Nicos Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 Not quite sure if I've put this in the right place????We have just left our French house for the first time with the electricity turned on so that the central heating can come on if it gets frosty ( sensor is outside the house set at 5 C )As the electricity is now on I wonder if it is wise to get a freezer and risk the contents thawing incase there is a storm causing the mains switch to trip.We have a small fridge/freezer but want to buy bio lamb etc from the local farmerwhich would involve buying a bigger freezer. Is it worth the risk ?Is there anything you can buy which could avoid this situation?What do other people do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 Thunderstorms are much less common in winter than in summer, it is often a lightning strike nearby that will cause a trip switch to trip. In winter storms shouldn't be too much of a problem. One way of ensuring that the electricity hasn't been off for an extended period, due perhaps to a more general power-cut on the network, is to freeze ice cubes in an ice tray, and then when they are frozen, turn it upside down in the freezer. If, when you next arrive at your house, the tray is still full of ice cubes, you know that there hasn't been an extended interruption to the supply, and that the freezer contents have not defrosted and refrozen. If the tray is empty, the power has been off for too long, the freezer has defrosted and refrozen, and the contents are likely to be dodgy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicos Posted October 24, 2007 Author Share Posted October 24, 2007 What a simple,brilliant idea Cat!![:-))]Mind you- if the main trip switch has gone ( as in the case of lightning) it would stay off until manually turned back on wouldn't it?We had thought that a low voltage light left on a timeswitch at night could alert the neighbours to the house tripping if they haven't come on. Problem is- we don't want to presume they need to keep an eye on the house for us ( although I'm sure they'd be more than happy to help out).The main problem would be the central heating not coming on in case of a frost I suppose ( the thought of burst pipes....)[blink] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 [quote user="Nicos"]What a simple,brilliant idea Cat!![:-))][/quote]I can't claim it as my own idea Nicos, but it is a cracker [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thibault Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Are there insurance implications if the electricity is left on and the house is unattended/unoccupied for several weeks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Avery Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Are there insurance implications if the electricity is left on - Shouldn't beand the house is unattended/unoccupied for several weeks? - Depends what the policy says about time left unoccupied and any safeguards required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicos Posted October 25, 2007 Author Share Posted October 25, 2007 I do need to check, but our documents are in France. At the moment I trust the electricty more than the plumbing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiona Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 Your idea or not Cat - it's brilliant!!!!! Got everyone here in the office saying what a great idea - so simple we wouldn't have thought of it! Think I'll buy a freezer now - decision made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 Just a small variation on Cat's brilliant sugestion, put some ice-cubes in a small plastic bowl. If when you return they are all cubes then fine, if you have a flat piece of ice then problem - this just saves the water falling to the bottom of the freezer and re-freezing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh4 Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 Electricity won't be a problem with insurance - otherwise anyone with a burglar alarm would be wasting their money. Re freezers left on in unheated / frost protected only properties, be aware there are two technologies used in fridges + freezers. One will not work when the external temperature falls to below around 6°C. I assume it has to do with getting enough heat into the coolant to make it gaseous, but I am no expert.Anyway, what this means is that if you have the wrong type, and if your heating only comes on at say 2°C then the freezer won't work. I have both types and so know from experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicos Posted October 26, 2007 Author Share Posted October 26, 2007 Thanks Andy- I'll bear this in mind if we do decide to get a freezer.It would be so handy taking over homemade nosh for the locals to sample and for those 'lazy' moments over there as well as supporting the local bio farmer.I can do my research on the internet in the UK now- thank![B] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 For months, I would talk about our "maison secondaire" (now our principal home) until someone corrected me that the expression is "residence secondaire". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicos Posted December 3, 2007 Author Share Posted December 3, 2007 Thanks for that Cathy!!!![:)]Well- I have to admit that I picked up that phrase from here!!![:-))]( have to say though.... it's still WONDERFUL to have it!!!!)Something new every day eh??[;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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