Healthy Homes
C LD COMFORT Here in New Zealand, every winter, without fail, we hear horror stories about individuals living in horridly damp and mouldy conditions.
“
As a general rule of thumb – if the indoor temperature is at least seven degrees C warmer than the outdoor temperature, it’ll prevent condensation forming on colder surfaces.
The government’s healthy homes standards, which set minimum requirements for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture, drainage and draught-stopping in rental properties, became law on July 1, 2019. However, according to an annual survey of renters and landlords by Colmar Brunton, in 2021, 57 percent of 1600 renters reported a problem with dampness or mould – a two percent increase since 2020.
”
According to the World Health Organisation, 18°C is a healthy temperature for any room being used – higher for children, the elderly and people who are ill. Yet, Health Navigator NZ reports that many homes in Aotearoa sit at an average of 6°C below this guideline during the winter months.
Specifically, these issues included the presence of mould, poor insulation, gaps in floorboards, walls or windows, no heating in the main living area or bedrooms, or no hot water. Condensation was also a recurring problem, with 37 percent reporting regular condensation on windows during winter and 29 percent needing to remove water from their windows daily. And the situation was markedly worse for young people and renters. Sixty-five percent of people under the age of 35 reported they were living in homes (many of which would likely be rental properties), which had issues with mould, heating and/or insulation. In addition to this, more than one in five of the 1,000 landlords surveyed admitted the main living room in their rental property did not have appropriate heating. With the coldest, wettest days of winter unfortunately still ahead of us, there are a few factors we can check on around the house to make winter pass more comfortably. Mustiness, mouldy walls and weeping windows are all hallmark signals that you may need to 20 | B&R
reduce moisture and increase ventilation or heating in your home. If you do happen to notice any of these signs, the first and most important place to start, is to reduce any sources of dampness. Indeed, you’d be surprised at how easily moisture can slip undetected into your home. One of the largest – yet sneakiest – sources of dampness, is moisture evaporating up from the ground through your floors. With this in mind, always check under your property and fix any drainage, guttering or plumbing issues — then consider installing a sealed moisture control sheet. Now, once the primary sources of dampness have been dealt to, it’s time to consider ventilation.
www.buildandrenovate.co.nz
Although it may seem counterintuitive, opening your windows on a chilly day can allow airflow and ventilation to remove any excess moisture that’s hanging around inside. If you haven’t already, make a habit out of using extractor fans – especially in wet areas such as the bathroom and kitchen. A dehumidifier is also an efficient – albeit more costly – way to target parts of your home that don’t otherwise get enough airflow. New homes, if designed, insulated and ventilated well, can have little to no heating or cooling requirements in many parts of New Zealand. Conversely, older homes that were built with littleto-no insulation can often be quite expensive to heat.
As a general rule of thumb – if the indoor temperature is at least seven degrees C warmer than the outdoor temperature, it’ll prevent condensation forming on colder surfaces. Keep in mind, if you’re using a heat pump it’s more costeffective to use low levels of heat consistently, rather than high levels in short bursts. This will also prevent condensation. Another handy trick to keep the draft out, is to use draught seal tape around windows and doors to keep the cold air out and reduce condensation. If you’re renting, a good exercise is to always check existing insulation is in good condition. As a guide, insulation should fill up to the top of the roof/ceiling joists. Snug-fitting curtains are also useful in helping retain passive heat from the sun during the day.
