Tips for keeping your home warm without spending money

Keep your house warm this winter with the right type of heating. Photo / 123RF

New Zealand homes are notoriously cold and badly insulated.

As the country is in the grip of heavy rain, strong winds and snow, the Herald has looked at some free and simple tips you can do to keep your home warmer and drier, based on a target="_blank">Ministry of Health toolkit.

• Open your curtains during the day and close them at night

Your windows let in heat during the day. Closing curtains before sunset keeps the heat in, and the cold out, at night.

• Stop cold air getting in by stopping draughts around doors, windows and fireplaces.

It makes it easier to heat your home and helps reduce the cost of heating.

Sew your own draught stopper or use an old dry towel or something similar like old blankets or curtains.

On windows, make sure hinges, catches and latches are tight.

To block draughts from a fireplace that isn't being used, use a rubbish bag filled with shredded newspaper to plug the flue. But make sure it's obvious the rubbish bag is there to stop draughts and is not fuel for the fire.

• Find out if your home is insulated. If it isn't, you may qualify to have insulation installed for free.

You might qualify if:
• Your home (or the home that you rent) was built before 2000
• You have a Community Services Card
• You have children aged under 17 years and/or people aged over 65 years living in the home or you have health issues related to cold, damp housing
• Free call EECA ENERGYWISE on 0800 358 676 or visit energywise. govt.nz/your-home/insulation for more information

Some local councils have programmes that could help you get free or subsidised insulation. Contact your local council to find out what is on offer in your area.

If you have a Community Services Card and you need to move, you may still be eligible to get help with insulation at your new place.

• Open your windows for at least a few minutes each day

This helps keep your home dry, which makes your home easier to heat and reduces the cost of heating.

• Open windows in the kitchen when you cook, and in the bathroom when you shower or take a bath, to let out steam.

Extractor fans also let out steam, so if you have one in your kitchen or bathroom, this is a good time to use it.

• Wipe off any water that has collected on walls and on the inside of windows.

Condensation makes your rooms feel damp and dampness can cause mould to grow

Wiping off condensation removes water that has built up over time in your home.

Hang the wet cloth used to wipe up the condensation outside to dry.

• Dry your washing outside or in the garage or carport.

It keeps the dampness from your washing, which can build up condensation, outside your home.

As washing dries, the water goes back into the air. If you dry clothes inside, the air gets damp.

If you dry your washing inside the garage, you still need to ventilate or your garage can get damp and mouldy.

• Use bleach or white vinegar to remove mould from ceilings and walls.

Mould grows in damp and wet places and it can affect your family's health.

Once a week, wash mould off walls and ceilings using either a bleach solution or white vinegar. Never mix bleach and vinegar.

If using bleach:
1. Add 2 teaspoons of bleach to 1 litre of water
2. Put the solution into a clean spray bottle and spray directly on to the mould or use a sponge
3. If the mould is in a tricky corner, wipe the solution on with a clean cloth or an old toothbrush
4. Wait for at least 15 minutes
5. Wipe off the solution with a sponge or cloth and warm soapy water
6. Rinse the sponge to help stop the mould from spreading
7. Dry the sponge or cloth outside.

If using white vinegar:
Don't add any water and follow steps 2 to 7 above.

• Create as much space as possible between the heads of sleeping children.

Kids cough and sneeze when they are asleep, and this is how germs such as strep throat can spread between sleeping children.

For safety, only children over 9 years old should be in the top bunk.

Top and tailing is a good option for creating space between the heads of sleeping children, if your children share a bed or mattress.

• Check you have the best heating option for your home.

Recommended heating options are:
• Electric heater with a thermostat
• Gas heater with chimney [flue]
• Heat pump
• Modern pellet or wood burner.

If you use an electric heater with a thermostat and have kids or elderly people in the house, set the thermostat at around 20C during the day, and 16C in bedrooms at night.

A portable gas heater is not recommended because it doesn't have a flue to carry the harmful gases outside or away from your home and it releases lots of moisture into the air.