Row.co.uk Blog

How to Prevent Burst Pipes

No matter what the time of year, it’s a good time to maintain your home. Even if there’s no sign of snow, preparing your home plumbing for a cold snap could pay dividends if the weather unexpectedly turns.

Burst pipes are one of the biggest risks in winter. Not only do they cause loss of supply, and inconvenience for the family, but the water damage that results from a burst pipe could cost thousands of pounds to repair. That’s before you get into the emotional distress of having a water leak decimate your home and your belongings.

What Causes Burst Pipes?


A burst pipe is generally the result of a weak point in the plumbing which is made worse due to pressure. This could be the pressure of water building up, or the pressure of ice forming. As water turns to ice, it expands, which is why bare pipes containing cold water can be dangerous around the home.

Before you start to explore preventative measures, familiarise yourself with the location of the stopcock -- the main tap in the pipe that comes into your house from the street. If you have a leak from a burst pipe, being able to quickly turn off the stopcock could save you huge amounts of time and money, since it could prevent a small flood from becoming a disaster. In the middle of the night, or the dead of winter, you might find it difficult to locate the stopcock if you’re not sure where to look.

How to Prevent Burst Pipes in Your Home


Cladding is the number one preventative measure that can be employed around the home to keep pipes warm. If you prevent pipes from freezing, you are well on your way to avoiding the pressure of an ice buildup inside.

Running pipes through rooms, open to the warm air of the home, is also a good way to prevent ice buildup. It keeps the ambient temperature above freezing so that the pipes don’t burst when the water inside cools too far.

If you have an outside tap, it’ll be vulnerable to freezing. So it’s a good idea to shut off the supply to the tap in winter, but ensure that the tap itself is left open. That way, any residual water or dampness will be able to drip away of its own accord, rather than being allowed to build up.

If you leave your home unattended, never turn the heating completely off. Some central heating systems have a setting to maintain a certain amount of warmth. If yours doesn’t, setting it on the lowest possible heat is a good idea to prevent freezing. You may wish to leave all of the doors open, including the doors to your attic space, so that the air can circulate and prevent cold pockets from forming.

Final Thoughts


If you’ve never reviewed the quality of the plumbing around your home, it’s a good idea to invest time over the warmer months. Check the depth of any pipes underground, ensure that lagging is present and of a good quality, and inspect the pipes for any signs of loose joints or weakness.

*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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Why Should I Get Mobile Phone Insurance?

Row.co.uk Blog

Why Should I Get Mobile Phone Insurance?

The importance of securing an insurance policy for your mobile phone cannot be denied; most mobile phone manufacturers and network providers do offer warranties and insurances, but their policy sometimes does not cover accidental damage and theft. Such policies only cover aspects like the defects in a phone due to the manufacturer and only in these cases, they will agree to replace your phone.

Therefore, insuring your mobile phone can prove to be beneficial for you in the long run. Here are a couple of reasons why you ought to get one.

Nobody is safe from natural disasters like floods and fire. In such situations, there is loss of lives, property, and personal belongings, and this includes your mobile phone. Imagine losing all of your cherished moments stored on your mobile phone in an instant; of course it is an awful feeling.

Basic mobile phone insurance policies do not cover such circumstances and that is why you should get insurance from a third party. If there is damage to your cell phone or you lose it, you will be eligible to receive a replacement.

Sometimes, carelessness can result in mishaps such as you dropping your mobile phone in the toilet, pool, sea, or a bowl of soup. As a result, your mobile phone will absorb water and this will cause damage to the internal components. Of course, you can revive it by placing it in a bag of rice or silica gel, still the damaging effects of the water will become apparent over a period of time, especially if it is hard water or saltwater.

In other scenarios, you might drop your phone and crack the screen or cause damage to the keypad or keyboard, if your phone is entirely touchscreen. Viruses might damage your phone’s software and cause loss of important data as well. Mobile phone insurance will cover all of these circumstances and you will receive free repairs, which can otherwise be costly.

Of course, you should always be careful while using your smartphone, but you won’t have to be extra cautious all the time if you have mobile phone insurance as it covers all types of accidents and mishaps. This is even more vital if you have bought a new, expensive, branded mobile phone like the iPhone 6s Plus; you don’t want it to get stolen, dropped, or manhandled. Even if something goes wrong, you will have peace of mind as you won’t have to buy a new one or spend hundreds of pounds on the repair work.

In unfortunate situations, a mobile phone suffers extreme damage and hence, cannot be repaired. The only solution is to get a new one. A new mobile phone, such as an iPhone 7 can cost as much as 900 pounds; imagine getting a new phone at no cost to you. This becomes possible with a mobile phone insurance company like Row.co.uk.co.uk which has a rate as low as £1.49 per month with a 20% discount on multiple gadgets.

*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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