Cold snap led to €297m insurance bill

LAST year’s cold snap led to the biggest ever insurance bill for a single weather event in Ireland, with a massive €297 million being paid out by insurers during the period.

New figures revealed by the Irish Insurance Federation (IIF) show there were 22,450 claims from the public — the vast majority of which involved damage to homes.

According to the umbrella group, while problems associated with the November 2009 floods were more obvious, issues such as frozen or burst pipes in family homes over the following two months led to a small fortune in pay-outs.

The figures — detailed on the eve of the coldest weekend so far this winter, with freezing temperatures, snow and hail predicted for parts of the country — show that €297 million in freeze-claims was paid out between December 2009 and January 2010.

The total compares to:

- €244m in flood-damage costs in November 2009.

- €96m for floods in August 2008.

- €84m for storm-damage in December 1997.

- €56m for storms between December 1998 and January 1999.

- and €51m for flood damage in November 2000.

In order to lessen the likely damage to be caused by the plummeting temperatures over the coming days, the IIF — which represents 63 different insurance firms employing more than 14,300 people — has asked home-owners to take precautions, such as keep homes warm to prevent pipes and tanks from freezing; insulating exposed pipes; and turning off the water at the mains to drain the cold water system if the home is unoccupied.

The advice was made as Met Éireann warned that the coming days will bring with them the worst weather seen so far this winter. Snowfalls are expected across the north and east of the country this morning.

Showers, including hail, sleet and snow will flow into Connacht and west Munster as the day progresses. Temperatures will dip to 1 to 3 degrees celsius during the day and fall below zero at night. Icy stretches on roads are also expected, while the coastal counties of Leinster, Ulster and north Connacht are at risk of freezing weather tomorrow.

Chill tips

- Keep your home well heated and leave the loft door open to prevent pipes from freezing.

- Protect water pipes from freezing by insulating exposed areas, but do not insulate underneath attic tanks, to ensure rising heat can reach them.

- Leave heating on day and night at your usual temperature to stop pipes freezing.

- Pipe lagging on unoccupied homes should be 75mm.