Get your home winter-ready today!

We’ve had our first cold snap this week, signalling winter is on its way – but is your home ready for the lower temperatures?

After so much warm and tropical weather in Aotearoa this year, it’s been easy to overlook if your home’s heating methods and insulation need attention. So is your home ready for winter?

Are your heating systems up to scratch?

Does the heat pump need a service or repair-work? One of our heat pumps is quite old and doesn’t seem to do the job as well any more – so I’m going to get some professional advice on how much it will cost to upgrade – or whether it just needs a good service.

Heating

If you rely on a re to heat your home – what state is the replace in? Does it need repair-work or a chimney sweep?

Most insurance policies these days advise homeowners to have chimneys swept regularly to avoid any build-up that may cause loss or damage as a result of poor maintenance.

And have you got rewood stocked up? is summer was abysmal for drying rewood with so much sticky, wet, tropical weather – so buying wood from a supplier may result in better product going into this winter, as many dry wood under cover for more than a year before selling it.

Windows

Have you noticed windows or doors are letting in draughts? I felt a few cool ows this week that need tending to in my home.

Are your window seals intact? Replace damaged rubber seals around aluminium joinery.

Or, if there’s rotten timber near windows it could cause more damage than just cool draughts. And tighten loose hinges, catches and latches. Or maybe you’re ready to look at double glazing? It’s a big investment but can reduce heat loss through glass by 70 per cent.

If you can’t a ord this, there are inexpensive kits to stick insulation lm to wooden window frames. ese act as insulation – just like double glazing – but only last one season.

Insulation

What about insulation? If you have access under your house, get an insulation professional to check what you’ve got. ey often do it for free. If your under oor is more than half a metre o the ground, you can insulate. is will reduce draughts through oorboards and reduce heat loss.

For ceiling insulation, and wall insulation it’s also best to get in a professional, as building consents or safety precautions need to be taken with electrical wiring in place.

Another thing I need to sort out is curtains – I need new ones for the lounge to lock in heat and keep out draughts.

Installing thermal curtains or blinds can create a good seal over windows to stop cold air getting in. e most e ective curtains to purchase, according to the Gen Less website, are double-layered with a thick lining; that touch the oor; have pelmets above them; are wider than the window frame; and t tightly against wall and windows frames.

A healthy home check

According to the Gen Less website, which is run by NZ’s Energy E cient and Conservation Authority, warm, dry homes are healthier to live in and more energye cient. “[So] Doing what you can to tackle dampness and improve your home’s heat retention will help you save power (and money).”

Did you know you can assess your home to nd out where you can make improvements? Gen Less says you can do a healthy home check yourself online, or a certi ed advisor can visit and assess your home, and tailor an improvement plan. Many o er their services free of charge. e home check will cover: whether your home has adequate ventilation and insulation/heat retention; how e cient your heating, hot water and lighting systems are; and whether your rental property meets NZ’s healthy home standards.

To do a home check on your place, visit: https://home t.org.nz/

To nd more tips, see: https://genless. govt.nz/for-everyone/at-home Merle Cave