The Christmas carol “Let it Snow” was not a favourite this year, with many homeowners being left with frozen water pipes, leaky roofs and snow drifts around gas meters this 2008 in America.

However, home insurance customers can save snow balls of money if they prepare themselves with the right restoration techniques and insurance cover.

Jill Stache, director of risk management said: “Generally, a homeowner's insurance policy will cover direct physical damage to the home structure and contents. The biggest winter weather home perils we see … are related to house fires, freezing pipes and ice dam formation on roofs.”

Mark Everett noted that raking off snowy build-ups along rooftops after heavy snows can save plenty of money and upset: “Roof raking and letting the sun do the rest" to prevent ice dams that back up melting snow is preferable to scattering salt on the roof to do the trick. The dams are most likely to form on the southern and western roof exposures.”

Everett continued: "You get the heat of the day melting the snow off and then it freezes at night. Just like in an ice cube tray it expands and lifts the edge of the shingles up. Every day that cycle happens again and again. The snow typically runs underneath. If it goes unnoticed, the water will back up into the wall cavities.”

Stache reminded the public that homeowners need to practice common sense when taking preventive measures.