Prepare nowfor winter

Stirling residents are being urged to ensure their homes are fully prepared for the winter weather.

The message comes from Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alexander Stewart who is backing a ‘Be Smart This Winter’ campaign.

More than 154,000 homes across Scotland last winter experienced a boiler breakdown, leaving their occupants unable to heat their homes.

During ‘The Beast from the East’, temperatures of below –10 Centigrade and wind speeds of over 60mph led to the busiest week on record for Scottish Gas, with 104 calls for assistance coming in every second.

Mr Stewart said: “It’s extremely important to keep a step ahead of winter. I urge everyone in Stirling and across Stirlingshire and Dunblane to understand what help is available to them, and for their family and friends.

“Being energy efficient and keeping bills under control is also really important, so I’d encourage people to seek advice from their energy supplier and take practical steps to stay smart with their energy use this winter.

“There are some very simple steps to take in order to prepare your house for winter and keep everything running smoothly.

“Remember to bleed your radiators. If you have not used the heating for a while, air can enter the system and form bubbles at the top of your radiators, which stops them from working efficiently. If you notice cold spots at the top of your radiators, switch them off and when cool, turn a radiator key in the valve at the top to let the air out.”

Other tips include properly sealing windows and doors, paying care to boilers, insulating hot water systems and installing a carbon monoxide detector.