Key tips for a warmer, drier home.
Transcript [1]
Created by New Zealand's Ministry of Health.
Tamariki (children) cough and sneeze out germs when they sleep so create as much space as possible between each person to make it harder for the germs to spread.
If they share a room, place their beds on opposite sides of the room. If they are in bunk beds, it is a good idea to have one child’s head at one end and the other child’s head at the other end.
Open your curtains during the day to allow the sun to heat your home. But remember to close them just before sunset to keep the cold night air out.
If you choose to use sheets or lavalava instead of curtains, make sure you have a snug fit around the window frame. You might be able to get curtains free or cheaply from your local curtain bank.
Heat pumps are ideal as they heat a large area and don't cost as much as other types of heaters. Electrical heaters are also good. Avoid portable gas heaters as they are expensive to run, create dampness and give out dangerous fumes.
A heater with a thermostat will help control the temperature in your home and keep the cost down. Aim for 20 degrees as a good temperature when people in your house are up Turn it down to 16 in the bedrooms at night.
Condensation, or water that has collected on windows and walls, makes rooms feel damp. It can also cause mould to grow. To help keep your home dry, wipe it off when you see it. A dry home is easier and cheaper to heat.
Watch a video on condensation [5]
Open your windows for at least 20 minutes on fine days and a few minutes daily in winter. Bringing fresh air into your home is another great way to help keep your home dry.
To help prevent dampness and mould, open windows in the kitchen when you cook and in the bathroom when you take a shower or bath. This will help let steam out. Make sure you use your kitchen and bathroom extractor fans if you have them.
To stop cold air getting into your home, stop draughts around doors, windows and fireplaces.
If you don't have a draught stopper, you can roll up a dry towel and place it there to stop the draught from coming in. You can also buy weather stripping from hardware stores to stop draughts around windows.
Mould grows in damp and wet places and can affect your family's health.
Bleach or white vinegar will remove mould from ceilings and walls.
If using bleach, add 2 teaspoons to 1 litre of water.
If using white vinegar, don't add any water.
Never mix bleach and vinegar.
To help keep the damp out of your home, dry your washing outside, or in the garage or carport.
You can also watch the videos in Māori and English, Samoan and English, and Tongan and English [11].
There's help available with keeping your home warm and dry.
Check the Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand website for more information about the Healthy Homes Initiative [12]. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a list of Healthy Homes Initiative providers. You can find out how to contact the one nearest to you.
Noho Ᾱhuru is a free service for Auckland families. It aims to support families to have warmer, drier and healthier homes. One of the team will visit families in their homes and identify any changes that could make the home warmer and drier.
Noho Ᾱhuru are able to provide support and work alongside eligible families until the whole process is completed. Noho Ᾱhuru may be able to help with:
There are other providers in New Zealand. Check if there's one in your area [12].
Get to know your heating options. Gen Less has advice on choosing heating options for your home [13].
Find out about getting your home insulated.
Insulation keeps heat inside your home in winter, and keeps it out in summer. This makes it easier to warm your home.
You may be able to get subsided insulation installed through the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme.
To get a grant you will need to:
Some local or regional councils offer insulation deals - check with them to see what's available.
Some whānau may be able to get help from Work and Income to keep your home warm and healthy, or if your tamariki have certain medical conditions.
Learn about extra help at Work and Income New Zealand [17].
Reproduced from the Ministry of Health website [1].
This page last reviewed 01 December 2023.
Email us [21] your feedback
Links
[1] https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/warmer-drier-homes
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxjkRBbQnV8&list=PLbLtQJluJZAETkYm9ukNCasjNxoUF3L3U&index=2
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yRV00r37KU&list=PLbLtQJluJZAETkYm9ukNCasjNxoUF3L3U&index=3
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Kp2ibUK1zk&list=PLbLtQJluJZAETkYm9ukNCasjNxoUF3L3U&index=4
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVCV3SJ9XFs&list=PLbLtQJluJZAETkYm9ukNCasjNxoUF3L3U&index=4
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVEMeJTwhug&list=PLbLtQJluJZAETkYm9ukNCasjNxoUF3L3U&index=5
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxknAWG6loo&list=PLbLtQJluJZAETkYm9ukNCasjNxoUF3L3U&index=7
[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThXMg4tu3Tw&list=PLbLtQJluJZAETkYm9ukNCasjNxoUF3L3U&index=8
[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFTfOsk2dnM&list=PLbLtQJluJZAETkYm9ukNCasjNxoUF3L3U&index=9
[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9QYTxqvCDU&list=PLbLtQJluJZAETkYm9ukNCasjNxoUF3L3U&index=10
[11] https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/warmer-drier-homes/warmer-drier-homes-other-languages
[12] https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/keeping-well/for-families-and-children/healthy-homes-initiative/
[13] https://genless.govt.nz/for-everyone/at-home/heat-and-cool-efficiently/
[14] https://genless.govt.nz/for-everyone/at-home/insulate-your-home/ceiling-insulation/
[15] https://www.eeca.govt.nz/co-funding/insulation-and-heater-grants/
[16] https://www.localcouncils.govt.nz/lgip.nsf/wpg_URL/Profiles-Councils-by-Region-Index?OpenDocument
[17] https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/index.html
[18] https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/housing/find-a-house/index.html
[19] https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/starting-a-tenancy/new-to-tenancy/key-rights-and-responsibilities/
[20] https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/disputes-process
[21] https://kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fkidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F2529