Repairs for water heaters that have been damaged by the recent cold will be compensated, the Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Citizens can proceed with repairs without awaiting on-site inspections by the district administration.

Affected owners should provide proof of the repairs by providing invoices, a description of the repairs and photographs of both the damage and repair and attach them to compensation forms provided on the website of the Interior Ministry.

All submissions must include the completed FIMAS form, a copy of the owner’s IBAN, a statement affirming the accuracy of the application, and a declaration from the owner confirming that they do not have insurance covering the specific damage to the water heater, among other requirements.

The forms must be filled out and submitted to the relevant district administration by latest March 14.

The recent icy temperatures sweeping across the island brought an additional not-often-faced consequence of damages to uninsulated pipes and rooftop solar water heating panels.

“Local authorities had earlier outlined plans to gather data on the number of homeowners impacted. Teams from district administration organizations (EOAs) were said to conduct assessments of the situation, with damages compensated in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, and Industry.

The ministry of interior assured affected homeowners of their support with all relevant government agencies working together to provide relief.

Recommended precautions include drainage to prevent overnight freezing and expansion of water inside delicate pipes.