MP urges households to ‘keep a step ahead of winter’

NEW research has highlighted that having no heating or hot water would be the number one disaster for households in Scotland this winter. Even so, many people in Argyll and Bute have not taken action to ensure their homes are winter-ready.

Despite the autumn chill, a national survey* shows that more than a third of households (35 per cent) in Scotland have not checked that their central heating is working and nearly four in 10 have not prepared their home for winter by getting their boiler serviced. Having an annual boiler service carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer is crucial as it detects problems with the boiler and controls, including whether it is leaking poisonous carbon monoxide.

Brendan O’Hara MP for Argyll and Bute said: ‘Winter can be a challenging time for households, but there are some practical steps that you can take to make sure that you are prepared, such as contacting your supplier to make sure you are on the right tariff, put an end to estimated bills by installing a smart meter, get your boiler serviced and very importantly keep safe by fitting a carbon monoxide alarm.

He added: ‘I want everyone in Argyll and Bute to understand what help is available to them, and for their family and friends. Being energy efficient and keeping bills under control is really important.’

Independent advice can be found at www.britishenergytrust.org.uk