Healthy homes

The safest, most efficient heaters include:

• heat pumps (especially with thermostats, which help keep costs down)
• electric heaters
• wood burners
• wood pellet burners.

Coal, gas and oil-fired methods of heating are not as safe or efficient. Unflued gas heaters can increase asthma and other respiratory problems and add pollutants to the air. Pollutants include dangerous carbon monoxide — high levels of this can lead to death. Gas braziers and patio heaters should never be used inside.

Unflued gas heaters (internal link)

Burning treated timber or old furniture is dangerous as doing so releases poisonous chemicals into the air.

FAQ on installing wood burners — Ministry for the Environment | Manatū Mō Te Taiao (external link)

Consider using a dehumidifier to help warm your house.

• Dehumidifiers are more affordable to run than heat pumps.
• Dry air is less expensive to heat than damp air.
• Keep your dehumidifier in a central location and aim for humidity between 30% and 50%.
• If there is a pēpi in the household, consider keeping a dehumidifier in the room they sleep in.

If you have a heat pump, use the 'auto fan' mode. This keeps it working to maintain the set temperature.

If you need help with your winter energy bills

• Talk to Work and Income to see if they can help you with your winter energy bills.
• Your electricity retailer may be able to offer flexible payment plans.
• Connect with your iwi.

Power, gas, water bills or heating — Work and Income | Te Hiranga Tangata (external link)

If you need help affording firewood:

• contact your local community centre
• connect with your iwi.

If you are over 65, Age Concern can link you with social work support to help you access resources, services and information you may need.

To contact Age Concern:

• phone: 03 544 7624

Age Concern New Zealand (external link)

If you need assistance affording bedding, curtains, heaters, or clothes, contact:

• St Vincent de Paul — phone: 04 499 5070
• The Salvation Army — freephone: 0800 530 000

Food, clothing and furniture — The Salvation Army (external link)

How to keep heat in

• Close your curtains at night to prevent heat loss from the windows.
• Open your curtains during the day to let the sun heat your home.
• If you use an alternative to curtains, like sheets or lavalava, make sure they are snug-fitting to prevent drafts of cold air.
• Check that draughts of cold air are not coming in around your windows and doors.
• Using a draught stopper or a rolled up towel at the bottom of doors can help.

How to keep the damp out

Damp houses are harder to heat and condensation can lead to mould growth.

Condensation is moisture on:

• walls
• windows
• furniture.

Damp and mould affect our lung health and are associated with respiratory tract infections and asthma.

To reduce dampness:

• open doors and windows to air out your house
• dry clothes outside when possible
• reduce condensation — put lids on pots when cooking and use extractors fans in the bathroom and kitchen
• remove condensation from windows with a towel or a condensation squeegee
• pull beds and mattresses away from the walls to let air circulate
• remove any mould with white vinegar or a bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water)
• use a dehumidifier — they use less energy than a heat pump, and can help your heat pump run better.

Ventilation (internal link)