Keeping your home warm and dry this winter is vital. Cold, damp homes can lead to asthma, chest coughs, and colds, making insulation and effective heating essential for a healthy family.
Warm and Healthy
Living in a dry and warm environment is essential for your family’s good health. Aim to maintain a temperature of at least 18°C throughout your house, as room temperatures below 16°C are considered harmful. Keeping your house warm and dry also helps prevent unhealthy mold and dampness.
- Remove mold quickly using diluted household bleach.
- Use extractor fans in your kitchen and bathroom to reduce moisture.
- Dry your clothes outside when possible to avoid adding dampness indoors.
Insulation Is Key
During winter, dampness, draughts, and poor insulation make homes harder to heat. Insulating your ceiling and underfloor is one of the most effective and low-cost ways to retain warmth and lower heating costs.
- Older Homes: Many older New Zealand homes lack insulation. If your home was insulated long ago, it may no longer be effective—check its condition.
- Government Funding: Funding for insulation and heating may be available. Visit EECA Energywise for details.
Curtail the Heat Loss
- Use well-fitted curtains and pull them before dusk to retain warmth.
- Install draught stoppers under doors and draught-proofing strips around windows and doors.
- Consider double-glazing windows to significantly reduce heat loss.
Allergy-Friendly Air
Minimising allergens in your home is another step toward a healthy family this winter:
- Dust Mites: Use special bedding covers that create a barrier to dust mites, vacuum regularly, and ensure your vacuum cleaner has a HEPA or similar high-efficiency filter.
- Soft Toys: Wash soft toys regularly and dry them in the sun, or place them in the freezer for 24–48 hours to kill dust mites.
- Dry Blankets and Rugs: Air these items weekly in direct sunlight to reduce allergens.
Choosing the Right Heating
- Use electric heaters or flued gas heaters for safe and efficient heating.
- Heat Pumps:
- Choose a model suitable for the size of the area you’re heating.
- Learn to use the timer features and clean filters regularly to maximise efficiency.
- Research options like Goodman Heat Pumps or other reputable brands.
- Thermostatically Controlled Heaters: These maintain a constant temperature and can help save on energy costs.
10 Top Tips for a Healthy Winter Home
- Insulate your ceiling and underfloor to retain heat and lower costs.
- Reduce dust mites with regular cleaning and proper bedding.
- Keep your house smoke-free.
- Remove mold immediately.
- Use electric or flued gas heaters for safe heating.
- Air your house on fine days to reduce dampness.
- Dry clothes outside whenever possible.
- Maintain room temperatures of at least 18°C.
- Fix leaky taps, guttering, and wet areas around your home.
- Invest in double-glazing for your windows.
Tips for Renters: Keeping Your Home Warm, Dry AND HEALTHY
If you’re renting, you may not have control over insulation or major structural changes, but there are still plenty of ways to create a warm and dry environment:
- Talk to Your Landlord: Ask if your property meets the Healthy Homes Standards, which require rental properties to have proper insulation, heating, and ventilation.
- Curtains: Invest in heavy thermal curtains to retain heat. You can use removable hooks if you’re not allowed to alter fixtures.
- Temporary Draught Stoppers: Use door snakes or adhesive draught-proofing strips around doors and windows to keep the heat in.
- Portable Heating: Opt for electric heaters or heat pumps if provided. Avoid unflued gas heaters, which can add moisture to the air.
- Dehumidifiers: Use a dehumidifier to reduce moisture in the air. This prevents dampness and mold.
- Moisture Control: Use lids on pots when cooking and always run the bathroom extractor fan or open a window when showering.
By taking these practical steps, you can create a warm, dry, and healthy environment for your family to thrive in this winter.
