Warm and Dry Homes

As winter approaches, many people spend more time at home, so it can be especially important to pay attention to the condition of the property, including its potential effects on your health. There are resources available to help solve potential problems, and property owners in New Zealand are obligated to make sure that if their property is being used as someone's home, it is a safe and healthy environment. It is important for your family's health that the house is warm and dry. 

Some tips to keep your home warm and free of moisture

• Avoid air intakes around doors and windows.

• Open the curtains so that light enters, and close them when the sun goes down.

• Open the windows of the house for a few minutes to promote ventilation and keep the house dry.

• Dry off moisture from surfaces and windows.

• If you use a gas stove, make sure you use it safely. Use it only for short periods of time and never in closed rooms.

• Try not to dry clothes inside the house, as this generates moisture in the environment. When it rains try, to use a drying machine, or a garage or a covered place to dry it.

• To reduce the humidity caused by steam, always open a window when you're showering or cooking. Cover the pots to reduce the amount of steam in the air. Keep bedroom doors closed at times when there is steam in the room, as it can moisten beds.

• Keep beds and furniture separate from the walls, leaving a space for air to circulate, especially in bedrooms.

• Keep closet doors slightly open to promote ventilation.

• Avoid putting mattresses directly on the floor.

• If you have to use the dryer, make sure the clothes are properly centrifuged first and leave the windows open while you are using it. The dryer extractor should face outwards.