The past few weeks in the UK have been scorching, with temperatures frequently higher than that of Spain and Greece. And with the hot weather, there has been an increase in hot weather related insurance claims. It may seem as if the worst of the heatwave is over, but we’re not out of the desert yet as new claims come rolling in.
Subsidence
When the weather is hot and dry for extended periods of time, it causes the ground to move beneath buildings. Make sure that your property is insured against subsidence risks!
Weather-related insurance claims spike whenever we experience extreme weather. The beginning of 2018 was a particularly frosty start to the year, and building insurance premiums have since risen party as a result of the large number of weather-related claims.
Barbecues
Be careful when you fire up the barbecue this Summer! Too close to a window, and it could even break the glass! Don’t leave them unattended, as a small spark is enough to spread to your plants, trees, and property. Especially if you have a thatched roof.
And with that being said…
Wildfires
Wildfires can escalate quickly, as fields dry out from the drought and become like tinder, prone to catching fire and spreading very quickly. This year, there have been a number of major incidents around the country – some severe and naturally occurring as a result of the sun or lightning, and others which could have easily been avoided.
Most buildings insurance will cover fire damage, but you should always take precautions to prevent the start of spread of a wildfire from occurring in the first place, where possible. This includes ensuring that all cigarettes are properly extinguished before being disposed of properly, keeping unattended glass objects (such as prescription glasses and glass bottles) away from direct sunlight, and avoiding burning waste in bonfires.
Electronics
Electronic devices left out in the sun can become damaged due to the high temperature exposure, shortening battery life and even cracking the screen! Make sure to keep your phone out of direct sunlight when you’re lounging around in the garden, or sitting in the beer garden!
Be extra careful at the swimming pool, the beach, or around the paddling pool in your own garden. Mobile phones and tablets do not fare well dunked in bodies of water.
On a similar note, perspiration has also been known to damage electronic devices, whether it’s your phone getting too sweaty in your pocket or sweaty hands losing group of your phone as you’re using it…
Storm Damage
As we’ve seen recently, heatwaves and thunderstorms go hand-in-hand during hot summers. Prolonged dry, hot spells tend to end in a climax of rain, thunder, and lightning in apocalyptic proportions. This presents high risk of flooding and storm damage, as weeks’ worth of rain pours within a relatively short period of time.
Livestock
Heatwaves can cause stress in animals and even death by heat exhaustion, so livestock farmers should keep a close eye on their animals to ensure their well-being. Productivity can even be affected, resulting in infertility and lower yields of milk and eggs at high temperatures. Your livestock insurance may cover accidents and illnesses.
The growth of crops and grass has already slowed over the summer, causing many farmers to have to sell their livestock or dip into their winter stock as they face food shortages.
Your business interruption insurance may cover these risks, so make sure to check your policy!
My fridge freezer add weird noises and broke down completely due to recent extreme heat.
Can I make a claim to replace it on my contents insurance?
We have never seen an insurance policy that provides cover for damage caused by extreme heat. The manufacturer of the fridge freezer would probably provide guidelines of temperatures that the product is designed to work in. If the product failed and was within the operating guidelines you should maybe speak to the manufacturer for advice.