware of what our face might be giving away on FaceTime. Those micro-expressions we’re not even conscious of making can say a whole lot more than just words. You have been warned.

To keep the channels of communication open, you’d be wise to insure your smartphone against theft, loss, accidental damage and many more annoying scenarios.

*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.

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Comments are closed