The Irish Insurance Federation (IIF) has advised householders on steps to take if they have suffered damage to their property from the weather.
Insurers will usually pay for the cost of temporary repairs, so keep receipts.
Insurers will also pay for the cost of alternative accommodation if the home becomes uninhabitable.
Householders intending to claim should contact their insurer as quickly as possible.
Insulating exposed pipes and tanks helps prevent burst pipes.
If householders are leaving for a few days they should turn off and drain the hot and cold water system. On return it is essential to refill the system slowly and not to light the boiler until the system is completely refilled.
Alternatively, householders who are going away for a period should leave the central heating on low.