Beat the freeze
- Ready Scotland's Ready for Winter website provides advice on preparing for and dealing with emergencies
You can beat the freeze by eating well, keeping warm and staying active.
Heating
During winter keep the central heating on or concentrate on keeping the main living area in your home to at least 21 degrees Centigrade.
Close your curtains at dusk to keep the heat in, and make sure they are above or behind the radiator.
If your gas central heating goes off suddenly when the outside temperature is very low, it may be because the condensator has frozen. Call our contact centre on 01259 450000 for instructions on how to defrost it.
You can refer to our Home Energy web pages for more information.
Frozen or burst pipes
Council tenants should call 01259 450000 for advice and assistance.
Scottish Water advice on protecting your home
Scottish Water's website offers a series of online films on how to locate your stop valve, insulation and what to do if a pipe bursts or freezes. See their page entitled Handy hints to protect your pipes in cold weather .
Icicles
Check your property for large icicles and heavy hanging snow drifts which are forming on gutters and roofs as a result of the severe weather conditions. Icicles and heavy snow on roofs and gutters can present a risk to residents and pedestrians walking outside buildings and it is the property owner's responsibility to ensure these are removed.
In an emergency situation any member of the public with a safety concern should get in touch with Fire and Rescue Services, but please remember that they are already busy and should only be called in emergencies. If possible, and it is safe to do so, property owners should do the work themselves. Alternatively they should hire a contractor in a bid to avoid potentially serious accidents.
Members of the public are asked to take all reasonable steps to keep clear from the external perimeters of buildings to avoid any injury from falling icicles, sliding snow or weather damaged gutters. Alternative routes and paths should be used to avoid building perimeters if this is possible. If it is not possible to remove icicles and hanging snow from above doorways, then an alternative entrance should be used if one is available.
Public services will continue to provide emergency help where they can, but the responsibility lies with the property owner. Resources are also already stretched with responding to the extreme weather conditions on the ground, and getting ready for a prolonged period of low temperatures and heavy snowfall. Members of the public are asked to take a practical, proactive and common sense approach to this issue.
Tenants should contact their landlord to report any problems. Property owners should also seek advice from their insurer on how to tackle the problem.
Council tenants
If you're a Council tenant and you're going away, the Council can drain down your heating system free of charge.
Be a good neighbour
Keep an eye on elderly neighbours, relatives and friends. If you, or someone you know, is a vulnerable resident of Clackmannanshire and are at risk as a result of the adverse weather, then please call our Adult Care service: 01259 452498 during office hours or 01786 471177 out of hours. We check hundreds of vulnerable people each day to make sure they are safe and warm and can deliver meals, bring people in to residential accommodation or clear paths and stairs for people who are unable to help themselves.
Eating, exercise and clothing
Eat at least one hot meal each day and have regular hot drinks.
Keep active! Even simple stretching exercises in the morning helps circulation and keeps muscles supple.
Wear several layers of thin clothing as they will keep you warmer than one thick layer.
See also
Page & Site Tools
Contact information
For further information about this page please contact:
Strategy & Customer Services, Communications & Marketing
Greenfield House, Tullibody Road, Alloa, FK10 2AD
Tel: 01259 450000
Email: press@clacks.gov.uk
Or use the on-line contact form
